I’m on my way back to my lodgings
Not long, I hope, ‘till I’m safely back
I set the SatNav and follow its commands
It’s getting darker and will soon be pitch black
Directions take me along an unexpected route
There’s no street lights as I travel
And low clouds hide stars and moon
No cats eyes either, just miles of gravel
The SatNav tells me the way to go
You can trust its internal compass
They map out the quickest route
Then I hear it say, “Continue 9 miles on Wrynose Pass”

“Oh no!” I anxiously think to myself
“Wasn’t there an accident not far from here
Traffic was redirected for quite a few miles
Oh dear… oh dear… oh dear!”
Wrynose Pass is famously challenging
It is not a cruise down Oxford Street
It takes precision, technique and nerves of steel
To navigate this part of the Cumbrian retreat
The road is steep, winding and narrow
You could end up down a fell that feeds a lake
Your first mistake on Wrynose Pass
Will be the last one you ever make
Suddenly I’m becoming more and more aware,
Not making the bumps and holes set the tone,
Wrynose Pass is not defeating me;
My driving is fearless, I’m in the zone

Although it is virtually pitch black now
And other headlights are in the chase
This I know, yes, 100% sure
I’m in front and setting the pace
Before I know it the terrain is less severe
And tailgate headlights are almost gone
This is not the time to relax or disengage
It’s just me, you see, I’m travelling alone
I turn the last bend, pull up and switch off
I now feel promoted to a new class
I step out of the car and lock the door
No victims tonight in Wrynose Pass
Michael Bobb
21 August 2017
Brilliantly entertaining Michael. Is Wrynose Pass a real place you’ve visited?
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😊 Thanks ever so much Angie. Yes, Wrynose Pass does exist and I’ve journeyed it many times. Ambleside in the Lake District is probably the nearest fair-sized town to the Pass. According to YouTube, it is one of two roads in the UK that requires more than a pedestrian approach (to put it mildly). Thirty-five years ago I thought nothing of it, but driving it at night a couple of years ago inspired this poem.
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