Sure I've related this before but....
Mrs B and I have a favourite French campsite in the Auvergne near the town of Mont Dore. Originally discovered on a bike trip in 1990 but subsequently visited multiple times by car with kids on board.
Since the Lyon to Bordeaux (A89?) was completed access is straightforward but before that you left the Autoroute at Clermont Ferrand and followed the N89 over the Col de Ventouse at summit of which you turned off onto the Col de Guery.
On instant occasion we'd had warnings on Autoroute Radio all the way from Calais about Orages dans le Massif. Surely enough, as we motored out of Clermont the sky darkened and by the summit of the Ventouse it was thunder, lightning and hailstones the size of peas.
Stopped in lea of a closed hotel on junction while storm passed and sun came out; road still covered with hailstones. I'd just said something to Mrs B who was driving the Xantia about potential lack of grip as we approached a 90 degree left turn of road. BMW 3 coming other way fastish took what for him was left turn and lost traction and spun. Initially thought we'd catch him broadside and then he'd take out offside (passenger side in our UK car) doors. Miraculously he missed both.
Driver was a young man who's eye I briefly caught as he spun by - he'd clearly surrendered control to Newtonian physics. I think he actually stayed on road rather than ending up in ditch but I have to admit I didn't wait to find out.......
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Fri 3 May 19 at 22:38
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Lucky Escapes new
Lucky Escapes new
