SCOTLAND'S WINTRY A9 ROAD

The weather forecast was almost, but, not quite as dire as some we have heard before a journey. Nevertheless, if we were going to make the journey we had to travel in daylight.  The forecaster warned that with the temperatures being low, driving conditions could be icy and in addition, there was snow expected on high ground, which would move onto lower ground later on in the day.  It was mid February, daylight hours had increased by four minutes a day since the Winter Solstice, so, that meant we now had a decent chunk of additional daylight time in our favour.

You Can See The Icy Road Ahead.

Being a Tuesday, we expected to encounter a fair amount of commercial traffic.  Most of the commercial vehicles and some streams of cars were all heading in the opposite direction.  In front here, there was a truck and a tanker.

The road, Scotland's notorious A9 two lane road, is currently governed by average speed cameras. Vehicles of 7.5 tons or more, are restricted to 50 miles per hour.  Overtaking opportunities were limited, unless you thrived on serious risk-taking.  There being no other road north, it meant that domestic and smaller vehicles were forced into slower speeds for much of the time.  You see road signs that tell you 'frustration kills'.

Here we are into the steady upward climb of  'higher ground' as can be seen by the snow-capped hill on the left and the broken white slopes appearing on the right.  Just in case you are wondering, we are on one  of  the sections of dual carriageway on this road.   There are not many.



Still, onward and upwards.....

Climbing Higher still

Mucky Windscreen.

 

Then clarity.......The snowy  marshmallow pillows were lovely

This is my way of climbing peaks, using four wheels.

The dual carriageway at this point is on two levels.  In the right corner, you can just see a bit of the upper level.

 

 We caught a heavy bout of 'lower ground weather' as forecast, just after a quick, a very quick lunch stop; me darting in to a road side cafe to buy two coffees to take away.   Here we are driving into 'the weather'. The light and the sky were very threatening  What a difference an hour or two makes to a day.  All that lovely bright light, the gorgeous skies with fluffy clouds, had totally disappeared

 

 

A few minutes more and we met the weather totally as forecast, we were well and truly in it, a mix of snow and sleet and  very subdued daylight.

The rest of the journey, the last hundred miles or so, was punctuated by more  heavy wind-driven snow and sleet. But, it was still daylight when we reached journey's end.  We'd done it!

A BOWL WITHOUT WATER - A POT OF TEA WITHOUT A CUP

We agreed that it did us good to visit the cafe once in a blue moon, just to remind ourselves why we didn't want to go there regularly, or, make it a meeting point to catch up with friends. It's a pity, because they serve good coffee, really good scones, and large lumps of cake and generous squares of tray bakes they make. The cafe is overlooking a harbour and in fine weather, (or, weather that's warm enough in a brisk breeze) you can sit outdoors at large wooden tables.  Even a dog water bowl is provided as a little welcome for people dropping by with their four legged friends in tow.  But...... for all this, we cannot bring ourselves to enthuse about the place.

Today, on one of our rare visits a delightful waitress attended to our order.  I asked for a glass of water and hubby requested a cold can of flavoured fizz.  The can of drink given, was warm.  As she was going to get some ice at hubby's request, I asked if I could have some ice for my glass of water.  "Of course you can," she replied, then  took my glass saying, "if you want more water, please do ask".

Two glasses reappeared both with ice in them, mine without water!  "Ooh dear, I'm so sorry," said the waitress,  as she dashed off .

We finished our snack and waited for the next bit of the order.  It did not arrive. I queued up inside the cafe to place the order again and foolishly added to it a slice of banana loaf.  Very eventually, one black coffee and a pot of tea arrived... without a cup.  I stared at the teapot.  Meantime a hapless dog appeared at the foot of the table looking for water in a pretty dry dog bowl.  I understood how he felt.

Whoever cut the slice of banana loaf used the same knife that cut a butter cream blackcurrant concoction. I sent it back and  the cake reappeared looking like it had been wiped.

I think we will give up reminding ourselves why we should not visit the cafe.  We're unlikely ever to be surprised with acceptable service.

SPIN ON BLACK ICE.

 "Oh, well, that's it" I thought.  I closed my eyes, sat back into my car seat, relaxed, and waited for what I was sure was my inevitable end.

"Did your life flash before your eyes?" asked the kind motorist who gave me a lift home after my car spun on black ice, and landed it and me in a ditch. "I can't remember"...."I said a prayer",  I fibbed......"Then I came along" he said.  I smiled and said "Yes, thank you ever so much".  He and his companions were so caring and concerned, I was keen to please.  There are some very kind and thoughtful people about.

 FIRST WINTER ICE

We had our first really wintry night and day. A hard frost lay over the land, there was no freezing mist, there was no bright sun either.

I donned my padded coat, with its ribbed neck collar and double storm front, found my warmest gloves, made sure I had comfortable footwear, with a suitable sole, and trotted out. 

It was just the right kind of day for a walk, that sort of healthy dry cold weather, in which you meet unhealthy people with their current viruses, coughs, colds and laryngitis, keen to let you know, what they've got, by whatever means possible.

I was taking a short cut to the other side of town. Most of the ice underfoot had disappeared on the paths; but, on one slope, there was an almost invisible stretch of it. Someone coming in the opposite direction noticed the ice patch and carefully stepped round it. She talked about where it might be safest to continue her walk.

Another person trotted down the slope, I called out a warning. She was unsure how to deal with it,not a good thing. I talked this woman through the few steps round the danger point. Last year, she said, she had fallen, and did not want to repeat the experience. 

Both of the ladies were wearing flat dainty 2-lace holes shoes, with unsuitable soles. (Must be a generational thing). I hope they are able to have a re-think about their footwear, now we have had our first experience this Winter, of real icy conditions.