We are in France.
Very hot during the day.
At night temp not falling below 28C inside.
Difficulty sleeping.
Short of installing a large roof mounted air-con ... what are my options?
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Move 'up hill'. It's always cooler in the mountains, even on very hot days! Depending on where you are in France there is usually somewhere mountainous within a reasonable distance.
If not put a bowl of ice in front of each blown air vent if you have it - you may have to buy bags of ice from the supermarket - but it does work short term. And/or buy a cheap fan and keep the air moving, with the same bowl of ice in front of it, sleep with all the windows and rooflights open (and the fly screens across, of course) or even sleep on the floor of the awning if you have one (It's definitely cooler).
Yes, Val ... higher would be cooler ... problem for me is, that usually means no river side pitching for kayaking, and much more rigorous cycling (few Voie verts in mountains) ...
We have a fan going all the time ... and do the window blinds reversal to shade the sunny side and open shady side... even taking up the insect screens during the day (shutting them in the mid afternoon) ...
Haven't used the bag(s) of ice routine (either for the fan/windows or Joanna's between the knees idea (doesn't that lead, eventually to a soggy bed? Maybe getting a watertight plastic bag, filled, frozen and wrapped?). I have used one of those knee spacer cushions to help spinal alignment, so am used to sleeping with 'knee spacers' ...
I am hoping to find a reasonably priced, free standing, quiet ai conditioner ...
Part of our problem, I think, is that our Sterckeman drawer fridge has no vent to exterior ... so acts a a radiator to the inside ... and the hotter the ambient, the harder the fridge works and the hotter it gets ... vicious circle!
Thanks, both, for ideas!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Two summers ago I stayed at an adult-only site nextdoor to a pub (very good facilities for a pub site), and it was so hot in the high 20s (might even have reached low 30s) that I could not stay outside even in the shade as there was hardly any wind.
So it was a case of blinds down, doors closed, air con on full blast and plenty of cold cider from the pub.
I don't like hot weather. I decided to call UK my home when I came here from the Far East to study in the late 70s from the moment I stepped off the plane when it landed early one fateful September morning and was hit by cold misty air and thought it was heaven!
My dad installed air con in the family home in the Far East, and would turn on the air con when the night time ambient temperature was 14degC!
People laughed, some even criticised, about installing air con in my house when I moved there back in 2006. I might not have laughed every time we had a heatwave or hot spell, however, I had posted pics of my thermometer inside the house showing a cool low 20s when it was very hot outside!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
When I was working away from home and stayed in a hotel without air con while it was very hot, I would just cover myself with a sheet with a fan on full blast and windows opened.
A small personal evaporating cooling fan did help, however, the water tank needed refilling every couple of hours or so.
I hate hot weather, worse if it is hot and humid! When it is cold, I can put more layers on, the reverse is not workable!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by Kelper on 31/7/2024
We are in France.
Very hot during the day.
At night temp not falling below 28C inside.
Difficulty sleeping.
Short of installing a large roof mounted air-con ... what are my options?
Remember, the pool rules say "No baggy shorts" not specifically "You must wear budgie smugglers".
So just grab a lilo, climb over the pool gates, strip off, and float off to sleep!
Quote: Originally posted by Mucker1884 on 31/7/2024
By the way... can you change the thread title please... I was mightily disappointed not to find 3 pages of photos of cakes and pastries!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
In the Dordogne in 2021, temperatures hit the mid 30s (September! ) luckily we had a riverside pitch at Le Paradis - husband retreated to a sun bed under the Moho awning and I took to standing chest deep in the river nearby so we could chat ! Mind you, the river was like a warm bath sleeping was almost impossible; and we were eating supper at 10pm in the dark as it was too hot earlier !
We now stick to Brittany and Normandy and go in June - we did have two horrendously hot days this year but rather that thsn fry !
Quote: Originally posted by Kelper on 31/7/2024
Yes, Val ... higher would be cooler ... problem for me is, that usually means no river side pitching for kayaking, and much more rigorous cycling (few Voie verts in mountains) ...
We have a fan going all the time ... and do the window blinds reversal to shade the sunny side and open shady side... even taking up the insect screens during the day (shutting them in the mid afternoon) ...
Haven't used the bag(s) of ice routine (either for the fan/windows or Joanna's between the knees idea (doesn't that lead, eventually to a soggy bed? Maybe getting a watertight plastic bag, filled, frozen and wrapped?). I have used one of those knee spacer cushions to help spinal alignment, so am used to sleeping with 'knee spacers' ...
I am hoping to find a reasonably priced, free standing, quiet ai conditioner ...
Part of our problem, I think, is that our Sterckeman drawer fridge has no vent to exterior ... so acts a a radiator to the inside ... and the hotter the ambient, the harder the fridge works and the hotter it gets ... vicious circle!
Thanks, both, for ideas!
I copied Kelper's comment meaning to clarify, but couldn't add to it. I wanted to say that an ice block isn't the same as a block of ice! It's one of those rectangular blocks that you put in the ice box and then use to keep items cool in a picnic bag.
------------- Freedom is a light caravan and an open road.
Quote: Originally posted by JoannaLesley on 02/8/2024
I copied Kelper's comment meaning to clarify, but couldn't add to it. I wanted to say that an ice block isn't the same as a block of ice! It's one of those rectangular blocks that you put in the ice box and then use to keep items cool in a picnic bag.
Ah ... thanks for the clarification, Joanna!
Had visions of a melting ice block and resultant accusations of bed-wetting!!
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Baking in France
via mobile 31/7/2024 at 10:54am
