Downhill

Lots of things seem to be going downhill at the moment but luckily for the children and a few adults who braved the climes, today was a great day at the ski-lift in the nearby village/small town of Ronsberg,

Some may remember my last visit there 3 months ago when the sports shop in the village was preparing for the winter season.

I am sure the sports shop probably spends quite a bit helping to finance the lift. Ronsberg is not in or very near the Alps but does have a steep hill, right on the edge of the town (1,795 inhabitants). The ski club is a voluntary organisation and part of the Sports club.

With our weather in the last few decades, the years when they can open the lift are few and then usually only for a week or two. Last winter was good and so will this be.

Their rates are laughable: Children under 16 pay €1 for a ride, €12 for a block of 20, €10 for a whole day and if the chance it €80 for the season (2nd child €65 and further children €55) Adult season costs €95 and probably a well-invested charity donation to keep it running.

They have two tow/drag lifts, one very small one for the toddlers. Children under 6 are free on the lifts.

They have a slope preparation machine and have also invested in a small artificial snow blower that can assist when nature plays along. They have even installed floodlighting to allow evening skiing. And a great advantage - no queues. OK, no hut or cafe to take a warming toddy either.

Luna and I had gone there as I wanted to go to a village a few kilometres away over the top of the ridge on the lower photo. From a group of UK vintage "hedgerow" tractor freaks, I wanted to get details of one such example that had been covered in brambles in the summer and I wasn't dressed to fight my way through and identify the model.

Thought today with it snowing heavily and -3°C I could reach the spot. We got out of the car at the carpark and didn't manage 10 metres before Luna stopped, looked at me and I nodded. We headed home and did a tour around our village lakes, the track to which was still clear enough to drive on.

Driving up the steep serpentine road at Ronsberg on snow without a problem made me think why the Uk didn't as a rule,  opt for All-Season tyres. Summer tyres are made of a compound that goes brittle at temperatures of +7°C or less. But in summer or in temperatures above +20°C they get very spongy at speed and we still have stretches of the autobahn with no limit. At around 180km/h in summer you can really feel the difference on the steering wheel. Winter tyres are generally rated to at least 190km/h but also available for 240km/h.

All-Season tyres are a compromise - not great in summer (aquaplaning) and not great in winter as they have less of the softening compound and a less extreme tread. They are usually also rated to over 200km/h. The automobile clubs and experts look down on them but that is for unrestricted German autobahn speeds and not the 110km/h limit in the UK. Just my thought.