The worst of it was going through the Tejon Pass when 70+mph wind gusts partially opened up one side of the RV awning in a pretty dangerous situation just as we were cresting the pass. Semi trucks were whizzing by and we were parked on the shoulder, which was not too wide, while Chris tried to figure out how we were going to remedy the situation so we could safely continue on.
Sure, we could have called our insurance roadside assistance service but how long would we have to wait for them to show up? Since the awning was already ripped and damaged from the incident we decided the best way forward was just to cut it loose with a box cutter, get the frame back into place and then secure it somehow.
Lesson learned: Don’t store your toolbox on the driver’s side of the RV storage area…it was much too dangerous for him to try to get to it. He did find some extra computer network cable and some gorilla tape. I braced myself against the RV against the high winds best that I could while steadied the step ladder he was standing on so he could to the work.
We managed to get it cut and re-secured and took a moment to hug because it was such a scary mishap!
Right before we rolled into Palmdale the skies cleared a bit and a beautiful rainbow appeared. We took it as a sign, “Job well done!” We just boon-docked at the Walmart for the night and found a great little Korean restaurant to eat at and the storms came back and rocked and rolled the RV all night. We did a little grocery run at the Walmart in the morning and then hit the road.
Sorry, no photos of the Walmart parking lot. I think we were still shell-shocked from the day’s events.
