Location: Peopleton ford, 2 miles south white ladies aston ford
On the way to Worcester to drop off the 'package' (Christmas presents for my aunty pat) I took a slight detour from the normal route with the intention of inspecting 3 fords all crossing the Bow Brook. Multimap here
http://www.iwebtool.com/shortcut/7783
First on the list was pershore ford, things looked a bit ominous at the top of the road with 'Road Flooded' and 'Road Closed' sings. However in true turbochops sprit of adventure style I had disregarded for the said signs and skillfully weaved between them and a bollard for a closer inspection. When I got to the ford, I could clearly see the reason for the signs, water everywhere and depth gauge up well beyond a meter. I proceeded on foot over the bridge to get a good look at the river. It didn’t look good and even for my excellent driving skills I decided to give it a miss! So turned around and went to look at the next ford on the list, Peopleton.
After heading through Peopleton village itself, I spotted the greenlane this ford lies on. It is not signposted as such and looks little more like a rutted farm track, the base being gravel and mud, and its quite potholed, but would pose no trouble to a 4x4. After driving down the track for some half mile, coming over the crest that dips down towards the ford, something caught my eye. The closer I got the more I didn’t believe what I was seeing! There was a car in there with the occupants standing on the roof. I pulled up and go, 'in a spot of bother there mate' to which I got a sheepish reply 'yes'. It turned out to be a ford Maverick up to its bonnet in water and had totally flooded the cabin (to the top of the gear stick). The driver and one of his sons had managed to scramble out onto the roof, leaving his (unbeknown to me at the time) other son and wife left in the car, sitting on top of the back seat.
I got out onto the footbridge bridge to survey the scene. (Sorry about the quality taken with camera phone)
Thought about offloading the kids via a log to the bank, as were worried if they got swept away in the main flow, but there was no suitable planks in the vicinity (typical).
I said to the driver ive got a 3 meter rope in the car but it we agreed it wouldn’t of been enough to allow me to safely reach him in the fronty without risking drowning that to. He then informed me he had phoned his mate who was coming in a Disco from Worcester, but wasn’t sure which lane we were on. Seeing there was nothing more I could do for them at that point with only the 1 rope, I said id go wait at the entrance of the lane for his mate. After a while he turned up and we both headed back down the lane. Turns out this guy was some sort of farmer and had all the kit in the back as well as a little white Scotty dog called ‘Bruce’, which promptly escaped and legged it into the adjacent field. After getting the dog back he dons chest waders and gets out another 3 meter strop and dives in. Tries to attach it to the maverick but can’t find the tow hook as it’s under water. So the maverick driver piles in to and is up to his neck in river water as he bends down to fit the shackle.
Next the disco farmer bloke wades back to his wife on the bridge to pass her the end of the stop but she’s leaning to far over the railing…..you can guess what happens next!, SPLASH! I took this photo seconds before she fell in. (again excuse the quality)
So then she’s freezing, the bloke realises his ropes not long enough either in general its all getting a bit stressfull and its getting dark. I then pipe up and offer the services of my rope
which combined is just enough length to hook on the back of the disco without the need for any more naval activities. Before the tow commenced the maverick owner extracts his kids and 1 very bleep off wife to the bank via the age old method of carrying.
So after that, as much as it shames me to say it the disco quite effortlessly pulls out the stricken maverick which now resembled more of a fish tank than a car. To which came the retort from the disco driver to me, you orght to get one of these, and I quote ‘proper 4x4’s’ DAMN CHEEK!
Anyway on quizzing the maverick driver when the car was free and asked why he attempted it, it said, oh I did it no problem yesterday!, when I mentioned that it had rained heavily in the night, his reaction was ‘oh I didn’t hear it!’. To compound things he said he didn’t use low box when attempting the ford and he believed the car had stopped because the clutch had got wet. Despite the fact that when I told him to take the air filter out, it was sodden he didn’t seem to realise that infact he had hydralocked his engine. He was so un-knowledgeable about 4x4’s then he thorght it would be better to pull him out by driving the rescue vehicle in nose first as to protect the exhaust.
Anyway on trying to start the engine nothing happened as we could hear the starter motor engage but it couldn’t turn as no-doubt by then the damage had been done and im sure he’ll have a nice engine rebuild bill on his lap for Christmas. At least some mechanic will have a good December 25th. On that note I left as I was already late enough getting to Worcester, but will like to come back and drive the rest of that lane and the white ladies one (which I didn’t get a chance to even have a look at, but no doubt it would be impassable as well) when the water level has receded. Pete maybe if you’re around could do a joint venture?
The old battle wagon performed well, apart from the engine management light decided to illuminate after leaving the ford? Any suggestions anyone?
Ive got some more pics but ill post them up tomorrow now.
TC (a 4x4 trip with me is never dull!)
