Since I’ve been in Austria now over ten years, I consider myself to be fairly adept at driving in the snow. I’ve done it plenty, right? Last week, hubby was predicting a lot of snow throughout the day, so when it started, I figured I’d head out for the weekly shop before it got worse.
I thought it could be fun.
I was WRONG.
Even from the first turn, where I slid out a little, I thought… this is different. And as I drove I realised that the snow seemed a lot worse than it had from my safe haven inside the house. Still, I wasn’t worried. I trailed around the supermarket and then I headed back outside.
Where my car was covered in snow. I realised in that moment that it had been a while since I’d dealt with this. There hasn’t really been a lot of snow in the last years, and with the advent of working from home, I’ve generally managed to avoid it. Still, in good spirits, I brushed the snow off my car and got in, defogger on to melt the ice on my windscreen. As I set off, I realised there was something wrong with my windscreen wiper – namely the part directly in front of my face. I failed to fix the problem, before scrunching my head down and beginning the drive home. I mean, it was only a five- minute drive, so no problem, right?
Except now the snow was really pelting down, all I could see was white, and all I could do was go slow and concentrate on those poles at the side of the road, which I’ve rarely needed before.
The thing is, I have done a lot of snow driving – but most of it on the autobahn. And as scary as that is, it’s a high traffic situation. There are tracks to follow, and other cars to show the way. My drove home from Hofer felt worse cause I was on small roads, with very few other cars about.
Anyway, I made it home without incident, had a little cry, and two hours later, the snow was done with.
Turns out I should have just waited to go shopping. Lesson learnt!
an aussie in austria 