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Friday, December 10

Thawing?




Last night, from the various sounds coming from the roof, it would seem we are in for a thaw. The weather forecasts have been very accurate so far so it is with a heavy heart I read that we are due for another dose of snow next week.

We live just off the A171 Whitby coast road and it has certainly been in the news this week, in particular on Tuesday. Jon and I had to go to Guisborough and as we set out it started to snow - nothing drastic - just a steady even fluttering.

We weren't long in Guisborough and coming home the snow started to lay thicker and heavier. Now the A171 is an unforgiving road with many blind bends and hidden summits. It is important not to brake unecessarlily as this can lead to skidding and there are many ditches along the side.

One of the dangers on the moor road is drifting snow. One minute you are looking at white fields on either side of the road - the next the wind carries the snow across the road which suddenly is not visible and you are surrounded by a vast whiteness - yet you know the ditches are there!

As we use the road daily we are aware of the many blackspots - so as we left Birk Brow and headed down the sloping road the car in front was indicating left. The car began to turn left, then changed its mind and reversed back onto the main road, straight into our path. Now this junction is a notorious black spot - indeed it claimed the life of our neighbour some years ago and I always think of Peter everytime I pass.
Jon was driving and by his quick thinking swerved round the car and carried on. Fortunately nothing was coming toward us!

The snow was pelting down by this time and as cars in front of us drove cautiously towards Whitby we eventually turned left towards our village. The road was barely visible but we managed to get to Jon's workshop and on the way home came across a vehicle which could not get over the brow of a slight hill in the road. It was still snowing heavily but Jon stopped and towed the car over the brow and onto a part of the road where the driver could carry on. Would you believe we knew the driver? His dad was our best man! lol!

Shortly afterwards the roads were closed. Mayhem! There had been various accidents and incidents. If we had been any later we too would have been stranded for a few hours.
Our location leaves us with two routes - the moor road and the coast road. The coast road involves saltburn bank - to give you an idea of the adverse conditions we have had to dope with here is a video of Saltburn Bank taken last week. The coach driver now has his own following!

19 comments:

  1. Wow! That's some driver. Wonder what he would have made of our hill last Saturday (when it turned into the Cresta Run - one huge sheet of ice - with the river at the bottom!)

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  2. Blimey, you're really getting it hard up there! Lovely skies, beautiful colours. No snow or frost today, but a bitter wind.

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  3. Perhaps he trained here in Canada!
    Jane x

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  4. Your hills and twisty lanes are so beautiful that it's easy for us to forget the challenges you face in winter. Ours are more like your moor road with many flat stretches and white outs when it blows.

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  5. brilliant ! We're supposed to be heading home next w/e (Whitby) with the aim of attending a friends party in Glaisdale, but it's looking less likely! We can see more tarmac than snow now today (Sheffield) - it's very strange after everything has been blanketed in snow for a week. Very pretty, but I think everyone is fed up of it now :(

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  6. great video. In Somerset we've had nothing like your snow bt the ice has meant several slidey moments. Our kids' school bus has stopped coing to get them as they refuse to take the chance of getting stuck of injuring the driver. Let's hope there is enough of a thaw and the water runs away so it doesn't simply refreeze. And please for all of you up in the North, no more snow!

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  7. For a second there I thought the back of the bus was skidding but that driver had it all under control. From now on, take the coach!

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  8. All the snow has gone here now and am I glad to see the back of it! I know the forecast is colder again next week. We haven't had it anywhere near as back as you on the East coast. :(

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  9. Great sunset/sunrise photos, just stunning!

    Glad you are safe and sound after travelling along that scary road.

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  10. Glad to hear you arrived safely home after such a challenging drive ~ that's quite a video! Brilliant sunset!

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  11. now he knows how to drive!
    down here in the new forest our snow visited for only two days. but i see today the snow and ice is indeed due to return next week.
    stay safe and warm!

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  12. Thank you for your kind words re Fluffy... I think she only has a little time left now, poor sweet thing... We are so sad...

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  13. What a careful, canny driver. I would be hesitant on that road in the best of conditions!
    Sorry to learn that you're in for more snow - brrr!!

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  14. The coach driver is obviously an expert and he can drive me any time :-)

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  15. I can't believe how quickly it took the snow to go after the thaw started. We've got icy roads and pavements this morning though so it looks like the cold weather is hanging on. I wouldn't like to drive up that road in icy conditions.

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  16. Wow he is good! I also would not want to go up there even in good weather!

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  17. It sounds so romantic -"the Coast Road or the road over the moors." Very Jane Austen or the Brontes -ish. You and I both know differently in this kind of weather!

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  18. That's an awesome video. I'm not looking forward to the snow returning and I've none of your problems.

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Thank you for your comments, always nice to know somebody has taken the time to let me know what they think.