Climb ev'ry mountain

When the snow melted enough to get the car out, I dug out the worst of the snow on the track, helped by kind Maria and Chivu, and the little Skoda skidded and waggled its way up the hill, slithered over the snow and mud on the flat bit, then proceeded in a decorous fashion down to the main 'road' and made light of the packed snow and the gradient down to the valley floor and out to Zarnesti. I went straight to the tyre place and got winter tyres fitted. Then to the shops for fresh supplies before taking a deep breath and heading home. The Skoda, with its winter tyres on, apparently thought it was a Landrover, and strolled back up the five miles of packed snow and ice without a qualm. The snow had smoothed out the potholes so the road was smoother than usual. Not prepared to get caught out again, I parked outside Rodica's house, just at the top of the access road, able to creep down the hill even if the snow came in again.
One day I took my chance and headed for Brasov to stock up for Christmas while I had a chance. All was fine until I got back to the uphill road; the wind had come up and had whipped the snow into drifts and made the drive up a little wayward. In the village it was getting dark, the wind was wicked, and I couldn't get up the access road. I had to back down and park in the lane, and carry up as much as I could in the growing gloom. Getting across the flat top field was the worst bit - the remains of old rutted frozen snow, with fresh powder up to my knees and the wind blowing horizontal hard enough to knock me over. I was very pleased to reach the house after 20 slow, icy minutes struggling up, over and down.