It was Sunday evening, around nine o’clock, and I arrived at the truck. Time to move all my things from the car into the cab and get ready for my second journey to Spain. Honestly? I was really looking forward to it. Back in Slovakia, there was only fog, rain, and that depressing grey autumn weather, while Spain was promising sunshine and warm temperatures.
After my first Spain run, I already knew that countries full of sun suited me much more. And not only as a truck driver, but also personally.
The First Snowflakes on the Windshield
While driving through Czechia, it started snowing.
Real snowflakes slowly landing on the huge windshield of the truck. I even recorded a short video because it felt like a special moment. On one side, it was beautiful and atmospheric, but on the other, it reminded me that winter was slowly arriving in Europe.
Somewhere in Czechia, winter was slowly arriving.
Honestly, I was never a big fan of winter. That made me look forward to the south even more. Every kilometre closer to Spain felt mentally good for me.
Sleeping at the Same Autohof Again
One interesting thing was that I ended up sleeping at the same Autohof in Germany for the second time. Even at the exact same parking spot. For people outside trucking, that may not sound special, but for truck drivers, it is almost science fiction. Most evenings, you never really know where you will end up or if you will even find a parking space.
When Someone Else Makes a Mistake
Later in France, it became clear that the dispatcher had badly planned the delivery timing for Spain. Suddenly, I started feeling pressure to drive more and longer. Even during the night.
But we had clearly agreed that I would not do night driving.
These are exactly the moments I dislike about logistics. Someone else makes a planning mistake, but you cannot cheat physics. A truck will not move faster just because somebody is nervous. The tachograph rules will not disappear, and neither will fatigue.
So I said no.
Honestly, it was probably my first bigger moment of setting boundaries only a few weeks after joining the company. If two sides agree on something, I believe both sides should respect it.
France, Night and a Strap Between the Doors
That night I slept at a French rest area, and many drivers had warned me before to be careful in France, especially about truck and cab robberies during the night.
Some drivers told stories about thieves opening the cab and spraying gas inside while the driver is asleep. I do not know how many of those stories are fully true, but one thing was certain — I did not want to test it myself.
So I bought a strap and connected the left and right cab doors from the inside. Even if someone unlocked the doors, they would not be able to physically open them.
Small details like this make life on the road easier.
Maybe it was unnecessary. Maybe not. But it took only a few seconds, and I slept more peacefully.
A Small Moment That Made My Day
The next day, something completely unexpected happened.
While driving through Lyon, I suddenly saw another truck flashing its lights at me. It was Jakub, a driver I had previously met for coffee, and he was returning home from Spain.
Honestly, it made me happier than I expected.
Europe is huge. Thousands of kilometres of roads, endless highways, and suddenly you see somebody you know passing in the opposite direction. Small trucking moments like this can really brighten your day.
Three Days to Spain
After three full days of driving, I finally arrived in Girona / Barcelona.
Some people fly to Barcelona in two hours. I decided to go there by truck across half of Europe. And honestly? I did not regret it at all.
I bought some fruit, sweets, and simply enjoyed the feeling of being back in Spain again. The next morning, unloading and loading at the same place and more kilometres back toward Slovakia were waiting for me.