Arrived Sunday in glorious sunshine and nearly succumbed to heat stroke putting the awning up. Thank goodness for John Smiths embrocation! Sunday afternoon the Fells of Wensleydale slowly disappeared until there was nothing to see on these long spring evenings.
Then it started, bucketed down on Monday. Those flexible poles in the roof of the awning rhythmically bouncing up and down. Sides flapping like a spinnaker.
Toilet full and water runs out and the wife volunteered me to empty one and fill the other. Just took a guess at which way round it was in the driving freezing rain. Got lucky. No fishermans friends left so used that Rioja to warm me up.
Still no hills in the Dales.
Monday afternoon, after spending the morning in the van, the dog needed to be emptied. I was volunteered again so off we went to watch the River Ure break its banks, did what we had to do and came back to the van. Walking at an angle into the wind is not as awkward now that we have been living in Bridlington for some years and are used to battling the hurricanes from the North over Flamborough Head!!
Wrung the dog out and spent ages getting the mud and sheep droppings out of her paws.
The spinnaker and topsails are now at full tilt with a good head of wind. The van has no rudder but at least the four anchors are holding it firm.
As the force of the gale increased we settled down for the night and about 1am all hell let rip. Sudden gust blown right down off the Pennines, bounced off the valley floor right under the awning, bang clatter, "what the h***"...Pulled up the blind and the awning was still in place. Said a little prayer to see us through the night. Then spent the next six hours listening to the howl, the rain, the sails, the flapping. Every so often peering through the blinds to see if the awning was there or whether we were actually sailing down the Ure towards Leyburn
About 6.30ish and I heard a bird tweet. Birds don't sing when its raining, so this sign raised the spirits....only to be dashed...I was volunteered (again) to walk the dog "while its fine dear"...so off we went to see the broken banks of the Ure.
Wrung out the dog again and then its toilet and water jobs before being allowed back into the boat for breakfast.
Appropriately the Church bells rang out for a funeral this morning. Sums it up really.
Still pouring down but on the plus side I can see a Fell.
Carol (from BBC Breakfast) tells me it's going to be sunny for the next three days...now which way did my walking boots drift off?
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
Sudden gust blown right down off the Pennines, bounced off the valley floor right under the awning, bang clatter, "what the h***"...Pulled up the blind and the awning was still in place. Said a little prayer to see us through the night. Then spent the next six hours listening to the howl, the rain, the sails
glad you are back safe phil.been there got the T shirt so they say.over the last 12 years of caravanning we have had three nights where i could say we were very worried of the awning taking off.i fully storm strap now whatever the weather.at moffat one time we had the peg box and pushchair and anything else heavy tied to the inside of the awning.many lost there's.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
It started to sound a bit like the story of 'Jamaica Inn' with the gales and anchors with the wife waving the beacon outside on return from the treacherous storm but at least alls well m'lad and your back home safe. When we will get to hear chapter 2? Lol.
Still no peace. Been very very windy this afternoon and so spent the afternoon in the van....rocking..... The dog needed to go out again. You need to know that she is a miniature schnauser and was born just before they stopped docking tails. I use an extended lead.
Well I was the only chap in the Dale this afternoon with a doggy kite!!. Legs pointing to each corner of the compass and, with such a short tail, this kite just had no stability at all! Round and round and eventually dropped to the floor. Poor thing.
I arrived back at the van, still walking at an angle of 45 degrees into the wind, the awning bending and swaying and threatening my investment....quick where is the insurance policy?
I was so fed up I told the wife I was walking into Hawes to get some anti depressants. Managed to find a shop that sold the right powerful ones. Two bottles of Old Peculiar from the Theakson Pharmacy. They really work,.Cheered me up no end. The bottle mentioned that the Pharmacy sponsored the Harrogate Crime Writers Festival and each bottle includes a ten word crime novel. So, if you fancy falling to sleep quickly on a night and want to read a short story this anti depressant bottle is for you. Sadly both bottles had the same story "The coke hit. Lonnie smiled. Then came the pain. lonnie Died!
Had to laugh so the anti depressant had a double wammy. Now a treble wammy. Next time I go to the chemist tomorrow I will probably have to say to the lady at the counter, "Sorry I have read that bottle can I have another one". Ha Ha
Suddenly back at the camp site the eye of the storm came over. Two Long Tailed Tits came out and that lifted the spirits. .....and then they were gone.... and the awning started playing up again.
BBC say that storm gusts will be up to 50mph. MetCheck say 20mph. We are hoping we can rely on metcheck.
Still a worry. Can an awning pull the awning rail off?
Most everyone on the site is staying indoors. Some brave folk have ventured out, heavily wrapped up. Plenty of room on the site at the moment if you fancy a few days away and the weather man on the news says it will be fine tomorrow. Here's hoping. Need to get the walking boots on and the rucksacks out. Ah well I feel a need for another anti depressant
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
phil ive never laughed so much at a post .laughed till ive cried, wet my pants and just cant stop giggin.
its super commentry on your holiday and just loving it.
sorry for you and your mrs (and the poor dog )but when you get home and youre tellin the tale youll see the funny side anall.
wish you could have videoed your visits outside lol
------------- Sandringham 22nd mar - 30th mar
thorpe park 27th apr - 1st july
thorpe park 1st sept 2015- 1st nov 2015
clumber park 29th dec -4th jan
Loved your 2 episodes, very funny, we also use that type of antidepressant whilst on our trips it works wonders for us too. Also experienced same problems with awning except ours detached all round except for awning rail, bin, boots, slippers groundsheet coats across otherside of site, bikes on their sides, however its going to be 17c and sunny tomorrow in our neck of the woods, never seen a dog kite before, did he enjoy it !!!. J x
Love it Phil - specially the bits about the dog. We have a Bichon Frise so I am only too aware of the absorbant quality of his coat - works much better than any mop.
Have you noticed that its always at the worst part of the storm that the dog gets that "daddy I REALLY need to go" fidget
------------- hawk
"Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone"
I have the body of a greek god - its in my freezer
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: Brilliant fun this caravanning
