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Thread: Learning Moment

  1. #1
    Senior Member oldgringo's Avatar
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    Learning Moment

    Late Friday afternoon I was hanging my tarp, a BWDD Winter Dream. Weather was coming, and the plan was to hang the tarp before it hit. The skins were off, and I had staked one side, when all hell broke loose...winds I'm guessing in excess of 50 mph. The tarp was uncontrollable, Prusics wouldn't hold, and a #2 S-biner failed. Once the tarp was on the ground, the wild flailing stopped, and the tarp emerged unscathed.

    I'm not sure what I learned other than what the weak points in my rig are. Sure, I can beef it up, and probably will, but otoh, we want other things to fail before the tarp, and that's exactly what happened.

    This same storm killed 4 people in Oklahoma, took of roofs, knocked out power, blew over signs on I40, and took down trees. All told, I feel pretty lucky. Oddly enough, I kept thinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald...go figure.
    Dave

    "Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self."~~~May Sarton

  2. #2
    Senior Member Redoleary's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by oldgringo View Post
    Oddly enough, I kept thinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald...go figure.
    Thats cuz "the good ship and crew was in peril" as the song goes.

    Glad you're all right.
    Good luck,
    RED

    My Youtube Channel

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    Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
    Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
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    Deep peace without end to you.
    adapted from - ancient gaelic runes

  3. #3
    Senior Member FLRider's Avatar
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    Glad you're okay, and that the tarp is okay. Better to have those "firebreaks" in the design than to have to try and resew a tarp in the field, for certain!

    Lesson learned, and at least you're not at the bottom of Lake Superior!
    "Just prepare what you can and enjoy the rest."
    --Floridahanger

  4. #4
    Senior Member ibgary's Avatar
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    How was the rest of the night?

  5. #5
    Acer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by oldgringo View Post
    Late Friday afternoon I was hanging my tarp, a BWDD Winter Dream. Weather was coming, and the plan was to hang the tarp before it hit. The skins were off, and I had staked one side, when all hell broke loose...winds I'm guessing in excess of 50 mph. The tarp was uncontrollable, Prusics wouldn't hold, and a #2 S-biner failed. Once the tarp was on the ground, the wild flailing stopped, and the tarp emerged unscathed.

    I'm not sure what I learned other than what the weak points in my rig are. Sure, I can beef it up, and probably will, but otoh, we want other things to fail before the tarp, and that's exactly what happened.

    This same storm killed 4 people in Oklahoma, took of roofs, knocked out power, blew over signs on I40, and took down trees. All told, I feel pretty lucky. Oddly enough, I kept thinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald...go figure.

    In thinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald,,you may have had a vision.
    2nd CAG, CAP 2-1-5 5th Marines, 1st Mar. Div.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_Action_Program

  6. #6
    Senior Member oldgringo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ibgary View Post
    How was the rest of the night?
    Splendid.
    Dave

    "Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self."~~~May Sarton

  7. #7
    Senior Member old4hats's Avatar
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    I am glad that you are around to hang another day. It is a wonder what can come down our street.

  8. #8
    Senior Member MAD777's Avatar
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    Much better for something to come loose before the tarp shreds!
    Mike
    "Life is a Project!"

  9. #9
    Senior Member gargoyle's Avatar
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    Gitcheegoomee

  10. #10
    Senior Member 1066vik's Avatar
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    I was driving South in that same storm system -- got to set up in the more gentle rains following the first few rounds of excitiement just West of Independence, Ks.
    About 10 PM the skies cleared and it was perfect sleeping weather.

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