Day Sixteen Sunday the End of the Journey

Well this is it the last day of the convoy the boat docks on time and we all file off in our vehicles. We cannot escape customs officials though, even in our own country. Abdul & Dave (Shinybeast) get pulled for inspection, the vehicle is thoroughly inspected and all relevant paperwork checked. The rest of the vehicles are waiting on a nearby car park and convoy leaders are in constant contact with Shinybeast. The whole of convoy are concerned but no one talks of moving on, some of the vehicles still have an eight hour drive ahead of them and the Irish lads ferry isn’t till two in the morning on the following day (some long journeys still ahead for some). There is no talk of moving on as the whole of convoy is one happy family, we started this together and we are definitely going to finish it together. It’s not long before the word comes that Shinybeast is through customs and everything is clear, they round the corner and pull up to a great deal of cheering and clapping from the rest of the convoy drivers (as I said one big happy family to the end).

We all say our goodbyes on the car park after the obligatory group photo’s in front of the vehicles. After the photos it’s a great deal of hugging, back slapping and handshakes all around, we say our goodbyes to friends old and new, some we will see again on future convoys but for some this may be their last (Bob’s being saying this for his last three now, but this time he means it). These friends will all have special memories of each other from Michael’s music to Sean’s urban fashion, from Ray’s bird of prey spotting to Bob’s unforgettable weather forecasts (most of these are in jokes on the convoy, there is so much more that goes on convoy that you just have to go on one to understand)

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Steve & Peter (Convoy Leaders, Monster Socks) on behalf of myself and the entire convoy. They managed to take ten vehicles and twenty drivers from Newcastle and return every single driver and vehicle safe and sound just over two weeks later. They managed to navigate us through different countries and cities, negotiate border crossing and arrange the tolls and hotels. Special thanks to Steve for his excellent radio communications throughout the cities, his directions were invaluable for not getting lost in the cities. Also a special thanks to Peter for his fantastic negotiating skills in securing some of the best accommodation on convoy ever, at knock down prices as well. The Boppers and others on the convoy agree it’s been the best convoy that they have ever been on, once again thanks Steve and Peter.

It’s a shortish journey home for Ray & I (Boppers) it only takes us about 3 hours, a little traffic in the Tyne Tunnel and its off down the M1 across to the M6 via Kirkby Stephens (was it really only sixteen days ago that we last travelled this road). We make good time and are soon transferring our clothes and presents from the vehicle to our car at Christian Road Delivery Office in Preston, then very soon we are rushing home to our loved ones Liz and Mandy.

I hope that you have enjoyed the blog I have tried to make it interesting and informative about what happens on convoy, I have tried to add some humour but also some insight into the individuals that go on convoy. As I stated at the beginning of this blog, convoy is not easy nor is it a jolly, it is very hard work and draining both physically and mentally (the sights that you see in some of these countries is heart wrenching). You drive many miles on roads that leave a lot to be desired, you stay in motorway services and eat out of the back of your vehicle every day and you get tired and irritable and can snap at fellow convoy drivers. But ultimately it is those same friends each and every one that helps you out and when you are down or upset they set about cheering you up and raising convoy spirits. Everyone feels down at some point on the journey and it is the camaraderie of convoy that pulls everyone through. I really do hope that reading this blog has encouraged you to go on a convoy with the CWUHA or make a much needed donation, in the words of so many convoy drivers it really is a life changing experience and one that you will never forget.

In summary this convoy started in earnest sixteen or seventeen days ago for some, but the work to organise and collect the aid has been on-going for many months now. Ten vehicles carrying over 25 tonnes of valuable aid crossed Europe to two countries much in need Moldova & Transdnistria, they visited places that survive and look after children in appalling conditions with little or no money and support, conditions that most of us cannot imagine (another twenty now have those images ingrained in their minds now). The convoy drivers have seen sights that should not be seen in the modern world, they have seen things that need to be consigned to the past and the CWUHA is working hard to make this happen. There have been good times as well as bad times, there is despair about the places that we have visited but from that despair there is always hope, we are making a difference. They have delivered good aid to these places that are much in need of the basics of life and it seems like a drop in the ocean, it seems like a thankless task but in the words of the starfish poem.

"You can't possibly make a difference."

The person looked at the man. He then stooped down and picked up one more starfish and threw it back into the ocean.

He turned back to the man and said,

"It sure made a difference to that one!"

Well we sure made a difference to not just one child this week but to hundreds, so by my reckoning on this convoy we must have delivered close to a thousand smiles. A job well done, congratulations to every single convoy driver.

Until next time over and out.

Paul (one half of the big boppers)

Day Fifeteen Saturday Fish & Chips and the Lost Radio

As we travelled further than we had expected yesterday we get the chance of a bit of a lie in today. There is no breakfast in the hotel so Truckdoctor puts the burners on and we have a breakfast of tea and coffee and a mixture of biscuits from everyone’s vehicles. This is what happens on convoy everyone shares from tea or coffee to milk and biscuits all provisions are thrown into the pot for everyone to dip into.

After that it’s a short trip to the ferry port, it only takes us about an hour or so to get to the ferry port. We left in plenty of time in case we hit any traffic around Amsterdam, but as is always the case we hit no traffic problems at all and are early to the ferry port.

Getting early to the ferry port is not a problem as we still have a couple of things we need to do. All the radios, toll boxes and toll receipts need to be collected from each vehicle. This is always difficult as sometimes things get swapped between vans. After the round up we find that one of the radios and one of the toll boxes are missing, everyone is dispatched back to their vehicles to search once more. The toll box is found on Convoy Leaders van after another search but there is still no trace of the radio. We take the decision to have lunch and then we will all check our vehicles for a third time. There is a really good chippy at the ferry port which is also a fish shop as well, so in we all pile and order fish and chips or in some cases just chips and mayonnaise.

We all return to our vehicles for a further search for the one last remaining radio, suddenly the shout goes up that it has been found. Where had it been found, it was found once again on Convoy Leaders vehicle (good job we are no longer handing out medals).

Then it’s up to the ferry terminal to see if we can get onto the ferry early. One convoy driver is dispatched to go on as a foot passenger, as these usually go on before the freight does. Francis (The Pilgrims) is dispatched for this role; we do this so that they can book the table for all 20 drivers to sit down together in the restaurant. The restaurants on board are very busy and part of the ferry price includes a buffet style meal for the convoy drivers. But before we know it we are being directed onto the boat, we drive on and are in the Drivers Lounge tucking into pastries and drinking tea and coffee well before Francis gets on board. We still cannot book the restaurant though as there is no one there to take the booking (the best laid plans of convoy).

We manage to sort out the restaurant and we all sit down for our final meal together, it is both a happy and sad time for the drivers, sad because tomorrow we will be separated from new and old friends that we have been together with for the last 15 days. Happy because we have met these friends and been involved in a great journey delivering aid to many needy children, happy because tomorrow we shall return home.

The ferry crossing is a choppy one and everyone on the boat looks drunk, it is a task to get your food back to your table without dropping any, banging into someone or tripping over a table. Some retire early to bed as their sea legs aren’t quite up to the task while some sit and chat awhile about their experiences over the last two weeks and their final leg of the journey tomorrow.

Not long to go now and see ya soon

Paul (one half of the big bopper)

Cuppcini state orphanage and school

The day of our main aim had arrived and with much anticipation Douglas, Francis, Jack and I left to meet the Head teacher of a Moldova state school.

We were to meet with the principal Vasilie of the state school number 2 who we had brought aid for.

Vasilie the principal of the school we were going too had brought a young lad of 14 with him to translate for us as he spoke no English.

We left the capital city and headed north through the city, which in its self was an achievement as the right of way and all common sense seems to leave, anyone who gets behind the wheel of a vehicle in Moldova.

We arrived at the school after about 2 and a half hours, along what can only be described as the worse road I have ever been on pot holes, craters, I thought at one point we were on the moon, as the moon was probable smoother.

The school was built for the military, concrete and steel, not like schools in the uk.

We parked up and were invited to a meal in our honour, which for those with so little was a very humbling experience as they had gone out of there was to really offer us a vast amount of food and hospitality second to none.

Once we had eaten we offered to unload what we had brought from the UK, we handed over a manifest, of our cargo to the principal and his face light up, beams of smiles and gratitude, followed by a warm handshake and many many thankyous in Romanian.

Vasilie was overwhelmed by our generosity and Paul our interpreter told us that if it was not for the generosity of people like the CWUHA then they would still be in need of many of the basic life things we take for granted on a daily basis.

To use the everyday things in life are taken for granted clothes, iPod’s and modern technology to those in Moldova, a coat on your back and shoes on your feet are sometimes impossible to obtain.

The school was clean and well maintained and we were shown around the class rooms and explained what they were trying to achieve, in educating the young, this was difficult for them as there is no money available for basics.

 Vasile was a physics teacher, who cared deeply about the education of the children in the school, but when your hands are tied and you have no funds available to by basic things how can you do your best when you are limited by the basic things we take for granted.

The school was designed to teach trades to the young, giving them a start at a working life.

Vasilie told us that in the winter the temperature goes down to – 30 degrees and the coats we had brought would be of great benefit to the children.

The school housed 33 orphans in the complex who lived at the school and was also educated at the school.

We were shown to our rooms and the reality hits you of how much help they need as although our rooms were clean they are in desperate needed of beds, wardrobes carpets, a Vac, my own bed had no mattress or springs in it, they had used chicken wire wrapped around up and down the top and bottom to provide support.

A bed, a simple basic thing, the children had all gone home so we were unable to meet with them but there were a few there, who amazingly to us found pleasure in the simple things in life.

Vasilie said he would start distributing the aid we had brought straight away, which just goes to show that they need it more than ever and with a little generosity of people in the world we could make life easier for all.

The most memorable moment was the look on the face of a small child who’s father was tugging at a teddy bear tied to the wing mirror of the van, he was unable to remove it to the disappointment, of his young daughter, I reached into the van and found her a small brown teddy bear and gave it to her father, her face light up and she smiled and started stroking it with great delight,  such a simple object, but if we all gave just a little  help to those in need we would all live in a better world.

Simon Burns

Day Thirteen & Fourteen Thursday & Friday Combined The Motorways and the Donau

Thursday starts with us leaving the Owl hotel in Hungary and our plan (fair winds permitting) is to get into and out of Austria and see how far we can get into Germany.

Nothing of major interest happens today and I mean nothing, we are on motorways all day today.  The miles just keep clicking by and we see little of the country that we are passing through except for the motorway service stations where we take our rest breaks.

Today we travelled for 720 Kilometres and the only real thing of note was that we crossed the Donau five times. The Donau is the German name for the Danube.

As the day progresses we realise that once again we are going to be able to get into a regular hotel of ours in Parsburg Germany. The good thing about using these hotels regularly is that they get to know us and so are usually able to offer us a discount, we know the standard that we are getting and more importantly we know that they have secure parking for all 10 vehicles.

Friday starts in much the same vein we are early to our vehicles and on the motorway for another day of just clocking up the miles and getting us closer to home. We pass out of Germany and into Holland the last country before we sail back to Newcastle.

These couple of days are probably the worst days on the whole convoy, at least on the way out on the motorways we had something to look forward to. We knew we would soon be delivering the aid, we knew that we would soon be meeting the children that so desperately need the aid, we knew that soon we would be delivering smiles. On the way back it is a totally different matter, everyone just wants to be back at home with their loved ones. The miles just tick by; the radios which were buzzing with chatter on the way out are quiet now. The convoy driver’s thoughts start to turn to home but they are also thinking about what they have done, the good work they have already done and the good work they still have to do.

We drive a little further than expected today as for the past two hours convoy leaders have been calling hotels to try to get us all in, most are full but others are charging over 100 Euros per room and are unwilling to offer a discount. Then the call comes that they have found rooms in Utrecht for 70 Euros which is about half an hour away. When we get there the place from the outside looks like it is a Chinese restaurant but inside it is very plush. We quickly learn that the rooms should have been 130 Euros each and that Peter once again managed to negotiate them down to 70 Euros. Once again well done Peter, he has played a blinder with all the hotels on this trip and has managed to get good prices at nearly all of them.

Today we travelled for 690 Kilometres and didn’t cross the Danube once.

Until tomorrow and see ya later

Paul (one half of the big boppers)

When Irish Eyes are Smiling

On the 9^th September late in the evening the trucks rolled into Chisinau after an eleven hour stint at the Moldovan border. It was cold wet and miserable just like we felt but the only thing to keep our spirits up was the fact that we didn’t have the aid delivered yet. The next morning we believed was to be the final part of our journey to deliver the aid. It started with a short journey to the Transdnistrian border where we were held up for around two hours while the customs and police crossed their T’s and dotted their i’s. There was five trucks going to this part of the country and our first stop was to a secure compound managed by one of the charities in Tiraspol.

The three English trucks off loaded their aid there under the watchful eyes of the customs while the two Irish trucks Anthony McCrave, Michael Gallagher, Rory Duggan and John Wallace were sent on to their final destination which was Victors Psycho-neurological Hospital. On arrival we were informed that we would not be off loading the aid until the following morning as the customs had to be present to break the secure seals on the truck doors.

After being introduced to Victor who runs the hospital and some of his staff, we then got a tour of the facilities. You could see there was plenty of work done to the buildings but more to do. As for the patients/residents of Victors to be honest I have seen men, women and children with similar degrees of mental disabilities of about 70% of Victors residents as my sister is a manager in a mentally handicapped hospital in Ireland. However the difference in attention, facilities and financial support is worlds apart. The other 30% of patients in Victors was horrific both physically and mentally handicapped boys and men. I couldn’t imagine where you would start to give these people and quality of life, but in Victors they try.

That night there was a hospitality dinner set out for us with the different members and representatives of the charities. We were made very welcome and we were all afforded the opportunity to speak and mention what we thought of the work being done. The following morning, Saturday 10^th we arrived back in Victors to off load the trucks while our English counterparts were taken away to meet a government representative. They were hoping to help us offload the trucks but that unfortunately was not to be. However there was plenty of help at hand including some of the patients of Victors who got stuck in.

We know that the aid we off loaded that day was probably less than 1% in a lifetime but all them 1% add up and the excitement on the lads faces would be on a par with a child on Christmas morning. After the trucks were empty we sat down on the pavement in the blazing sun surrounded by the lads from Victors. Michael got out his guitar and banjo and played some tunes and sang some songs. It was then more than any other time we knew we were happy to be there and we know they were happy to have us there. Everywhere I looked around everyone was happy, laughing and singing, me and a couple of the boys from the hospital were dancing, the sun was shining like never before.

I know we had arrived

I know our work here was done

Irish eyes were smiling.

Anthony McCrave CWU Ireland