Just a thought, but after seeing the country grind to a halt, slithering in snow, I couldn't help but hark back to last May in northern California.....................
Donner Pass at 7,700 feet. Road cleared to go.
Well, seems like a good idea to me - get those chains on U.K!
Many thanks to all well-wishers, I'm on the mend, s-l-o-w-l-y, and don't make me laugh! Outch!
pamela x
Edited to add
Yes it's no easy thing I know. Over in California we did see long laybys especially for putting on/taking off tire/tyrechains. Notices indicated they may only be required for a short distance but were compulsory. The roads over the high passes in the High Sierra had deep channels gouged out by the heavy trucks with chains. Even in the south above Los Angeles in the mountains we were in snow (and 'Thunder Blizzards') at 5ooo feet and on the drive down to the valley floor we passed many vehicles heading upwards, stopping to put on their chains. When we reached the first set of traffic lights at the bottom of the mountain all the cars pulling up (including us) shed a small avalanche of snow each off their roof as bemused locals wearing shorts and sunglasses strolled past in the midday heat (32c) lol! Very memorable!
I remember the Blue Circle wagons from when I lived in Weardale. We were snowed in up a number of times up at Tunstall Valley (so beautiful, sigh) and it was the Water Board vehicles that used to clear that road eventually for access to the Resevoir and Treatment Plant, if I remember rightly.
Hope you feel better soon :)
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with your comments, OH lived in Canada for a while where it regulaarly hit -30 with deep snow but everything still ran like clockwork.We really should be more organised over here.
Unfortunately snow chains can only be used on ice and snow, so if for example you are driving along and came to a clear stretch of road you would have to remove the chains to avoid damaging the tarmac and your tyres. I know that in my 25 mile journey to work I can hit stretches of road which are temporarily covered in snow but only a few yards along might encounter clear tarmac and then encounter a snowy stretch again, so I would have toconstantly stop/start and it would be impractical. We do generally swap the tyres on our vehicles for winter tyres and while they are much better, they are no guarantee of not skidding in ice and snow. I do agree however that as a nation we always seem to be caught on the hop so to speak whenever it snows and can't help questioning why. Interestingly enough when I first moved up to Weardale the then Blue Circle Cement Works was still operating in the valley and as their trucks ran day and night the roads were gritted regularly 24hrs per day, 7 days per week in winter and we never had any problems getting out and about. Since the closure of the cement works however gritting is sporadic and travel is often a nightmare. Perhaps the answer is for local authorities to be better prepared?
ReplyDeleteOooh! it was up by Tunstall resevoir that you lived, very beautiful up there, but yes I imagine that it would have been very difficult in winter. I love your insight into the weather system in the mountains above Los Angeles, it's really interesting to hear first hand accounts of how things are in other parts of the world. Hope your recovery is continuing and you are soon back on your feet. xxx
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