That week, I had driven 51 hours, and I could definitely feel it. It was Sunday, I was parked near Prague, and a well-deserved day off was finally ahead of me. On top of that, my birthday was the next day, so I decided to give myself a small present.
Instead of spending the whole day sitting in my truck at a parking area, I bundled up and headed towards the nearest village. It was properly freezing (-8°C), but the sun was shining, which gave me great energy. After about forty minutes of walking, I boarded a train heading to Prague.
Honestly, I was excited.
Returning to Prague
Prague has always been a special place for me. I studied here during university, and I always enjoyed coming back. One of the things I loved from the very beginning was the metro. It might sound strange, but for someone from Slovakia, where we do not have a metro system, it was always a small adventure.
I walked past the Astronomical Clock, crossed Charles Bridge, and wandered through streets that I remembered from my student years. Tourists were everywhere, and memories of the time I spent in Prague kept coming back to me.
A Reunion After More Than a Year
One of the advantages of a lifetime of travelling is that you get to know many people. Over the years, I have studied, worked, and travelled in different places, so I have friends scattered across Europe and even around the world.
Earlier that morning, I had messaged a former colleague and his girlfriend, who had also once been my colleague, to let them know I was in Prague and ask if they had time for a quick catch-up. To my surprise, they did. Even though it was a last-minute plan, they made time for it, which I really appreciated.
So I headed towards Smíchov.
Before meeting them, I sat down in a small pub in Smíchov and ordered fried cheese with tartar sauce and fries. Simple food, but exactly what I felt like after a long week on the road. And because I did not have to drive that day, I also enjoyed a glass of mulled wine.
The meeting itself was great. We had not seen each other for more than a year, so there was plenty to talk about. We discussed work, life, future plans, and of course how I had somehow become a truck driver. I shared stories from my travels, while they caught me up on everything that was new in their lives.
Evening in the Truck
Later, they drove me back to my truck. For most people, a truck is just a vehicle they pass on the motorway, but an average person rarely gets the chance to sit inside one.
When we arrived, I switched on the Christmas lights and decorations I had in the cab. We sat there for a while, talking and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.
I even received a birthday present.
Birthday Morning
The next morning, I woke up and immediately knew something special was waiting for me. Ten centimetres of fresh snow had fallen overnight, and everything around me was white.
When I opened the curtain and saw all that snow, the first thing that came to my mind was:
Alright Tomáš, today you’re going to learn something.
At that moment, another thought crossed my mind. This was going to be my first real winter drive in a semi-trailer combination. In a way, it was quite an original birthday gift.
My First Winter Drive
What had looked romantic in the parking area quickly turned into a challenge on the road. A winter storm had hit Czechia. Parts of the motorways had not yet been cleared, trucks were jack-knifed on hills, accidents were happening, and traffic was moving very slowly.
I drove carefully and focused on every situation ahead of me. My goal was simple: get myself, the truck, and the freight safely back to Slovakia. It was one of those moments when you realise that respecting winter conditions is not a weakness – it is a necessity.
My First Winter Drive
For me, it was the first real test of winter trucking. And you simply never forget your first experiences.
A Safe Return to Slovakia
In the end, I made it safely back to the company yard. The freight was delivered, the truck was parked, and another journey was successfully completed.
When I look back on that weekend today, I realise just how special it was. Less than twenty-four hours earlier, I had been walking through Prague and catching up with old friends. One day later, on my birthday, I was driving a truck through snow-covered roads during my first real winter drive.
And that is exactly why I enjoy this life: you never really know what the next day will bring. 🚛 ❄️ 🎂