Black ice

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chilistrucker

Original Poster:

4,541 posts

158 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
quotequote all
Had a scary night last night.
Left the gig in Helsinki to run back to Turku for a ferry Sweden. It had been cold all week think it hit -15 1 night.
So we set off, lots of snow, but 1 lane was clear, all was ok until we hit a patch for 20 kms that was the worst I've seen as a driver! Trying to get up a long drag, just started spinning and twitching in top gear, ended up in 2nd low at a virtual stop, sliding across the motorway. I managed to hit the concrete rumble strip and luckily caught some traction to limp over the hill and battle on much the same for another 15-20kms!
Wouldn't want a repeat of that again.
We have the proper winter rated tyres, but they just don't natch the studded tyres that the locals have!
Roll on spring smile
Now in Sweden waiting for my ferry to Denmark!

fttm

3,866 posts

142 months

Thursday 7th March 2013
quotequote all
Worst time of the year for icy roads especially as temperatures climb to around the zero mark ,the frost comes and of the tarmac which has been frozen all winter .
Had our first snow on Oct 16 and it's still falling , roll on spring .

iva cosworth

44,044 posts

170 months

Thursday 7th March 2013
quotequote all
Why are you getting a ferry Sweden to Denmark ?

Is the Oresund bridge down ?hehe

Or is it easier due to the snowy conditions to make the ferry do the work rather

than driving from Stockholm [?] to Malmo ?smile

Driving over the Oresund in summer is niceyes

chilistrucker

Original Poster:

4,541 posts

158 months

Thursday 7th March 2013
quotequote all
iva cosworth said:
Why are you getting a ferry Sweden to Denmark ?

Is the Oresund bridge down ?hehe

Or is it easier due to the snowy conditions to make the ferry do the work rather

than driving from Stockholm [?] to Malmo ?smile

Driving over the Oresund in summer is niceyes
Hello mate.
It was because our first shows in Denmark are in Aalborg, so made it nice and easy for us to come over via frederikshavn smile
Copenhagen next in a few days so road and bridge for that smile

iva cosworth

44,044 posts

170 months

Thursday 7th March 2013
quotequote all
So you drove from Stockholm to Gothenburg then to get ferry to Denmarksmile

My Geography/memory stinksrolleyes

Had to look at a map to suss that out,couldn't remember where Aalborg isconfused

s p a c e m a n

11,002 posts

155 months

Friday 8th March 2013
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I want your job, the most exciting place that I have been all week is Easbourne frown

chilistrucker

Original Poster:

4,541 posts

158 months

Friday 8th March 2013
quotequote all
Iva I have to look at the map all the time smile
Aalborg is a nice place, bit fresh at mo though!
Spaceman, it does have its down sides at times, 14 hours to do paperwork T the Russian border frown
On the whole though I do d joy it wink
Going to Istanbul from Prague in may, that's gonna be a 1st for me.

martin mrt

3,831 posts

208 months

Friday 8th March 2013
quotequote all
Good to see your enjoying it Neil.

Take care out there.

chilistrucker

Original Poster:

4,541 posts

158 months

Friday 8th March 2013
quotequote all
martin mrt said:
Good to see your enjoying it Neil.

Take care out there.
Thanks mate smile
Also doing Bulgaria and Romania for the first time, which should be interesting!
The rest I've done, and hopefully seem the last of the snow till next singer smile

iva cosworth

44,044 posts

170 months

Friday 8th March 2013
quotequote all
I had 2 drops around the posh part of Wimbledon SW19 last week.

I looked at the map before leaving drop 1.

I got confused and stopped to look at the map 2 or 3 times before getting to drop 2

about 1-2 miles away,including having to turn around after missing a turning near

the Lawn tennis association.

Should i get a Sat Nav ?nono..........not a chance

Not as interesting as getting lost in Scandinavia boxedin

s p a c e m a n

11,002 posts

155 months

Friday 8th March 2013
quotequote all
Chilli, do you travel on your own or is it a convoy type affair? I would love to do stuff like that it it was with a few people that I got on with, doing it alone would drive me insane though.

chilistrucker

Original Poster:

4,541 posts

158 months

Friday 8th March 2013
quotequote all
s p a c e m a n said:
Chilli, do you travel on your own or is it a convoy type affair? I would love to do stuff like that it it was with a few people that I got on with, doing it alone would drive me insane though.
Iva, I prefer my maps aswell, but Sat nav is a handy guide!

With the whole convoy thing, it depends.
There are 11 of us on this job and once loaded you kind of crack on really for the next gig! On this tour, the last 3 of us to load all get done virtually together, the other 2 are good lads so we tend to run as a group!
Breaks the run up when you stop for a coffee and have a natter.

I did general in uk and Spain for 10 years before this so just as happy on my own!!!
This job is good if you get abit of time in 1 city as normally always someone else up for a beer if we get the time wink