I was awake at 04:20 so up and ready when the alarm sounded. I moved Isabella and Skinny into position before releasing the others and preparing them for the outing. We were on our way by 04:40 to a carless, FreeLoaderless Promontory. Excluding Kostas who was collecting salt. We did our thing exactly as yesterday and returned by 05:50.
The second walk went up the river valley with Charlie and Obi as companions. Not totally ideal for Obi as I was not inclined to let him free given his goat and sheep-chasing tendencies. A man in a pickup passed us on our way up and could be seen later, herding some sheep before passing us again as we were walking back. We crossed the road and took the footpath parallel to the river seeing as the river bed has been excavated to become the new road leaving a huge hole. The last part of the walk was hugging the sea southwest up Alonáki Beach and back to the camping.
I went for a swim at 07:30 and found Maria swimming too. I was happy to share the sea with Maria as there’s plenty of it to go around. After my swim and a swill off with the hose, I went to Krios on my bike to see Gregor and his dogs. He was just arriving as I rode down the road so we were not there that long.
Back at the camping I got on with feeding the dogs and preparing my breakfast as time was moving on and I had my weekly phone call home.
The call happened a little later today due to some scheduling requirements. Consequently, we finished a little later whereupon I got on with sorting out the Doggy Dinners.
Usually, around the middle of June, I take down the awning tent. Today, 18 July it has been taken down possibly definitively. The window plastic has failed in each of the four panels so the rain will come in. The tent was intended as a temporary measure which could be packed up at a moment’s notice and carted off elsewhere. The tent has now survived four winters: two with the fabric awning and two with the metal roof. Considering it is intended for occasional use for around 6-8 weeks per annum, it’s not done badly as it has been up for 32 months or around 125 weeks, the equivalent of around 15 years ‘normal’ use. The tent was a flexible, easily demountable and transportable solution which was expedient at the time. I now have a metal roof over the van and decking, none of which is easily portable.
The choices I’ve come up with so far include:
1) replace the plastic window panels and continue with the present arrangement
2) replace the entire awning tent with a new one
3) fill in the top and bottom of both sides and bottom of the front and install sliding windows
4) fill in in the top of both sides and install folding doors all around.
Of the above:
1 is probably the cheapest
2 is the easiest but not necessarily very cheap
3 is a better solution as it moves away from flapping tent sides and would retain heat
4 is probably the most expensive but would provide the best, most flexible outcome as well as all the advantages of warmth and freedom from flapping.
I shall consult with Antonis to see how practical the latter two might be…
Having removed all of the sides, I needed to reposition the LED solar string lights which run inside the awning area. I also needed to properly fix the west SunBlocker in such a way that it didn’t move into the living area when the wind is from the west and so that Skinny is less likely to become entangled in it. Not an easy task!
My preoccupation with the awning side works lead to the Doggy Dinners not being removed quickly from the Pot so, yet again, Doggy Dinners were later than the norm but still apparently appreciated.
I have a sweetcorn on the cob awaiting my attention so I’m going to do it justice. So that’s all folks!
Leave a Reply