mechs Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Just back from a great weekend away again. Left on Friday taking my youngest and nephew with us (Older two at Nana's). Fife - Edinburgh - Fife again (site). Nice journey. Friday night some friends were heading up to the same site to also spend the weekend so we got the tea ready for them coming and had a good night. Saturday went a walk and got the bus into the local town the lot of us, fish and chips, then bus back to the site. After that a cuppa, shopping away and a woodland walk for a while. Weather both days really nice when the sun's there but cold in the shade. Then last night had the chairs out and sat around a fire melting marsh mallows and a few "light refreshments" for the adults. The wind was getting up again but we're quite sheltered so didn't bother us, then then the rain was blowing through but we braved it and our younger ones went inside and got settled then the adults and the older ones made a beeline for our awning and a cuppa as the wind was really getting up and the rain was persistant and quite heavy. After that we retired, the rain eased but then the wind was really getting bad and heard a few creaky trees behind the caravan! Tried to get to sleep but the wind always keeps me awake home or away, then I was too hot so put the oil filled heater off, which had also decided to make a crackling noise much to my paranoia! I put it on to try and it was fine again so maybe something outside? Then about 1am there were sudden gusts of wind that you could feel the caravan move! It didn't bother me too much then as thought that gust was a one off. Then trying to get to sleep more sudden gusts! The fire pit thing at the back was out but the wind had actually ignighted a small flame in what we thought was a wet pile of ash SO PLEASE MAKE SURE IT'S PROPERLY OUT! we thought it was but obviously went out to pore more water over it to make doubly sure it was out. So awning flapping, tarpaulin over the bikes flapping, trees creaking, rushes of wind through the trees then sudden gusts there was no chance of getting to sleep (Me anyway, kids were sound) I decided at 3. 30am to get a cuppa as there was no way we could sleep, and if OH can't sleep there's something up! 4am the wind seems to be dying down just very slightly so I doze off just as another huge few gusts wobble the caravan. My heart was racing most of the night! I looked out the window as we're parked "side on" whilst our mate's camper was the "proper" way and I seriously thought the camper might end up on it's side! There was no sign of life and the camper was still standing so tried to get settled. Got about an hour and a half very light sleep then was awake. The wind had died but torrential and I mean torrential rain was battering down with the odd gust of wind and that even woke the kids! The rain lasted ages then was just heavy showers. So got the usual breakfast, ready, tidied up, packed and headed home. If you've read this far then you're doing well. I know it's only a bit wind but I was actually terrified at times in the caravan during that wind! Not the worst we've experienced as some know on here in the January 2012 gales the caravan outside the house was blown over and dragged to the end of the garden. Ever since that incident i'm seasonal so my caravan is anchored tightly to the ground permanently but still didn't like the movement plus the fact this time I wasn't just worried about a caravan blowing over with us all in it but the fact a tree might blow ontop of us! Our friends slept well waking the odd time but the man of the van said he felt the wind clipping the back of the motorhome plus was also worried about falling trees so I wasn't alone! Quote Compass Shadow 1988 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KontikiKid Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 You do get used to the wind and rain. We never hear it, even though we were rocking like a ship earlier. I suppose motorhomes are a bit worse for rocking in the wind as they are on suspension rather than steadies. It was a bit un-nerving in the early days but now, it's no bother. It still sounds like you had a great weekend though. Russell Quote Online blog and travels, although sometimes there is a lack of travel due to work! It's an uncharted sea, it's an unopened door but you've got to reach out and you've got to explore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechs Posted April 14, 2013 Author Share Posted April 14, 2013 yes weekend was great! I just get too panicky when it's windy now! I've had pitches right on the actual coastal path and the wind's never really bothered me but last night was the worst i've ever experienced in a caravan! The mate's morothome is nice but even when we're just having a cuppa on a nice sunny day i've said "I hate the movement in this thing!" It can be like a rocky boat but they're obviously used to it. I'm just a big chicken. Any weather please bot not the wind! Quote Compass Shadow 1988 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulthomas Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Normally there's nothing better than lying in the caravan bed listening to the wind and rain,but I think you had an excessive measure of both! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fpepper Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Why not make the caravan rock yourselves if you can't sleep. ....if you know what I mean. It might at least take your mind off the weather outside. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MalH Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 In 1998 we were at the CC affiliated site at Glenbeigh on the Ring of Kerry when a near-hurricane hit. In the morning ours was the old awning still intact, for some reason, a lot of folk had taken refuge in the toilet block. Aleays been wary of the wind since then. Quote Nissan X-Trail Tekna + Coachman Festival 450 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtrailman Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Must admit more than once I haven't used enough water to put the barbi out, at home and on holiday. So thanks for reminding me. I hate wind, no good for towing, and no good if you have a awning, acts as an extra sail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechs Posted April 14, 2013 Author Share Posted April 14, 2013 Haha the caravan was rocky enough! I'd actually rather the rain hammered down loudly as I too love listening to the rain, maybe a bit wind but last night was the worst i've been in a caravan and i'm in mine alot! I didn't even go for my usual shower last night because until our new toilet block goes up it's temporary portakabin types so I didn't want it to blow over mid-shower!! Yes I wlawys have a basin of water beside any BBQ/fire so thought that plus the rain was enough. Was only a small flame that came back but still! Awning had no damage thankfully but that's the very reason I bought a lightweight porch again cos my last one withstood all weathers even wind, the only reason it broke was one of the kids last year! Anytime we've had the heavy, full awning some of the poles would maybe come down and if we weren't there some of the awning would be damaged before we got up. Quote Compass Shadow 1988 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percysybil Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Why not make the caravan rock yourselves if you can't sleep. ....if you know what I mean. .... brilliant Quote 2004 Land Rover Discovery & 2011 Bailey Pegasus Bologna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twerki78 Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 We had a very windy night on the IOW earlier this year. 2 storm straps on the awning and fully pegged down it, the van and us all survived but we did worry more about the awning than the van. I like being in the van listening to the rain though. Reminds me of holidays when I was a kid. Quote 2005 Mondeo 2. 0 TDCI 130 2007 Mondeo Ghia X 2. 0 TDCI 130 + 1991 Bailey Scorpio Avallon 2005 Ace Jubilee Courier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madrunner Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 It's never pleasant when the wind is that strong. In 2011 we were caught up in the hurricane that swept the north of the UK. We were in the west highlands and bye eck did we not sleep that night - awning came down the night before as I didn't want to risk it, van was pointing nose in to the wind and we used the navara as a wind break but crikey did the van move at times. Quote Bailey Approach 760SELandRover Defender XS Range Rover Evoque Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainM1970 Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 It wasn't just Fife . .. we had a disturbed night at Craigie Gardens CC site in Ayr. Quote 2018 Swift Elegance 580 towed by a 2018 Volvo XC60 D5 Power Pulse R Design Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreadly Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Why not make the caravan rock yourselves if you can't sleep. ....if you know what I mean. It might at least take your mind off the weather outside. +1 Quote An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind. Mahatma Gandhi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimps Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 What site in edinburgh. I love the cc one at marine drive. Hop skip n a jump into the city. And a hop skip and a stumble home. Minibus from site out or bus for 1. 40p As for wind. I was in a static up skye this time last year. It was scary feeling this thing move. Guys log cabin was picked up and thrown over the road into a field. Only towed in light winds and snow. So far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WindlePoones Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 You do get used to the wind and rain. We never hear it, even though we were rocking like a ship earlier. I suppose motorhomes are a bit worse for rocking in the wind as they are on suspension rather than steadies. Russell Hi Russell, I remembered your post when I saw these on fleabay. ..... http://www. ebay. co. uk/itm/FIAMMA-PLASTIC-JACKS-STABILISING-LEVEL-JACKS-FOR-USE-WITH-MOTORHOME-OR-CARAVAN-/380612545113?pt=UK_Campervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item589e468a59#ht_3078wt_945 They seem light weight and a good idea for a larger motorhome. Just incase the URL turns out to be pants, they are item number 380612545113. Quote Twin Axle Fleetwood Heritage 640 EST - pulled by a dual fuel, (Petrol/LPG) BMW 528i Auto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechs Posted April 14, 2013 Author Share Posted April 14, 2013 It wasn't just Fife . .. we had a disturbed night at Craigie Gardens CC site in Ayr. I never check the weather much, usually just take it as it comes but didn't expect it to be that strong. It did seem to die down again but home now (21 miles down the road) and it's still blowing a gale! My Dad came over from Edinburgh and he said the wind's not bad at all until near the bridge as it was cars only then the further North he got the worse the wind got. As much as I hate to say it i'm glad i'm not sleeping in the caravan tonight! I don't know how folk sleep at night in static caravans in Pettycur Bay right on the edge of a cliff! What site in edinburgh. I love the cc one at marine drive. Hop skip n a jump into the city. And a hop skip and a stumble home. Minibus from site out or bus for 1. 40p As for wind. I was in a static up skye this time last year. It was scary feeling this thing move. Guys log cabin was picked up and thrown over the road into a field. Only towed in light winds and snow. So far It was just past Ladybank I was. I know the Edinburgh site you mean, I was brought up in Edinburgh, most family still live there so I was there to collect my nephew on Friday then back over to Fife! Quote Compass Shadow 1988 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capricorn12 Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 In the 80's we got the tail end of a hurricane when we were on a site on Dartmoor and the caravan rocked so much it nearly tipped me out of bed. We had a full awning up and the steel poles were starting to bend so me and my 13 year old son stood holding the awning down and the poles straight for over 4 hours until the wind dropped a bit. With my fingers over the poles but under the canvas, the canvas leaked so the water was running down my sleeves and eventually reached my socks. Several awnings were lost and some trees came down, fortunately not on any caravans. Quote 2004 Citroen C5 2. 0ltr diesel auto VTR and 2011 Bailey Orion 430/4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Brocklebank Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 Two occasions spring to mind. Watching a weather front heading towards us on a shore side pitch at Killegruer off the Irish Sea. Was like one of those Spielberg movies watching the clouds gather and hitting the site like a freight train. Rain,wind and hail and gone as quick it arrived. Other occasion being at Invercoe, Glencoe. Wasn't so much the wind battering the van being the concern but the noise of the wind blowing through the mountain glens sounding like a 747 taking off !! We actually got up that night and watched a movie due to the noise . .......... GAS . ........... Quote "to be auld and wise you must first be young and daft " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agzy Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 In the 90's we we were on a new year rally at Bangor on Dee in our new (2nd hand) lightweight Lunar van and in the night the wind was so strong it lifted the rear steadies off the floor and dropped with a bang. Couldn't find any damage but at the start of season we had fungus growing down corner of shower. Will never know if the bang caused the problem or not, but because of it we bought our first new van,Stirling Opal with corner lounge. Quote CARPE DIEM While we're talking, envious time is fleeing: pluck the day, put no trust in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huff Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 On our very first trip out in Herbert there was a severe storm with gale force winds and lashing rain - or so they told us anyway, we opened the door in the morning to see the campsite around us totally devastated, bits of tent and awning strewn about everywhere and even one or two caravans had been picked up and moved by the wind (thankfully none toppled over though), pretty much everyone has suffered some sort of damage but we had slept peacefully the whole night through and never heard or felt a thing. I checked the van all over carefully but could find no trace of any damage, even the travel cover that was just wedged underneath the van hadn't budged. Quote 1962 Prototype Everyman Folding Caravan "Herbert" & Pennine Aztec Folding Camper, towed by Kia Carens CRDI. Read my blog - The Outside In - Find it in the Blogs Section! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechs Posted April 15, 2013 Author Share Posted April 15, 2013 Saying that years ago when we had our pitch in Aberfoyle many a time we'd wake up to find dozens of caravans and motorhomes parked up against us due to the flooding. One time it had rained all night but as we were up the hill on the hard standing had no issues however the river always bursts its banks. I took the dishes in the morning down to the dishwashing area and my jaw hit the ground! The caravans were up to their steps in water and everyone's stuff just floating about, windbreaks, BBQ stuff, waste / water containers you name it! I think the people in tents had just got in their cars and managed to drive off whilst they could but one couple of backpackers alerted the wardens in their Pyjamas and had to end up sleeping on the shop floor as their tent was totally flooded! Quote Compass Shadow 1988 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CommanderDave Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 I was on site in the middle of a field in a Sprite Alpine in the 70s in a force 8 . The caravan was being lifted and moved along and I ended having to go out in the dark and wind and rain and tie the caravan down to the car front and back . Big 8 men tents disappeared that night and never seen again and tree down all over the fields round us . Lucky I never had a awning up . Dave Quote Jeep Commander 3. 0 V6 CRD Isuzu D- Max Utah Auto Elddis Crusader Storm 2000 Kgs, Unipart Royal Atlas Mover . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison01326 Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 We had similar for several days/nights over Easter just gone at a THS in Newquay with strong winds gusting 25-40. The awning was creaking and squeaking and the caravan kept lurching. Just like being on a ferry! No harm done except that one of the ends of the awning (the "pointy" bit that goes through the hole) has snapped of and it just had to be on the most elaborate of the poles we have I'm a heavy sleeper, as is our son, but my poor husband was awake most of the time and in and out of the caravan checking the awning (or says he was, I didn't hear a thing!!) The single most annoying thing (as I don't worry about wind - we get a lot of very strong winds round here all the time) was that above the awning windows is this stupid frill thing with a metal eyelet and a toggle. You wouldn't believe the loud tapping noise that generated. Far worse than the lurching, creaking and banging. Quote The traveller sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see (GK Chesterton) There's no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong equipment (Alfred Wainwright) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechs Posted April 15, 2013 Author Share Posted April 15, 2013 We had force 9 winds quite alot when we were on site right on the coastal path but the site owner used to anchor all seasonal and static caravans down and we were quite secluded so no real damage except losing an awning. Plus I never used to hate the wind as much. The other night it was more a tree coming down I worried about! Quote Compass Shadow 1988 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainM1970 Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 I don't know how folk sleep at night in static caravans in Pettycur Bay right on the edge of a cliff! I know what you mean . .. some of them seem to be on tiny ledges. Quote 2018 Swift Elegance 580 towed by a 2018 Volvo XC60 D5 Power Pulse R Design Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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