The challenge of staying warm and dry.
Submitted by Brenda Inman on Fri, 12/21/2007 - 14:28.
The weather is becoming more and more gloomy. They say it is going to rain this afternoon. It’s a good thing that we will be inside tonight and Blackie will have a nice place to rest. I know the rain is needed here and even though it makes things harder for us, I thank God for sending it. I hope that when it is going to rain or snow we will have a dry place to sleep from this point on. Our trailer is just a stock trailer and can be rather wet inside when it rains. Our bedrolls get damp and it is hard to get warm when trying to go to sleep. Many mornings we wake up to a wet ceiling, dripping on our heads. We have a small electric heater and a propane heater. The propane heater doesn’t do much to fend off the cold. Sometimes it makes the condensation worse and we cannot sleep with it on.
The electric heater is ok, but in order to warm our bunk we have to suspend it from the ceiling of the trailer, close to us. It helps to have electricity too, but that is not always available. We use tarps to try to enclose the trailer and they help a little. I know this is all part of the journey. It makes it hard to concentrate when you don't get adequate sleep. One thing I have noticed is when I sleep inside now I often get too warm. Seems odd that a warm place to sleep can be as difficult as a cold damp one. Six months of sleeping "outside" is really different. It makes one appreciate the simple things in life.
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dripping water
Years ago we used to camp in an uninsulated canvas covered boat. Many mornings we woke up and found large drops of water inside the canvas roof. This was the result of 3 people breathing out moisture in a small space with too little fresh air coming in. A propane space heater that is not vented to the outside adds to the humidity indoors. The propane heater used without enough incoming fresh air is dangerous due to carbon monoxide if there is not enough oxygen for complete combustion.
Best solution is allowing more ventilation combined with some insulation inside the trailer, especially on the ceiling.
Good luck, stay safe on the roads.
Al
That was a dream of mine, years ago.
Congratulations for getting this far, I have wanted to do a long-distance ride ever since I read about a lady riding her Arab stallion from Fairbanks AK to Seattle. It seems as tho if I had the $$, I didn't have the time, and now at my age, four hours in the saddle is tops. I have followed your adventure since I picked you up in the Capital Press, Salem OR. I know that God is with you, and you'll make it to the end. I'll keep watching and thinking of you and your team
Jeannie
up todate
Thanks for keeping me up to date,May GOD keep you safe.
David
I'll never complain again!
After reading this entry, I'll never again complain about the cold. I know the area needs the rain but I also know how bitter it can be.
Be safe out there!
HOPPY HOLIDAYS!
Donna aka Froggi
BLOG: http://myprimeyears.com/lilypad
Quick tip for your trailer wetness
Hi,
If you go to Lowes, and purchase some 1/4 inch thick styrofoam insulation strips ( I think they come in 3 to 4 ft widths and 6 to 8 ft long ) You can bend this to fit your trailer roof and liquid nails it in a few spots so that you do not get this dripping. It is cheap, light weight, easy to cut and fit. If you cant get this to work, the foam padding that goes under that Pergo flooring will work too. But I think it may be more money. However you dont need much of it for that small of a space.
Hope this helps you out.
Sue