Welcome back to a new trucking diary.
Last time out we left from Rotterdam to Helsingborg in Sweden. After having offloaded the cargo there, empty pallets remain.
The Swedes like to recycle, but they don’t want to keep everything. So I’m taking these a far distance away. We’re going to the island of Sicily. The island most notoriously known for the Mafia. Let’s hope no bad things happen to me there.
They use these empty pallets mostly for their tomato produce. It’s hard to come by any resources on an island. So they take what they can get. Once I offload there, they’ll be able to transport more tomatoes across Europe and the world.
This is what I think they call part of a circle economy. I’m happy to be a part of that. At least I hope the weather becomes good. Because here in Sweden it’s only raining.
It’s a very long drive, spanning across 2900 kilometres. So I cannot do this in one short stint. Unless I’m able to get the velocity of an aeroplane. Which I highly doubt will happen.
So I set back off the way I came. That brings me to my arch nemesis. The toll booths at the Swedish-Danish border. As you acquainted to my driving style, I forgot an exit. So then I just decide to drive on and then take a ferry. In the lovely village called Gedser.
Before making my way towards the ferry, I make a quick stop to check my fuel level and grab something to eat. There’s still a long way to go, and I don’t want to be worrying about an empty tank when I’m somewhere in the middle of Germany. A quick meal and a bit of stretching should do the trick.
After boarding the ferry at Gedser, I can finally sit back for a little while. It’s a welcome break from the road, especially after dealing with those toll booths. I take the opportunity to relax, have a drink, and enjoy the crossing before getting back behind the wheel.
I arrive at Rostock in northern Germany, not much later. We passed a security check and I’m back on my way.
Once I’m back on German roads, I continue south. The weather is still not exactly what I’d call pleasant, but at least the journey is progressing nicely.
After a few hours behind the wheel, it’s time for another break. I pull into a service station, park the truck, and head inside for a proper meal. There’s something comforting about these stops. You get to stretch your legs, have a bite to eat, and watch other truckers coming and going. Everyone has somewhere to be, and everyone has their own journey ahead of them.
Before leaving, I check the truck and trailer to make sure everything is still in order. The empty pallets are not exactly the most exciting cargo in the world, but they still need to arrive safely. Then it’s time to hit the road again.
On route there is a security check with a weighing scale. Luckily for me, I don’t have to weigh in. Everything would be in order in spite of my personal weight. Don’t worry about me, I’m pretty healthy.
I get through a long stint of tunnels and then make our way to another toll booth. I misjudge which gate I to have to go through. So I have to back up and then make a weird manoeuvre. I’m happy nobody was on the road. They would have called me a complete idiot.
After that little incident, I decide it’s probably time to take things a little easier. There’s no point in rushing when I’m still so far away from Palermo. I find a suitable parking area, take a short break, and have a coffee to clear my head. A quick look at the route tells me that Italy is getting closer, and that gives me something to look forward to.
I passed by all the major cities of Italy. From Bologna, to Florence. And from Rome to Naples. I’m driving all the way down the boot of Italy.
The scenery gradually changes as I make my way further south. The roads, the landscapes, and even the atmosphere seem to change along the way. It’s quite something to drive through so much of a country in one journey. You get a little glimpse of all these places without actually having the time to stop and explore them.
Of course, driving this far means keeping an eye on the fuel gauge. I pull into another service station to top up the tank and grab something small to eat. I don’t want to spend too much time standing around, but I do want to arrive in Palermo in good condition. The truck needs fuel, and the driver needs food. It’s a simple equation.
With the tank filled and a little rest behind me, I continue south. The traffic varies along the way, but nothing too unusual happens. Just the usual driving, keeping a safe distance, watching the signs, and trying not to make any more questionable decisions at toll booths.
I then arrive in Villa San Giovanni. It’s a small town from which you can see Sicily. It’s so close, you could almost touch it if you stretch your arms out.
After such a long drive, reaching the southern tip of mainland Italy feels like a small victory. I’m nearly there, although I still need to cross the water and drive another considerable distance across the island.
After a short wait, I make my way towards the crossing. It’s a good opportunity to take a breather before the final stretch. I have a quick drink, check my remaining driving time, and make sure I’m ready for the road ahead.
After a measly 20 minutes, we arrive in Messina. It doesn’t look that far away from now, but it’s still 200 kilometres. The island of Sicily is quite big.
The crossing itself is over before I know it, and now I’m officially on Sicilian soil. The weather is looking much more promising than it did back in Sweden. At last, some sunshine! It’s a welcome change after spending so much time driving through the rain.
I continue along the island’s roads, keeping an eye on the remaining distance. Even though I’m getting close to my destination, I still have to be sensible. A long drive is a long drive, no matter how close you are to the end.
There’s time for one last short break along the way. I stretch my legs, grab a snack, and have a look at the route for the final part of the journey. Palermo is getting closer with every kilometre, and I can almost picture myself parking up and finally getting out of the driver’s seat.
Then I finally arrive in Palermo at 9 AM. What an interesting drive this has been. It has me wondering. How was it possible to run so many dark enterprises just from this tiny island? How did the Italian mafia get so much leverage across the world?
There’s many documentaries on that that I would recommend to watch. Lovely insight into the history of that world.
Before I can properly relax, there’s still the business of delivering my cargo. I make my way to the delivery location, manoeuvre the truck into position, and get ready to offload the empty pallets. After travelling almost 2,900 kilometres, it’s satisfying to finally complete the job.
Those pallets might not look like much, but they have a purpose. They’ll be put to use in transporting Sicilian tomatoes and other produce, helping goods make their way from the island to destinations across Europe and beyond. It’s a small contribution to a much bigger chain of transport and reuse.
Once the delivery is complete, I can finally take a moment to appreciate the fact that I’ve made it all the way from Helsingborg to Palermo. That’s quite a journey for a truck full of empty pallets!
Once again, I thank you for reading this trucking diary. It’s time to head back from this lovely sunny island. Back to the dreary and drooly weather that’s ongoing in Rotterdam. I can handle the cold, but I don’t like the rain. Can make you depressed at times. And we shouldn’t feel depressed. We should be happy to live another day.
But first, I’ll need to get myself and the truck back north. Hopefully, the weather will be a little kinder on the return journey. Though, knowing my luck, I probably shouldn’t get my hopes up too much!
So make sure your adventures are prosperous. And I’ll see you back in another trucking diary.
I'm Amethyst, 31, and from the Netherlands. I've always had a passion for adventure in roleplaying games. Being able to immerse myself into these universes allowed me to escape the trauma's of my youth. Now I want to share my gaming passion with all of you!
