Windy Days on the Road

The wind blows my hat off all the time in Utah. The wind whips through the mountains, ravines, and valleys.  The views of the snow blowing from the mountain peaks is breathtaking.

It is that time of year when the March winds blow.  I remember our stay in Carrizozo, New Mexico in 2009.  I didn't know how strong the wind could blow there.  It had sustained winds of 60 mph for days.  I wanted to go to a motel, but instead decided to ride it out at the campground.  We left the camper hooked to the truck to try to help the stability.  I never felt in danger but was that camper rockin'!

March, April, and May are storm months in the Midwest.  While here in the west, we experience the winds and then watch them head east and turn into severe weather.  

Wind and heat do a number on our tires. We should own stock in a tire company!

With 24 vehicles tires and 36 additional tires on ATVs, UTV, and bikes, we really watch wind, temperature, and pressure!  As the spring winds starting to stir, we will plan our travel days around decent temps and low wind speed.  While driving across Kansas, we watched our camper go at a slight angle behind us.  The wind was pushing so strong that it was hard to keep her going straight.  Add high temperatures, about 108 degrees, and there is a recipe for a large expense - all new tires.

An unexpected storm with straight line winds hit our camper early
in the morning and ripped our awning off.

Straight line winds in the Midwest in the spring makes us feel like we are going over!  Shae always calms me down by reminding me just how much this camper can withstand.  All our jacks down helps us to hang on tight to the ground.  Sadly, this storm snuck up on us early in the morning and ripped our awning right off.  And, to add insult to injury, the awning ended up landing on our van door and side mirror and put a big scratch down the side.  We ended up not replacing the awning.  Our cousin gave us an easy up from her craft show days. I actually like it better!  We can take it places with us and also move it when the sun moves.

The wind at the Colombia River Gorge in Washington
State gave us snarls that took a long time to comb out!

It was an awesome sight to see the snow blowing from the tops
of the mts around us in Marysvale, Utah.

When we arrived at a campground in Dublin, Texas, we noticed everyone had tarps tied to their picnic table pavilions.  It only took a day to realize it was to help block the almost non-stop winds in the spring that blow across that massive state.  We bought more tarps and tied them up and things were much better.  After a couple of weeks we got used to the wind and didn't let it stop us from our many adventures.

Storms in Texas and Missouri While in a Camper

When we owned our home, we had an underground basement.  In that basement was a room that had no windows and was in the center of the basement, next to the ground.  Anytime there was severe weather, I would send the kids into that room for the night.  Sometimes they had to sleep in the big walk in closet and other times just in the bed and on the floor.  It had a TV, VCR, toys, books, blankets, emergency kit, and other necessities and non essentials. 

Now, living in a camper, we are in extreme danger during bad weather.  We all know the risk that people take staying in mobile homes during severe weather.  The news always says to get out of them and into a shelter. 

Campers are even worse. 

Yet, I want to stay on the road.  But, I do believe we need to change where we spend the spring.  We will not spend tornado season, March through June, in tornado country again.  I'd rather be there in the heat of July than blown away in the spring or fall.

I knew weather would be an issue while traveling, I never had a clue just how much it would rule our decisions.

I remember the second year of traveling.  We went to Montana and the Northwest.  As we drove to our winter campground in Arizona, the snow was hot on our tails, or should I say "cold on our tails!" 

We paid the extra for double insulation in our camper - I think that just means they put extra tissue paper in the walls.  Double pain windows would be great, this camper didn't have that option.  We decided to only get one air conditioner put in.  That was a mistake, we really need two air conditioners when it is super hot.  We use two electric heaters in the winter, along with our furnace, which keeps it plenty warm.

We have two carpets and a foam barrier in the back to help with insulation.
 
We made double layer curtains for some windows.

Silver bubble wrap insulation works great on the window during the winter.  It made a huge difference.

Now, we look at the calendar, weather patters, and the map and put all three together and decide where to go.  We know God will protect us where ever He wants us, we just need to go where He says...and learn from our past mistakes.

Bad Weather in a Camper

There are many positives and negatives to hitting the road full time.  We love traveling, seeing the sights, visiting family, climbing, hiking, four wheeling, kayaking, mountain biking, spending more time together, are just a few of the wonderful reasons to travel.

Yet, there are negatives and the worst for us is bad weather. 

The recent outbreak of storms has hit us hard in central Texas.  It is quite scary to have lightning crashing around us as we hide out in our 42' camper that seems like a tin can when the wind is rocking it back and forth.

The first big storm hit about a month ago.  We were at Navarra Mills Army Corp of Engineers campground.  It was a beautiful place to stay.  Our camper was nestled among numerous large trees which kept us shaded during the day.

But, when the winds hit, the trees bent extremely far down.  I was concerned one might fall on the camper, and even if it didn't fall, lightning could strike one of them and then go into our camper.

The winds hit suddenly and the kids and I ran for our truck. We didn't even have time to put shoes on.  I drove as fast as I could to the bathhouse just across the field.  We ran inside and huddled in the corner.  Most of the kids were half asleep as this happened around 6 or 7 am.

Shae, my husband, and Cody our 18 yr old, were still at the camper, closing windows, vents, and grabbing as many items outside before they blew away.

It wasn't but a few minutes after we had arrived at the bathhouse that Shae and Cody showed up. 

We hid in the bathroom/shower area for over an hour.  It got very cold so Shae ran back to the camper to get us a blanket and shoes. 

Once the storm was over, we drove back to the camper, relieved to find everything in tact and accounted for.  The only damage was to our tent we had set up for the kids to play in.

We were thankful to be ok and to have our camper in one piece.

Storms are terrible in a camper.  I have more stories to share....one about the tornado!