Those Charming British Country Lanes

I have a king-sized bed that is wider than those country lanes, which I think are suitable for one-way cycle traffic, but no, they carry two-way traffic consisting of motorcycles and cars, and trucks and busses, and uber-sized tractors.

I don't understand this because on both sides there are acres and acres of wide open land to widen the road and straighten out the curves. If all of the locals were as cautious as I am and drove at 10 miles per hour it wouldn't be so bad, but no, they fly around as though they were on the motorway.

I would  really like to describe my feelings when we came face to face with a massive John Deere tractor, but words will probably fail me. The tractor was emerging onto the lane from the fields and the driver apparently had no intention of stopping. At the last minute he saw us and stopped short. Given that he sits so high up I thought he could see for miles around, but he stopped so close to the car I near had a heart attack.

This seems like such an invitation for trouble that I seriously wonder why, in these modern times the situation has not been corrected?  There is tradition and custom sure, but we are talking about life and death, or at the least injury and property damage. I would have preferred not to have travelled along these paths but you don't get much choice. To get from A to B that's all there is. I'm back home now and I am able to uncurl my toes and relax my ass muscles, but I'll bet I lost several years due to the stress.

The irony is that these lanes exists in some of Britain's most beautiful countryside. It's a shame I couldn't fully enjoy the beauty without feeling certain I was about to die


Copyright (c) 2016
Eugene Carmichael