Would you believe that after we had enjoyed the lovely sun yesterday, that it would be followed by a terrifying night.
We turned in at about half past eleven last night, quite a lovely night as I turned the ‘genny’ off. We read for a while and then went to sleep. By half past twelve we were awoken by the wind getting up. By one o’clock the wind was so strong and we were so terrified that we got dressed and put on our fleeces, put the cats in their car boxes, got in the car and drove down into Taberno. We parked up near the Hostel, put the heater on, left the engine running and slept fitfully, warm but uncomfortably until five o’clock. We then decided that, because we wanted to go to the loo and so did the cats, that we would drive back upto site. We said that if the caravan was still standing and in one piece when we got back then we would tough the rest of the night out in the caravan. I was not really too confident in finding the caravan and portacabin where we had left them at one o’clock. The wind had not abated at all during the night. When we got up to leave the van we were very conscious that, as yet, we have not put the ground ties back on the caravan and the portacabin. The headboard of our bed was bouncing and buffeting along with the whole end wall of the caravan that the head of the bed rests against, it was like being in a very noisy train except that it was dark and we were horizontal in a moving bed. It was all really very frightening.
When we drove back over the hill near the hebe I certainly was ready for the worst possible scenario, but we actually found that both the caravan and the portacabin had weathered the gales well, and a lot better than us, with only one or two items outside being knocked over, like the plants and a petrol can.
We said well, if the vans can take all of that, and it was much worse than the high winds the other week, then we would stay. We lit the gas fire and made some tea and then wrapped ourselves in a blanket in the arm chairs in front of the fire in the dark. We slept a little but the wind was still as strong as before, right upto daylight and sun-up at quarter past eight.
Feeling tired but very relieved that it was daylight at last we got ready, again with the cats, and went down to Taberno in hope of a strong cup of coffee (and to use the ablutions facilities). Guess what, it was blooming well shut, because of the national holiday, what a bugger. We drove back to site and cooked a good breakfast instead.
Since sunrise (it is now ten o’clock) it has been glorious sunshine but the wind is still very strong and is only just starting to back off a little.
Both Elayne and I were shaken by the severity of the wind and the speed that it built into a full blown gale, last night. When it finally dies guess who will be out putting the ground anchors back in, sod the hebe and the potho for today they can wait till manana!!
Sorry no pictures yet.