Since we started this trip about six weeks ago we have had some real extremes of weather....
Our first few weeks gave us some stunning sunny weather, more like the middle of summer than April....
The weather started to change when we left our last site to come to our current location.....
Since then we have been plagued by strong winds and rain.....
Over the past couple of days the weather has deteriorated even further with winds gusting up to fifty mph and torrential rain added to the mix as well....
.In a previous post I highlighted the difficulty in getting the awning erected in the windy conditions..... In these fifty mph gusty conditions that we are now experiencing we are praying that it stays erected.....
To be fair to it, the awning seems to be standing up to the battering it has been getting quite well..... Yes it shakes....it rattles...it creaks and it jumps around... but it has stayed up....
Overnight two of the main pegs were shaken loose by the wind and three of the small pegs that hold the wind skirt down were also pulled out, but the structure itself seems to be withstanding the battering it's getting.
I thought long and hard about the type of awning to buy when I was looking at all the various options and in the end decided to go for a high end traditional style....I am now glad that I spent the extra cash as it seems to be paying off....
The awning is normally supplied with a steel frame but for extra you could have a lightweight flexible fiberglass frame......I had been advised by a number of people to go for the latter, as I was told because it flexes in the wind more than the steel it withstands adverse conditions better and this it has certainly done whilst we have been on this campsite...It is also a lot lighter and less noisy than the steel version.....
Below I have shown some various shots of the awning structure.....
The latest forecast is predicting that over the course of this evening the gusts and wind strength will die down, so hopefully the structure in the images below will still be standing tomorrow.....
Our first few weeks gave us some stunning sunny weather, more like the middle of summer than April....
The weather started to change when we left our last site to come to our current location.....
Since then we have been plagued by strong winds and rain.....
Over the past couple of days the weather has deteriorated even further with winds gusting up to fifty mph and torrential rain added to the mix as well....
.In a previous post I highlighted the difficulty in getting the awning erected in the windy conditions..... In these fifty mph gusty conditions that we are now experiencing we are praying that it stays erected.....
To be fair to it, the awning seems to be standing up to the battering it has been getting quite well..... Yes it shakes....it rattles...it creaks and it jumps around... but it has stayed up....
Overnight two of the main pegs were shaken loose by the wind and three of the small pegs that hold the wind skirt down were also pulled out, but the structure itself seems to be withstanding the battering it's getting.
I thought long and hard about the type of awning to buy when I was looking at all the various options and in the end decided to go for a high end traditional style....I am now glad that I spent the extra cash as it seems to be paying off....
The awning is normally supplied with a steel frame but for extra you could have a lightweight flexible fiberglass frame......I had been advised by a number of people to go for the latter, as I was told because it flexes in the wind more than the steel it withstands adverse conditions better and this it has certainly done whilst we have been on this campsite...It is also a lot lighter and less noisy than the steel version.....
Below I have shown some various shots of the awning structure.....
The latest forecast is predicting that over the course of this evening the gusts and wind strength will die down, so hopefully the structure in the images below will still be standing tomorrow.....
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| Inside the Awning Showing Roof Poles |
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| Inside Awning Showing Connection to the Caravan |
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| Centre Pole Bracket Above Awning Main Window |
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| Awning Interior View Showing Draught Pad Fitted Against Caravan Wall |
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| Awning Exterior View Showing Storm Staps |
10 comments:
I think Trevor it is time you moved on! The rough weather only arrived when you got there..and the bad vibes have spread to Derbyshire where we have central heating on full blast and cycling is restricted to the turbo.
*Peter Roberts*
Hi Peter....
Thanks for that comment :-)
Anne told me yesterday it was all my fault.....
Trevor,
I think your efforts in researching the various options will reward you, if not already.
Hang tight and enjoy!
Peace :)
*Chandra Eswaran*
I think you are right about that Chandra...
I have seen too many awnings destroyed in bad weather over the years that I have been camping....
I was very careful with my awning choice....
i hope it holds up well for you!
Trevor, this morning ( 9.May ) at 06-00 to 06-30 on Radio 4 there was a programme about VARC ( Visual Arts in Rural Countryside ). It made me think of you and Anne and the things you were seeing on your tour. Not sure if you have access to BBC Radio iPlayer but if so, might be of interest
*TexWisGirl*
Thanks for that wish TWG. Everything seems to be holding out well at the moment.....
*Peter Roberts*
Thanks for that info Peter....
Yes we do have access to iPlayer so I will check it out...
We have all technology here Peter... Internet...Television ..Radio...PVR
GPS etc :-) :-)
Nice spacious awning. Never mind the weather. It's all part of the journey.
*David J*
True about the weather David....It's the backdrop to the journey :-)
I find your blog fascinating at times ... I never thought I'd be interested in awnings ... but there you go, I was.
Although I've enjoyed a couple of good days out in May, the weather I find hasn't been great for the normally placid and low rainfall month. Combining what you have said in a few posts about the weather, the view you have from the awning and the last photo here ... it's time you moved on before those trees get any higher :-)
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