Just arrived back home after an abandoned trip to Looe. The wind was so strong on the site that I couldn't pitch the tent! I took two tents in case the weather was bad - the first a small 3 man Gelert was lost completely as it was flattened to the ground despite guying and pegging properly. I didn't even risk the larger tent.
Of all the people to help, the first over was a boy of about 9 or 10! What a lovely lad! The warden helped a bit too, but I feel totally frustrated and annoyed to be beaten twice in one year by the weather. Also had to contend with a crying 4 year old all the way home.
:-(
Ah dear so sorry to hear about your abandoned trip.
I arrived on site after an 8 hour drive with two tents, a big frame one and a smaller 4 man pop up. The storm made it impossible to put up the big tent and it was to far to go home. We overnighted in the pop up which was actually quite a good tent because it flexed with the wind. There was a time or two when the tent was nearly touching our noses but at least it was dry inside. The thing about a pop up is that although the tent can flatten down, it will spring back up again.
We camp in North Cornwall annually(and for the last 48 years!) and i can honestly say they frequently get very strong winds down there even without Bertha. Caravan awnings with storm straps dissappear down the Padstow estuary along with many tents. When i had a frame tent some years ago i remember hanging on to it with all my weight to stop it taking off. My daughter and husband bought an Argos tent a few years back and it got torn to shreds trying to pitch it so they spent that week in a static caravan. On the positive side i do find the weather changes very rapidly there so it can all die down after a day and be lovely again. Hope you have got over your trauma and are ready to camp another day.
Quote: Originally posted by MOWWD on 12/8/2014
We camp in North Cornwall annually(and for the last 48 years!) and i can honestly say they frequently get very strong winds down there even without Bertha. Caravan awnings with storm straps dissappear down the Padstow estuary along with many tents. When i had a frame tent some years ago i remember hanging on to it with all my weight to stop it taking off. My daughter and husband bought an Argos tent a few years back and it got torn to shreds trying to pitch it so they spent that week in a static caravan. On the positive side i do find the weather changes very rapidly there so it can all die down after a day and be lovely again. Hope you have got over your trauma and are ready to camp another day.
We too have camped in this area for years and this is one of the reasons we went for a Karsten when we replaced our tent-I experience a terrifying night in an Outwell Norfolk lake with 2 children and no husband. The tent stood up to the wind but I didn't want to go through that again.
------------- 2015 7 weeks booked! Roll on Easter to start.
Nice to hear about the young lad coming over to help. Whit week this year we camped in County Durham, on setting up the wind, which initially hadn't bee bad at all, suddenly got up and took hold of the tent, was really quite scary. We were clearly struggling to keep hold of it and in fact it caught on the trailer which caused a foot long tear near the base. Behind us in a rally field there were a group of army cadets, I thought some of them might come over and give us a hand, but not one did. A young man pitched opposite us came over and was a massive help. In circumstances like that we would always offer our help and I can't understand those in charge of the cadets not suggesting that they offer help. Hey ho!
------------- May/June - Spring Valley
Aug/Sept - Leekworth
Oh that sounds just horrific and sure puts the frightened on me, I'm off this Thursday, on my own with two of my daughters (14 & 7) and for days I've been dreading trying to pitch my montana 6 in anything other than still, dry conditions :-( actually thinking of not going :-( haven't told the girls yet though :-/
------------- Enjoyed tenting,
Enjoyed trailer-tenting,
Now loving caravanning 😊😊
Oh dear, that's such a shame: I think strong winds are the things most regular campers fear the most, more than just rain. You did well to take two tents but to have one destroyed is sad . At least you were both OK, and it's nice to know good human nature still exists in the form of the young lad. He's a true camper in spirit.
I do hope you will go again and have decent weather to make this just a story to tell and not a bad memory.
There is a plus side to my abandoned trip and sob story - I have now bought a new tent! I've gone crazy and bought an inflatable and have rebooked the same site for a couple of weeks time. The wind will NOT DEFEAT ME! Lol!
Thanks for your wishes folks, I guess it was the excuse I needed to buy the inflatable! My next problem is getting it all in a Corsa! Once you start this camping lark there's no end to it! X
Quote: Originally posted by bridgeywidge on 12/8/2014
and it's nice to know good human nature still exists in the form of the young lad. He's a true camper in spirit.
This is true, not all the youth out there are tearaways.
Last summer I went to visit my friend on his boat to drop him £40, I owed him, somewhere between the gate and his boat I lost the money. About an hour later a young lad, of about 13 from one of the other boats came by asking if anyone had lost some money, I said I had dropped forty quid and sure enough, he had found it.
We were so amazed I told him to keep half of it, but he flatly refused saying his Mum wouldn't let him.
These little things restore your faith in human nature
Sorry to hear you had to go home. We had 10 days in Looe at the end of July/beginning of August. Second from last night the wind was up and it rained torrentially but thankfully it passed. We managed to get the tent packed away just before the rain descended. I guess that was the beginning of the weather change.
Glad you've re-booked as it is such a lovely area. Incidentally, what site were you on? We stayed at Camping Caradon but always nice to know of other good sites in the area as we will definitely revisit.
Quote: Originally posted by scotzlynnie on 13/8/2014
Sorry to hear you had to go home. We had 10 days in Looe at the end of July/beginning of August. Second from last night the wind was up and it rained torrentially but thankfully it passed. We managed to get the tent packed away just before the rain descended. I guess that was the beginning of the weather change.
Glad you've re-booked as it is such a lovely area. Incidentally, what site were you on? We stayed at Camping Caradon but always nice to know of other good sites in the area as we will definitely revisit.
We were on Tencreek site. Lovely views, staff and entertainment for a 4 year old. Looked a bit like Glastonbury on approach as tents are squeezed in the EHU pitches. On the meadow part of site it is very quiet but a bit slopey. Not my first choice of site, but my little one loves the kids club! I will look at Camping Caradon as I do like the area, especially as I'm only an hour away too!