At Mt Cook, snow was forecast after high winds the previous day. We drove up to the Hermitage for dinner which was wonderful then sat out in the lounge admiring the snow coming down. Thought we had better drive down to our motel before the road got too covered. John set out for the car park on foot and never came back! A phone call confirmed he was stuck. The hotel van (only 2 wheel drive also) took us down to him where we got out and pushed, some of us slipping and falling flat on our faces! No result, the car was stuck! We had to abandon it and were taken to the motel site where my shoes got soaked in the slushy snow!
Three good things:
1. Being John's birthday, the evening was full of good food, adventure and excitement. He wasn't too happy about the Mercedes not being able to move in the snow.
2. There was warmth and drying in our motel.
3. Our daughter and husband came down here to stay here in the mountains to see snow! They did - face down!
Well nothing if not an adventure! I didn't buy Mercedes after a load of them got stuck at the junction of our road which is the cutoff for gritting - rear wheel drive is it?
Rear wheel drive is rubbish in the snow & ice Maggiemae...I know because my BMW is one of them....I cannot get out of the drive in the slightest bit of ice!
Seems funny looking at snow on the warmest day of the summer for us so far!
Happy Birthday John...an adventurous one too!
@lesip Yes its poor Sadie, Leslie! She has a mantle of snow and is still stuck! There was a button that John could have pushed but didn't know about till he read the manual!
@happypat The snowy roads are turning to ice now, Pat. A new challenge! But the sun is starting to come into the valley and there are dripping icicles off the roof!
A birthday John won't forget in a hurry. Strange to hear of you in snow when we have just had a beautiful sunny day, hoping summer might actually have arrived.
belated happy birthday to john. maybe 'mercedes' didn't like it that she was not invited to the party. but what a let down that it got stuck. you'd think the darn things were tested for all types of weather!
Well it will be a birthday to remember!! great story and lovely shot Maggie. It's so hard to imagine you struggling in snow when we are having are first really warm summer weather .
What a bummer that your car got stuck in the snow. A birthday you and John will always remember. At least you had planned to stay at the hotel and spend time with your daughter and son-in-law. What a difference on your side of the earth. Wish we could fast forward to Winter. Stay warm and hopefully your car was out that night.
What an adventure you are having! Almost rivals some of Mr. Man's! Happy belated birthday to John. Hope you all managed to get out safely the next day.
Well, this will be a birthday to remember!! Nothing like a little adventure to make for good stories afterwards....too bad about the hardship, but it does not sound like a bad place to while some time!
Seems funny looking at snow on the warmest day of the summer for us so far!
Happy Birthday John...an adventurous one too!