sludge

 The car's windows are covered in salt spray form the road, as the water evaporates a white saline crust remains. A short spray with the windscreen washing system causes near blindness as the wipers spread the sludge stuff on the glass. Another spray, and the alcoholic solution wins, wiping the grey dirt away.

This all at the beginning of the tunnel, a truck approaches spreading more salt from the device fixed to it's rear. The truck is orange, and is equipped with flashing orange lights.

All of this in the tunnel, all this activity. The car heater's ventilator motor is making a rushing noise, the inside of the windows are being held clear of condensation, the car ahead is braking at irregular intervals in a seemingly unnecessary manner.

All stressful.

Turn on the radio, classical music, relax. At the end of the tunnel follow the traffic onto the main road, a sharp left, and pass the traffic lights.

A few kilometres outside town, it starts to snow, the snow is much heavier by the time the fifty kilometres to work have elapsed.

But there is never a blizzard, that would have been the final straw with the day just begun .