In Sweden the 1st of may is a socalled "red day", meaning a national holiday. It is a celebration for and by the working class, a day where socialists of all sorts go out and have marches. For or against what is unclear to me, really. I myself rather have a green day in order to avoid red of any kind.
It was a rainy day, exactly what I had hoped for, because I could see how the shelters held up. We had some rain and wind in the past days too, so I was kind of curious.
During the day however I noticed that my cellphone camera was acting up, messing up the focus and colours, in many cases quite severe. So I apologize for the quality of some of them. Had to touch up quite a few of them to make them somewhat presentable.
The tools of the trade for today; my Swiss gaiters and German gloves. Together with freshly polished boots these gaiters kept my feet and legs dry and I must use the gloves, since it turned last christmas that I develop an allergic reaction to spruce needles. I used these gloves too, the last time.
I dismantled the small oneman shelter and was surprised to find the inside dry! Despite being unfinished it did its job, more or less. Next time I need to make the center pole longer and the entrance higher. Now it barely reached my hips and I had to extend the front so that all of (little) me would fit inside. Raising and lengthening it makes it more accessible and would create room for movement and gear. But in times of need it would have done the job quickly.
With all that extra green laying around I figured I might as well experiment a bit with the lean-to. That too was remarkably dry on the inside, btut I figured that it it would be windy and raining the front would still get wet. So I created an awning. Or an overhang at the front that would shield the inside from both wind and rain. I also added the longest boughs to the top, plugging the holes I noticed. The overhang also drastically reduces the large dark shade, making the shelter less noticeable from a distance. Downside is that the boughs get into your face.
It was a rainy day, exactly what I had hoped for, because I could see how the shelters held up. We had some rain and wind in the past days too, so I was kind of curious.
During the day however I noticed that my cellphone camera was acting up, messing up the focus and colours, in many cases quite severe. So I apologize for the quality of some of them. Had to touch up quite a few of them to make them somewhat presentable.
The tools of the trade for today; my Swiss gaiters and German gloves. Together with freshly polished boots these gaiters kept my feet and legs dry and I must use the gloves, since it turned last christmas that I develop an allergic reaction to spruce needles. I used these gloves too, the last time.
I dismantled the small oneman shelter and was surprised to find the inside dry! Despite being unfinished it did its job, more or less. Next time I need to make the center pole longer and the entrance higher. Now it barely reached my hips and I had to extend the front so that all of (little) me would fit inside. Raising and lengthening it makes it more accessible and would create room for movement and gear. But in times of need it would have done the job quickly.
With all that extra green laying around I figured I might as well experiment a bit with the lean-to. That too was remarkably dry on the inside, btut I figured that it it would be windy and raining the front would still get wet. So I created an awning. Or an overhang at the front that would shield the inside from both wind and rain. I also added the longest boughs to the top, plugging the holes I noticed. The overhang also drastically reduces the large dark shade, making the shelter less noticeable from a distance. Downside is that the boughs get into your face.
