Wow! Come Back Toto!
So, off upon the trail we started, with high hopes for a relaxing weekend of birding, reading books and being away from work. Winds were forecasted to pick up and be gusty, so I was prepared for a bit of sway. The trip to City of Rocks was mostly uneventful and made for the perfect post-winter shakedown before our trip across country in two weeks. Winds were picking up, but we'd be parked for the night soon, no biggie.
What? One campsite left? What luck! So we made our way to site number 22 amidst the swirling dust and debris. How much harder is it going to blow?
Man, this site is exposed! Perched out on a rock precipice overlooking what would normally be a stunning view I could see the weather front approaching. Sleet and snow began to sting my face as we jockeyed the truck/camper into the most level position. Gusts were battering me and almost knocking me off my feet - at 260 lbs. that ain't just whistling Dixie!
My wife looks at me through the back door of the camper with eyes the size of extra large eggs, so I dropped the jacks down to stabilize the rig more. Whoah! That gust almost picked up the whole rig on one side! Thank goodness I've got TorkLifts. I'm really worried about bending a jack leg. No amount of wax is going to protect our rig from this sandblasting.
The next thing I knew I was on my hands and knees trying to figure out who had hit me with a pillow. My wife is already in the truck honking the horn. Jacks up, check. Chase down the step stool, check. Lock the back door, check. We're outta here!
Dodging rolling dome tents on the way down the mountain I figured we'd find immediate sanctuary from the chaos as we made it into cover. NOT!!! The darn wind had resorted to pushing so hard I had to fight to keep the wheel straight. Yeah, the storm will probably be over soon and all will be fine - Wow, the weather says it is going to blow gale force all night... birds were trying to use the side of the camper for a wind block. Welcome to Oregon signs were being blown across the road - and we're in central Idaho!
That's right, we bailed. Ended up an hour away in a well sheltered state park with water and electric hookups for 12 bucks and enjoyed a nice night of steak dinner, cold 20 mph gusts that rocked us to sleep, and a quiet campground that had folks buttoned-up in their campers. Weather can bring a type of behavior enforcement that no camp host possesses.
Have you ever had to bail like that? Last time I had winds that strong was during hurricane Isabel back in Virginia. Out here in Idaho we get wind all the time, but this was exceptional.
What? One campsite left? What luck! So we made our way to site number 22 amidst the swirling dust and debris. How much harder is it going to blow?
Man, this site is exposed! Perched out on a rock precipice overlooking what would normally be a stunning view I could see the weather front approaching. Sleet and snow began to sting my face as we jockeyed the truck/camper into the most level position. Gusts were battering me and almost knocking me off my feet - at 260 lbs. that ain't just whistling Dixie!
My wife looks at me through the back door of the camper with eyes the size of extra large eggs, so I dropped the jacks down to stabilize the rig more. Whoah! That gust almost picked up the whole rig on one side! Thank goodness I've got TorkLifts. I'm really worried about bending a jack leg. No amount of wax is going to protect our rig from this sandblasting.
The next thing I knew I was on my hands and knees trying to figure out who had hit me with a pillow. My wife is already in the truck honking the horn. Jacks up, check. Chase down the step stool, check. Lock the back door, check. We're outta here!
Dodging rolling dome tents on the way down the mountain I figured we'd find immediate sanctuary from the chaos as we made it into cover. NOT!!! The darn wind had resorted to pushing so hard I had to fight to keep the wheel straight. Yeah, the storm will probably be over soon and all will be fine - Wow, the weather says it is going to blow gale force all night... birds were trying to use the side of the camper for a wind block. Welcome to Oregon signs were being blown across the road - and we're in central Idaho!
That's right, we bailed. Ended up an hour away in a well sheltered state park with water and electric hookups for 12 bucks and enjoyed a nice night of steak dinner, cold 20 mph gusts that rocked us to sleep, and a quiet campground that had folks buttoned-up in their campers. Weather can bring a type of behavior enforcement that no camp host possesses.
Have you ever had to bail like that? Last time I had winds that strong was during hurricane Isabel back in Virginia. Out here in Idaho we get wind all the time, but this was exceptional.
