Now at this time of year there are many warnings of being prepared for the winter weather, and sure enough had I been going on a trip to Morayshire I certainly would be prepared, however I was only going to the supermarket and then to Benmore in the hope I might get some shots of the squirrels in the snow and the roads were clear and the car park at the gardens I knew would be fine.
So off I went, first to the supermarket to get what I was needing and then off to Benmore, I stopped at Sandbank to take some shots of the mountains and the Holy Loch, the lighting was stunning.
The gardens are beautiful any time of year but with the snow it's like .......Narnia, there were a few people walking about, but mostly I only hear them in the distance, it was bliss but not a sight of the squirrels, although I did photograph some prints in the snow (added to the red squirrels in the Mammal section) the temperature was starting to drop and I decided it was time to head back home.
I got back to the car, then thought I would just nip up to Inverchapel and get a few shots of the snowy mountains from there, there is a small parking area and further up another parking /turning area, so I thought I would park up at the top as it would be easier to turn come back to the main road.
I got out the car to take a few shots, and back to the car, reversing back a little to have more room to turn onto the main track, but all I could do was reverse, each time I went to move forward the wheels spun eventually I was now down at the bottom end of the turning area and nowhere to go but trees and a ditch, there is a small group of forestry houses across from where I was but no one at home, by now the sun had gone behind the mountains and I knew before long there would not be much light left.
I phoned a camera club member/ friend and told him what had happened, and he said he would come up with a rope, I had just came off the phone when a man and his sister who had been out with their dogs was passing, they had a 4x4 and were parked further down.
Ian arrived with the rope and got stuck next to my car,
I was feeling bad about Ian getting stuck too, I had two car rugs in the car and I asked if they might help get me some grip, so with them in place I very slowly moved forward with the men giving the car a little push, at last I was safely out from where I had got stuck, Ian had to reverse all the way back with the guidance of the other chap to avoid the ditches.
So all's well that ends well.
It could have turned out differently, had I no phone signal, and had the other people passed without me seeing them.
No matter how short your trip is in wintry weather Always Be Prepared !