On the drive in the moor road was slushed up. It had been fine the night before driving home late but enough snow had fallen and the temperature was just above freezing to melt it all to slush. there was also a nice strong wind blowing.
I was taking it easy. The car is quite light and the combination of high winds, ice and slush/water on the wheels is not something to ignore.
I was managing at my own pace. The guy ahead disappeared before I got to the bottom of the first climb. By the time I got to the top I could see cars behind and by the tie I go to the top of the second climb I could see a train of 4 cars behind me, being led by a 4x4.
"If he wants to go faster he can overtake" I thought to myself as I settled into the descent into Eaglesham.
All of a sudden i was spinning clockwise into the middle of the road. A nice gentle spin leaving me sliding downhill broadside into any oncoming traffic (luckily for me there was no traffic), now going backwards down the "correct" lane given the direction the car was facing before slamming into the ditch and sinking into the mud.
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| skid marks in the snow show how I ended up there |
The queue of traffic all stopped and the 4x4 driver came over to me and told me to go sit in his car. "In 2 minutes you are going to start shaking" and sure enough I soon realised what had just happened and what hadn't.
Phone call to the RAC and wait for the van to come rescue my "ditched" car. As I put my phone down a passing car stopped - traffic police on their way south to drier roads for some high speed training. They took control of the situation allowing the 4x4 to continue on its journey.
Standing at my car observing that no damage was done to the car, the roadside furniture or the farmers fence we could hear a vehicle approaching at high speed. " He's going too fast for these conditions" said the police man "If he loses it where I did he'll end up right here" said I. After a moments consideration he suggested we cross the road. His partner then moved the unmarked car to the top of the hill and put the flashers on.
Luckily it was dry, though cold. While we waited for the RAC the officer suggested that if the van couldn't get grip to get the car out, they had a land-rover that might do the trick. He phoned back and arranged for it to come out.
A few moments after the RAC arrived the land rover showed up and between them we pulled the car out of the ditch and got me driving again.
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| Even the land rover had some bother getting grip |
I'm still not sure exactly what happened.
I wasn't going too fast - it was the same steady pace I held the rest of the way.
I wasn't intimidated by the guy behind - he never came close enough to annoy me (he said he was actually backing up the woman behind him who was too close to him).
I'm guessing a gust of wind caught the car - the spot is where the ridge on the northern edge of the road drops away and the southern edge is open down to the loch - and hit with enough force to nudge the wheels which would have been mostly swamped with slush.
Anyway, no harm done, nothing damaged but my pride (and some minor scratches to the rear of the car)
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