If there were others around, why didn't they come to help? I'd rather have a laugh later, about what could have happened, than watch someone's outfit, and its owner. suffer damage because I sat back and giggled!
I do sometimes worry that our camping fraternity is slowly developing a snooty "I'm alright Jack" attitude, along with most other sectors of society.
I prefer to assist other campers if things look like going wrong, and I would like to think I belong to a majority in this respect.
I was doing ok until the tent took off, Bertie and it didn't stay airborne very long so they probably didn't have time to come across and help. Once it landed it collapsed as it should have done in the first place when I removed the last guy rope, except the wind was keeping it 'inflated'.
Spent the new year at Plassey. HEAVY Rain and VERY strong winds most of the time.Warm and cosy in the van even though it rocked a bit at times. Glad we left our PDQ in the bag though. Happy new year.
Quote: Originally posted by Elainef on 05/1/2007
Last year we were at St. Davids in Pembrokeshire, we got the tale end of a hurricane coming across the Irish sea. Everyone was told it was unsafe to tow, so people who were leaving had to stay,
Did the people who had to stay get charged for the extra night?
Many years ago I bought a frame tent and thought I was getting a bargain. It was the type that had a canvass roof and nylon sides. Drove all the way too Anglesey wind and rain when we got there. No matter what i tried as soon as I draped the roof over the tent (the frame only half up) it took off like a sail. I bent the frame and not one person came to help. So bought a caravan instead a 1969 sprite alpine with foot pump for water and gas / battery lights. I thought it was brilliant we had some great times in it. AAAAHHHH memories.
Thats what I liked when I had the PDQ awning. First sign of big wind and it got folded up - once did it int he middle of the night in my pants! I always watch the forecasts, if wind is coming, ill take the awning down and put it under the van if necessary.
If a dethleffs blows over then you will land on the baileys that went over an hour before!! If i heard of a hurricane then if i couldnt get out of the site I would hitch to the car. then both have to go over!!!
Surely if it's possible, the best thing to do would be hith the caravan to the car, lash the awning down & hope for the best.
I can see our winters being rough & windy the ay seasons have changed. I alwys put two straps on ours now we've got the built in storm straps. Not much lse we can do.
We were in cornwall last year when stormy weather was forecast one famiy in line with the storm were dtermind not to listen & had their awning wrecked. I guess we've been lucky so far.
The last time I pitched up my scenic awning it was quite windy, once I took the poles out and being so light weight it was flapping about a bit. But why do some sites insist on using bramble type hedging once the awning touched the bramble I thopught I had wrecked it. I was very lucky - it was the second time I had used it.
We stayed at Searles Hunstanton, and was actually put on evacuation notice, apparently a combination of gales and high tide, I have seldom experienced such a strong wind, and must admit to a bit of apprehension, at 1 point the wind was strong enough to rock my van with such force, it sent the glasses of drink of the table, but at the end of the day the van remained the right way up, but I would sooner not go through that experience again. but it also taught me that caravans are fairly stable in high winds, and to be fair , how often do we hear about tourers been blown over by strong winds ?
With more severe gales coming on thursday 70/80 mile winds i wouldnt like to be out in my caravan again . i have suggested to hubby that we put the storm straps over the caravan(isnt that where there sopposed to go anyway??) if we are cought in the wind again or chaining it down like they do on statics . a bit drastic i know but anythings better than sitting in the cold jeep alnight couse your worried the caravan will blow over . lol.
We were at Sumners Pond over New Year and it was very windy. The caravan kept rocking like a ship on a high sea. It was quite scary, but strangely good fun...(?) I had to keep going out to peg the awning down, but eventually gave up and went to bed with my ear plugs firmly shoved in my ears...got rocked to sleep!
However, the awning had come down and had to fix it in the morning, but no damage and I got quite a good nights sleep!!! I will definatly buy some storm straps for future use though!!
We were out at New Year in our Dethleffs 470DL, fortunately on a pretty sheltered CL. We were worried about towing home in the strong winds up the A1, but it towed better than anything we have had before. We reckon this is because of the longer A-frame, and the wider axle.
Our Cristall has the longer frame and wide axle too and it really helps with blasts of wind... why wont the UK market listen?? Few UK vans still havent taken the hint..
Our Cristall has the longer frame and wide axle too and it really helps with blasts of wind... why wont the UK market listen?? Few UK vans still havent taken the hint..
hi winds not problem. it is the wind that throws the acorns of the tree from above you. While we where at Ravensglass in the lakes we where underneath a tree that after the wind stopped blowing the constant bang of acorns on top of caravan kept us awake lol
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Topic: THE WIND
