Sherpa's don't quit...

[andrew e]

....and neither do their drivers went the strap line. A sweet little snippet from a pissed up OAP Found in the letters page of Motorhome Monthly Magazine:

In 1976 (was it really that long ago?) I had a light transport and courier business and we had a fairly regular run to the atomic energy plant at Sellafield. Such a job came up in November and I decided a ride to the lake district would be pleasant - so elected to go myself.Leaving Huntingdon in our Sherpa van at 4am, I had a good run up the A65 and by 8am was enjoying a Little Chef breakfast near Kirby Lonsdale. Then it was the A590 to Newby Bridge and on via Broughton in Furness and the A596 past Ravenglass to Sellafield.Unloaded by midday, the next question was which way to go home. Why not cut off a corner and take a short cut over Hardknott and Wrynose to Ambleside?The last time I had been over Hardknott was 20 years earlier in the 1956 RAC Rally of Great Britain, and that had been in the middle of the night driving an Austin Westminster. There wasn't much time to admire the view!This was an opportunity to rectify that omission.Decision made, Sherpa and I set off for Eskdale with some cloud over the mountains ahead and a slight dampness in the air. As we started to climb, the dampness turned to drizzle and the cloud base got lower - so much for enjoying the view! The single track road began its series of hairpin bends and the Sherpa made hard work of some of them,. As she was empty, there was not sufficent weight to give decent traction and the rear wheels would hop sideways as they struggled for grip.We were very near the summit and the last hairpin, when the Sherpa decided enough was enough and she refused to go round. I reversed some 50 yards and had another run at it, all to no avail.There was a no choice - I would just have to turn around and retrace my steps back down the dale. But where to turn? I got out and walked back down the hill and luckily, after a 1000 yards or so came to a drovers' track leading off to the right. With a bit of luck, there was just enough room to reverse into it.As I walked backed to the van, it started to snow. I had no bad weather gear with me, just a car coat. Very cautiously, I reversed down the road and started the turn. The nearside mirror was my only guide, and that was partially covered by snow.As the rear near side wheel left the road and entered the track, it hit a large slab of granite and a razor sharp edge sliced the wall of the tyre, which deflated like a burst ballon. I said "Oh bother!" or words to that effect, but kept reversing until the Sherpa was off the road.Fortunately the track was reasonably level and I had a jack and wheelbrace, but I was concerned that a wheelnut would refuse to budge as the wheelbracers supplied were flimsy affairs.As I got to work a figure in running gear, hair covered in snow, emerged from the mist and jogged off down the hill. He never even said "Good afternoon!" The wheel nuts all came off and very shortly the spare wheel was fitted and we were mobile again and headed home the sensible way.I finally did get to see the view another 20 years later, when I crossed the Hardknott from east to west in my Auto-Sleeper.Some people never learn, do they

[mouseflakes]

I love Wrynose and Hardknott. I like to hang about at the bottom until there are no cars visible on the climb ahead - if you get stuck behind someone who's a little nervy it becomes quite a chore and a real strain on the car. Shite-wise, I've been over them in R4, R10, R12, R16, Pug 505 Family, Toyota Crown, '72 Audi 100. Best of these for the job was the (then 30 year old) R10. It flew up! The Crown was quite a surprise too.