Winter driveway folly (work, quality, snow)

[quickdraw]

Should have known better than taking out the non 4wd-all wheel drive vehicle last night. Hit the driveway with a running start, thought I was going to make it. Halfway, still thought I'd make it. Three-quarters of the way, car going sideways, no way I'm going to make it and I'm turning the snow tires into summer tires. Back down the driveway, one last shot. About a foot shorter than the previous try. Back down the hill and get wife to drive while I push. This almost always leads to a divorce. I give simple instructions, "gas when I say gas and brake when I say brake" Pushing, rocking shoveling...the car is now almost completely sideways on the driveway with (naturally) ditches on each side.

"I said gas! Why are the brake lights on??!!"
"I thought I was going to run you over!"

"left....left....LEFTTTT!!



Ah yes. Life in hilly, rural, Vermont withough 4wd.

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by quickdraw

Ah yes. Life in hilly, rural, Vermont withough 4wd.

Thanks for the warning and the reminder.

Before I became enamored of small-town living (on paved roads and flat driveways), I lived in rural New Hampshire down 3 miles of dirt road and up a steep driveway. I have never owned a 4WD.

After AAA pulled my car out of the ditch beside the driveway, I started parking at the bottom of the driveway after the snow fell.

But what about myself? Walking up that driveway was hazardous to impossible. No problem: I tied a rope to the front porch railing and ran the rope down the mountain, um, driveway. Thereafter, when it was snowy or icy, I simply used the rope to rappel myself up or down the driveway as needed. I would put grocery bags in a box and just pull them up the driveway with me. No biggie.

Still, I'm just as glad not to deal with that anymore.

[Dwatted Wabbit]

Fireplace ashes are great traction enhancers.

[square peg]

Quickdraw & Sheryl, your stories reminded me so much of the quality times my wife and I have spent in our own driveway. It's a rare winter when neither one of us has gotten hung up at some point. Just today I had to get a coworker's car off the hill that leads to my workplace. He wasn't stuck - just couldn't make the grade. I backed his car down the half mile one lane road which has no turnoffs. My head nearly became permanently affixed in the Linda Blair - Exorcist position. Shoveled my roof off today in anticipation of the nor'easter coming our way. Tomorrow's driveway should be nothing short of interesting.

[Ham Sandwich]

LOL!!!! Yup, I do stuff like that to!!! Too funny you guys!