Driving across Glen Coe in a 'light' blizzard in a coupe.
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 3:05 pm
It was a tough trip to get that far from North Lincs on the snow that fell between the 19 & 20 Dec 09, but Felix the coupe took it all in her stride. We had experienced some snow fall onto an already slushy but quite quiet A66, us using the middle of the dual carriage way to avoid the drifts either side, but only when noone else was there to share the road. The m-way after Carlisle was Ok, as were the start of the A roads from Stirling.
As we approached Tyn Drum, expecting the snow gates to be shut, it had been snowing quite heavily for a fair few miles. There was no traffic ahead of us, and we were making the first tyre marks in the fresh snow on the road. It was getting dark, about 3.30pm. We took her steady but sure. She plowed on. The first major incline is Black Mount, just before you get to Glen Coe 'proper'. A couple of times the ASC light flashed and we heard the distinctive noise of the system in action, but Felix made it up in one piece and in the right direction.
The top road was exquisite. The remaining light reflecting off the snow turned everywhere blue. We could see the lights of cars coming the other way, looking like fairy lights hanging in the sky. And on we plodded.
Closer to our intended destination and the weather eased slightly, lulling us into a sense "we've made it". However, another sudden blizzard again covered the tarmac and the final and steepest road hill became an ice rink. But we struggled upwards, with ASC flashing and rear wheels fighting for traction, slower and slower, until finally, after a couple of nearly sideways events, we reach the pinnacle, and gravity and grit took hold and everything was back to normal. Phew.
Fortunately we made our destination in one piece, safely.
But what a beautiful trip.
And what a fantastic car.
As we approached Tyn Drum, expecting the snow gates to be shut, it had been snowing quite heavily for a fair few miles. There was no traffic ahead of us, and we were making the first tyre marks in the fresh snow on the road. It was getting dark, about 3.30pm. We took her steady but sure. She plowed on. The first major incline is Black Mount, just before you get to Glen Coe 'proper'. A couple of times the ASC light flashed and we heard the distinctive noise of the system in action, but Felix made it up in one piece and in the right direction.
The top road was exquisite. The remaining light reflecting off the snow turned everywhere blue. We could see the lights of cars coming the other way, looking like fairy lights hanging in the sky. And on we plodded.
Closer to our intended destination and the weather eased slightly, lulling us into a sense "we've made it". However, another sudden blizzard again covered the tarmac and the final and steepest road hill became an ice rink. But we struggled upwards, with ASC flashing and rear wheels fighting for traction, slower and slower, until finally, after a couple of nearly sideways events, we reach the pinnacle, and gravity and grit took hold and everything was back to normal. Phew.
Fortunately we made our destination in one piece, safely.
But what a beautiful trip.
And what a fantastic car.
