Night before last turned out to be a REALLY Lousy night. I'm guesstimating that the wind was gusting around 50 MPH when the cold front blew in. The temp dropped to below freezing over night and that wind was plenty cold coming in through the cracks around the door. Worst part was that the wind had to be out of the east northeast because it was coming in here plenty fast. Almost felt like a fan blowing.
I'd robbed the cushions from the dining room bunk in the trailer to make a quick temporary bed out of and the bottom was vinyl which made it slide around on the OSB board floor like it was made out of ice. To make a long story short I had all of the cushions together when I went to bed, but as I turned it caused the cushions to separate and slide apart. That let the cold air use the space between the cushions as a way in under the cover. The little heater just couldn't overcome the cold air coming around the door. I finally got up and put duct tape over the cracks around the door and that seemed to help so I hit the rack again. Later I started getting very cold again and found later that the wind had blown the duct tape off. 40 degrees was the coldest I saw in here that night. I'd seen 23 or lower in the Dungeon so I guess this was still a big improvement.
Determined not to have the same type night I managed to find enough stuff around here to temporarily weatherstrip the door and I got in high gear yesterday evening and got a temporary bunk built. I had more than enough lumber for that that had gone south after I broke my arm and couldn't use it in time to keep that from happening.
This hammock was what I had intended to use to start with, but once I had it up and tried it I decided there was NO WAY I could get a decent night's sleep on that so it came down a lot quicker than it was put up.
Last night turned out to be a very good night. Perhaps one of the best I've had in cold weather since I've been living here. There wasn't any wind so I couldn't tell how well the weather stripping would have done. The little heater did a great job on low until about 6:00 AM when the temp had gotten to 55 degrees so I switched it to high and got up when the temp got up to about 68 degrees fairly quickly. It was 35 degrees in the trailer when I went to check that and I'm sure it got below freezing again because the ice chest I had outside with ice and water in it was crusted over with ice.
And here are a few pictures I've taken lately with the new camera.
===
Man, that cushion bed looked worse than sleeping on the cold ground. I'm glad you got it figured out, it hurt my back to just look at it.
ReplyDeleteIt only takes one cold windy night to let you know where all the air leaks are. I am sure you will get it all sealed up for tonight. It may get a wee bit chilly again tonight.
ReplyDeleteI sleep in a hammock everynight and love it. I'd hate to go back to sleeping in a bed. Just like sleeping on a camp cot, you need some insulation under you or you'll freeze your tail off. I lay an old sleeping bag in the hammock and lay on that. It's not for padding which is not necessary, but for insulation. The bedding that I actually sleep in goes on top of that. I sleep like a baby in a cradle in my hammock.
ReplyDeleteJust thinking about hammock sleeping hurts my back!
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could use the dinning room bunk as back cushions for a couch.
I can handle the cold if I can bundle up but high wind and cold I can’t take it.
Steady progress. Keep at it. Nice pictures.
MDR, the cushions are back where they belong.(In the trailer.) They work fine when they're boxed in where they can't move like they are in there.
ReplyDeleteDD, there hasn't been anymore high wind so it was nice and warm in here for the last two nights. and it did get very cold again last night. I imagine when I get the hard foam tiles that Harbor Freight sells down on the floor for some amount of insulation it will be even more cozy.
Bob Mc, A hammock might not be bad if its one that has the wooden rods to hold it open, but the one I have is a cheap'o and isn't that way.
OGR&D, The bunk I built works fine and will work better when I can find the other layer of memory foam I have stashed in the tank. It isn't bad as is though.
David, you need to find a little fat girl to lay on.
ReplyDeleteBkid, women cost money and I ain't got none.
ReplyDeleteDave, you don’t want a hammock with the rods. Trust me on this one. They are back yard ornaments! For full time sleeping you want the design you have, but a better one. A large South American hammock of Brazilian or Mayan design is the way to go.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a sleeping bag or an electric blanket? Your new bunk bed looks a lot more comfortable than your cushions or hammock.
ReplyDeleteBack when I could still sleep in a blow up mattress I too would use my sleeping bag as insulation and then pile on a bunch on blankets to keep warm in my cheap nylon tent when I was camping.
Nice pictures!
Bob Mc, I'll save the hammock for summer siestas in the shade, but I'm going to have to build folding bunks in here that don't take up much space when they are folded up against the wall. The bunk is working well for now.
ReplyDeleteMsB, I sleep on my sleeping bag using it for extra padding and cover with a blanket. Electric blankets pull way too many watts for off grid use.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDavid,you can get 12volt electric blankets at the truck stops. I know that the closest truck stop is in Ft Stockton but maybe some of your traveling friends could look for you.
ReplyDeletePablo, I keep watching for them to walk by, but the border patrol keeps them run off.
ReplyDeleteBkid, I really don't need one. It stays comfortable in here and doesn't take much propane to do it.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePablo, the hell with marriage. Done that twice and won't ever do it again.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePablo, maybe you can retire as a Coyote? Maybe I'll just go for a Russian bride and buy lots of Viagra off all the spam email I get. Then again maybe I'll just get by.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThat's enough Pablo...
ReplyDelete