Dodged a Bullet (I think)

Oakman · 07-21-2013, 04:29 PM

Last night strong storms rolled through the campground at Rend Lake. By 9:30 the worst was over so my wife and I changed into our bed clothes and relaxed in our recliners to watch some TV. Just after 10:00PM, BAM! We were startled out of our wits with a loud crashing noise. We both literally jumped out of our chairs. CRUD, something large either fell off the trailer or something large fell onto our trailer. I quickly put on my shoes and grabbed a flashlight and went outside.
I thought for sure I was going to see a large tree limb on top of our trailer when I went out the door. My inspection of the fifth wheel from the ground didn’t show anything amiss and no tree limbs were sticking off the side of the trailer. NUTS! I would have to climb the ladder on the back of the trailer in a light drizzle to see if any limbs were just out of sight on the roof. I wasn’t too thrilled climbing the wet ladder. Once on the roof I was shocked that I didn’t see anything. However, the passenger side slideout did have a bunch of tree bark on it. I called down to Joyce to look for any limbs on the ground by the slideout and sure enough, there was a broken limb about six feet long and about two inches in diameter on the ground by the slideout. In the dark I had walk right passed it.
I couldn’t find any damage to either the roof or the slideout during my inspection in the rain. This morning I checked again and still can’t see any damage. I think I dodged a bullet (I hope).
The limb isn’t all that impressive to look at but when it hit the top of the slideout it sounded like an automobile collision.

Here is a picture of the three pieces of the tree limb.

Frank-VA · 07-21-2013, 04:41 PM

I am glad every thing is alright and no damage.

**Herk7769** · 07-21-2013, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank-VA

I am glad every thing is alright and no damage.

Totally Ditto. Very lucky near miss...

OldCoot · 07-21-2013, 05:54 PM

Thank goodness there was no damage other than to your nerves. We always debate whether to park near a tree for shade or out in the open after loosing our house in Carlisle. Kinda makes you 'gun shy'

Brian and Michele · 07-21-2013, 06:20 PM

Glad you had no damage...side note:

I was running around an older wooded camp ground one night when I heard that familiar sound, the sound of wood breaking, turned around in time to see a fairly large limb fall on the top of rear fender of a pick up. And this was a nice peaceful afternoon, no wind at all.

My thoughts...wow glad that was not my truck and glad I was not any closer running down the road.

Oakman · 07-21-2013, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Thank goodness there was no damage other than to your nerves. We always debate whether to park near a tree for shade or out in the open after loosing our house in Carlisle. Kinda makes you 'gun shy'

Back in our tent camping days I always made a point of not pitching our tent directly under a tree. When we changed over to “camping” in a trailer I quit worrying about it. I may have to pay more attention to the trees around me and the limbs above once again.

TTforTwo · 07-22-2013, 08:27 AM

Good to hear it was a minor incident.

Was camping this weekend in a Texas state park, sitting in my camp chair enjoying the breeze off the below-level lake and my morning dose of caffeine. Heard the crackle of breaking wood, and saw a large tree branch break off an oak tree. The location had a tenter nearby the day before. It makes a person think with the last few years of drought, and dying trees, that you should do a better inspection before picking a site.

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