Categories: uncategorized
Date: 03 January 2004 13:39:01
Another challenging drive, which nearly ended in disaster. On the way home from Granny's, it has been my sentimental habit to start the journey by travelling along the Wicks o'Baiglie road, instead of going straight on to the motorway which passes Bridge of Earn. It is a narrow road, with some steep inclines. As we proceeded, I realised that the surface upon which we were travelling was mostly ice. On a particular slope, the wheels spun, and it was clear that we were not going to reach the top. Carefully I reversed, to a place where I could come off the road, but was unable to turn back, or go on.
We phoned home (the wonder of mobile phones), but I was reluctant to ask my brother to drive to where we were (companionship would have been welcome, but two stuck cars would have been worse than one). What should come past (having descended the unascendable slope) but a gritter lorry, the driver of which helped us back on to the road, and advised us that we should, now, be able to achieve the previously denied ascent. He was, as it turned out, wrong, and halfway up the slope, I decided that my brother's presence would be welcome. Meanwhile, we started again to reverse.
Brother (with Granny) arrived. Together, we reversed to the turning area, and this time managed to turn around, and safely drive back to civilisation (I guess that the gritter lorry had done some good). Choosing the much travelled path this time, we headed for home, stopping at the Moto place by Kinross for a welcome cup of coffee. A reminder that however safe we generally feel, danger isn't far away.