Crookhorn Ski-ing 15 February 2012

Wednesday 15 February


I go out to the coach at 05:50 to switch the webasto on and then go back for a shower and then breakfast. Brian has also been out before breakfast and started the engine and when we return to the bus it is warm as toast inside and the windscreen is clear! What a pleasure!
Our only problem today will be the snow as it is snowing already and is set to snow heavily all day. And today we are driving to Zauchensee which is the furthest resort from the main road and also the highest, so will probably be the snowiest too!
The snow plough has been over the small pass where the hotel is so that is our first obstacle removed. The road out to the motorway is white and not getting any better while the motorway is benefitting from the constant up and down running of the snow ploughs.
Once we turn off the motorway and begin our climb to Zauchensee the snow becomes heavier and the road whiter but we make it into the resort without having to put the snow chains on. If this snoe keeps up it may be a different story later.
At least with it snowing it is warmer and we reach the heady heights of zero degrees today but still not warm enough to thaw the coffee machine and toilet.
The snow seems to be getting heavier as the day goes on and at some points it is a complete white out with visibility practically zero. The wind has also got up and is blowing the snow about which must make the ski-ing difficult.
There is a Scottish coach next to ours all the way from Aberdeenshire and during the afternoon the two drivers put on their snow chains in anticipation of a slow ride home.
We decide to do the same and take our chains out and lay each one next to the rear wheel they will be attached to.
We start to put them on and struggle and I could kick myself for not practising at home before we came away.
As we are struggling away one of the lads from the Scottish coach comes over to lend a hand and fits one of them for us.
We then try the other wheel and are still struggling! I ask for some help again and our Scottish friend helps out with our other one. Now we are set!
At Zauchensee the coach park is undercover in a large concrete car park and all you can hear echoing around the place is the sound of chains being dragged out and put on wheels.
We have had the engine running on and off all day, mainly to keep warm but also to make sure the batteries don’t go flat as we are using lights, dvd player and heaters.
We are due to leave at 16:00 and by this time most of the group are back. There is a fault code coming up on the dashboard so we turn the engine off and then the master switch to see if the fault will clear rather like you would do on a computer. This happens occasionally and usually works.
After 5 minutes we turn the main switch back on and I go to start the engine but it doesn’t start! Bum!
I try again but to no avail, it seems the batteries are flat!
We have a roadside battery starter so connect that but there is not enough charge to turn the engine! Bum and double bum!
By this time all of the English coaches (who could help jump us) have gone leaving only a couple of local service busses. I ask one of their drivers and he can’t find where his batteries are so takes me to the ticket office, explains my situation, and the the ticket lady calls for help that should be with me shortly.
During this time the final skiers are back as we wait for help.
Very shortly it arrives with a fork lift truck carrying a pallet with two new batteries on it which we connect to our batteries and she starts. Bingo!
With this coach after starting the engine you have to give it a big rev on the throttle for the alternators to kick in, don’t do this and the batteries are being drained as it is running.
This whole episode has cost us about ten minutes so not too bad just a bit embarrassing. I am annoyed because that is now three different problems that could have and should have been avoided.
Firstly the main problem was the freezing water in the engine and check on the strength of anti-freeze before we left would have told us the percentage of anti-freeze in the water was not high enough.
Secondly we should have practised with the snow chains so it would be second nature using them. We got lucky in that we weren’t required to put them on at the side of the road and had time (and help) to do it in the coach park.
Thirdly the batteries should never have been allowed to run dry and although this can happen it is unforgiveable to have a roadside charger on board that is not charged up!
Once again all of the staff have been supportive and taken these mishaps in their stride which is very much appreciated.
Finally we depart Zauchensee onto a very snowy road and though It is comforting having the chains on I think we could have driven without them as the coach drives well on the compacted snow.
Before we reach the town at the bottom of the valley, Altenmarkt, we pull over to remove the chains. This again proves harder than it should do with one of the chains falling and wedging itself between the two rear wheels! Bum!
We are away after about ten minutes and continue back to the hotel in not ideal conditions with the wind picking up, the snow still falling and the roads become worse as we drive.
The motorway is slow but not too bad but when we come off towards Pass Leug the road hasn’t been ploughed and is covered in snow which makes it narrower without any road markings. David has spoken to Chris and let us know the snow plough has been up and over the pass at the hotel and indeed as we arrive, negotiating the hill up to the hotel is okay.
I drop all of the group off except Laura and two of the children who have hurt themselves today and need to go to the hospital to be checked.
The journey to the hospital at Hallein takes about twenty minutes but it is not a pleasant drive, even on the motorway. I will be glad to be away from the snow for a while.
I drop them off and return to the hotel. I would have waited with them but tonight is disco night and they need the coach to take them to the disco in Golling.
Back at the hotel I manage to grab some dinner, a rather nice chicken curry, and a shower before being ready at the coach to take them to their disco.
Again the conditions are not ideal but the disco is only ten minutes from the hotel so doesn’t take long to reach.
Last year there were a few school groups in together but tonight it is only our group. I go in for a couple of beers and a chat while the kids dance to the loud (I’m getting old) music.
We are away after 22:30 and am pleased that we are able to get up the hill to the hotel. David and his family have all gone to bed but have been kind enough to leave out a couple of crates of beer and some wine, all nicely chilled in the cold night air.
Once the saucepan lids have been put to bed the grownups can play!!
Steve, Chris, Simon, Chris, Matt, Annie, Laura and myself all enjoy a couple of drinks and with varying bed times it is left to Steve, Chris and I to stay the distance until 01:00! I will feel it tomorrow!