Wet, Wild and Worrying camping!!!

I pootled off to Norfolk on my own this weekend with the dogs to meet up with a load of friends that have Airedales too. About 20 of us meet once a year and have a rare old weekend.

Usually it's earlier in the year, but as another girl was camping too I wasn't too worried about being in the bus at the end of November.

Glorious weather on Friday and up til about 4pm Saturday. We'd already had a very trying day as one of my dogs is terrified of loud noises and from 8am Saturday morning there were constant bird scarers going off, and then all the shooting parties were out. Diggy escaped and took off into the woods RIGHT by where the shooting was, and I had a horrible, horrible time trying to find him and get him back. I don't mind admitting that I sank to my knees and wept like a baby when we found him.

Got back to the van just as the rain started and the wind was getting up, so I went round and repegged all the awning and battened down the hatches as we were on top of a hill with no protection or buffers from the sea and the wind coming straight in at the bottom.

The world's biggest fireworks display then started, making the already terrified dog practically comatose with fear.

Couldn't get a weather forecast on the phone, and the husband wasn't answering my text for a weather update, so I took the dogs and us off to the pub for the night.

Walked home around 11, still raining and the wind was just starting up. Got into bed and wondered whether I should take the roof down, but with the r&r bed not bolted in the only option would have been to sleep on the floor. Was quite cosy and the viking roof seemed to be holding up well.

Rudely awakened at 5am by the wind ripping through the viking canvas and the bus shaking from side to side. Pondered going back to sleep as was really very cosy...until the next massive gust nearly took the van over, so legged it out of bed quicker than I've ever moved in my life.

Coat on over pyjamas, had to head outside in the pitch black as the awning had come untethered and was whipping into the side of the van. This is the sight that greeted me



Only one pole and the guttering clamping left intact, pole connectors snapped all over the place.



The wind was taking the awning horizontal and I could barely see in front of my face with the rain.

Got the roof down, and then had to tackle the awning. Realised that once I'd unclamped it from the gutter it was a case of hold on tight and hope for the best but be prepared for it to take off across the fields. The van was getting battered so much that I couldn't have cared less if I'd never seen the awning again....luckily I managed to get it unhooked from the last remaining clamp and get the buddy box weighted on top of a part of it before it blew away.

Back in the van, duvet on the floor (dogs still happily asleep on the r&r, cheeky beggars) and tried to get a few hours kip with my head under the bed and my legs stretching down the middle of the walkthrough.

Gave up at first light and wandered out to survey the damage...



Managed to somehow throw the now completely knackered awning into the back of the van and headed off, after a couple of mins getting stuck in the camping field.

Trees down and floods everywhere - pretty much every B and A road I went down had police or fire engines there somewhere. Couldn't get over 20mph as I was practically going side ways.....to turn into left hand turns I was having to turn the wheel to the right as the wind was so strong!! After 2 hours (to go 45 miles!!!) clinging onto the wheel for dear life I abandoned the van and took sanctuary at my mum's - hot bath, dry clothes, big nosh up and a few hours sleep.

Left Norfolk at 8am and finally got back to Yorkshire at 5.30pm. Never been so relieved to get home in my entire life.


Be warned kids - the next time you go camping make sure you check the weather forecast. And if you haven't checked and need an update, try texting your husband (or wife) instead of texting Argos like I did :

 

Glad your home safe Zoe its sounds a right nightmare

 

Oh wow. I'm just amazed that you were together enough to actually take photo's. Where were you in Norfolk?

 

What a nightmare! - glad the dogs had a comfy night though!

 

Well done getting the awning packed away - I'd have been tempted to abandon it in those winds!

 

youve been at those baked beans again , what did i tell you

 

Glad you are all ok, Carry on camping as they say .I can just imagine the dogs looking down from the bed and saying you alright down their mum. :smiley_dog_kiss: Terrible argos not replying though ???

 

Wooooaaaahhhh glad youre safe and sound.Ray Meers would have given up.

 

Glad you are home safe.
Whatever you reserved at Argos will be available until cob tomorrow though !

 

Im glad you and the dogs are safe and sound

 

blimey zoe what a tale! no wonder argos are going down the pan - that is crap service, suggest you replace with amazon as it will still be under a for you in the phone.

 

glad you are safe
It was on the local news tonight a woman was killed in Exeter when a tree fell on her tent while she was asleep

 

And I thought it was bad down south, glad you're all ok and got home safely.

 

Omg! What a trip, I have the upmost respect for anyone who is brave enough to tough it out in that kind of weather!

Glad you got home safe...

Robo...

 

Glad you are home ok, sounds like a trip to remember but never repeat.

 

Glad the Viking roof held up
Use to take our devon roof down every night at Saltwick bay Whitby for the same reasons
Infact one of the caravaners was going to leave it was so windy but stayed as he saw I was still there in the morning (I was pitched on the edge of the cliffs)