Snow

That first snow hung around a week with temperatures never getting above freezing. Then one night the temperature shot up. I was aware of it. I was actually hot in bed. When morning light eventually arrived Vitared was completely snow free. Daytime temperatures reached 5C for a couple of days, then the temperature fell and we got fresh covering. Just 1cm so I wasn't worried. I should have been more concerned because after dark it predictably froze. taking it easy on the ice and snow, the journey home through the forest wasn't too bad, until some arsehole in a pick up thundered up behind me and tailgated unmercifully for the last 3 kilometres. He mast be able to see my GB plates. He was blinding me with moose lights and breathing down my neck. I would have pulled over to let the prat pass, but there was nowhere to do that. So I held my nerve, and my speed. Not far, concentrate on the road, and ice, not the knuckle dragger behind. I got my turn signal on early to let bollock brian know I was getting out of his way, and slowed right down for the left hander onto our track. Made it. A big sigh of relief as my friend hurtled past, hurrying to catch the accident he was late for. 

I relaxed. Which is where what I think of as a forced error happened. I was crawling along, mentally exhausted, and already thinking of a stiff drink and an open fire. I should have been doing the hill with it's long left hand bend, and adverse cambre. I hadn't enough momentum to get up the ice road. I slithered to a halt. Hill start on ice? Don't try it. I couldn't reverse down around the bend without a likely slide into the ditch. 1st gear just produced wheel spin, oh and a little backwards slide. I was stuck.

Mikael: "When you end up in a ditch, which you will, call me on my mobile. Don't call the breakdown people. You will pay an absolute fortune."

"Fuck!" Sorry about that expletive. Apparently I am still partly Anglo-Saxon!. Unfortunately it seems to be the useless bit between my ears.

2nd gear and balance the throttle/accelerator and clutch/cuppling. I gained 40cm then wheel spin. Vitared is empty. It's a winter's evening and I have honestly never felt so alone. My heart was in my mouth. Abandon the car and walk the last quarter mile? Block the track so that a Swedish neighbour gets stuck as well. Try again. Another 40cm and then wheels spin. I rested and calculated. I was near the crest of the hill. I had made the best part of a metre. Keep at it. Where is that British Stiff upper lip? Just above the wobbly British lower one! 15 minutes later and in an awkward slither as the road became less steep, and I could taste success. YES, oh crikey watch the left hander, tending to waltz past. Home and breathing hard. A shower is enough detail, and a large Highland Park.

Note to self: Practise. Don't just wing it. I have to become proficient at ice driving.