A Brilliant (And Unscientific) Solution To Awning Stains

I just learned something awesome this past weekend. No, not the meaning of life; this is much, much better! Yes, I suppose the title gave it away. But lets pretend I wasn't the one who typed it or controls this blog and move on with the suspense, OK? Anyhow, to understand what it is that I discovered, I need to start at the very beginning. Not the beginning of time, just our second awning. We got it last year, due to a most unfortunate circumstance which I will have to relate to you at some other time. That is, if I remember. I tend to forget things-like where I'm going with this...

The first time the new awning was unfurled (yes, it was THAT majestic!) and I looked up at the unblemished beauty of the white, gray and blue vinyl, I had to brush back a tear. Would you believe an imaginary one? How about being a little impressed how there was not even one "oops" up there?

I determined right then and there that it would always look that way. Isn't nice to live in a make-believe world? Then reality took over and before I knew it we were camping in the rain in the spring under pine trees. And sometimes, that poor undeserving awning had to be retracted in the rain, without the proper white-glove treatment I had deemed it worthy of. And as a result of that, small coffeeish looking stains started appearing in various places on the awning. I don't know what the culprit was. Maybe a leaf? A bug? Does it matter?

While the integrity of the awning was not compromised (no idea what that mean, but what's a blog without a cliche?) I'd still sit under the awning an look up and ponder. Things like "how did that spot get on there?" or "why can't things ever stay nice?" or "please! someone help me my neck is stuck!"

I tried everything I could think of; Tedford's Awning Wash, Simple Green, Amour All Car Wash, and all were a disappointment. They just didn't work on those annoying stains.

Then, last weekend we came home from a weekend in the rain. Ummm, I mean we came home from a weekend of camping...in the rain. I went ahead and re-unfurled the awning, as it was not cleaned before we left the campground. Then, the search of "the" magical awning elixir started over.

My wife had some Spot Shot in the laundry area, so I gave that a whirl on a couple of the stains. I set to polishing my nails on the vinyl (don't ask) and had a miniscule amount of luck at reducing the effect of the stain. However, not needing my nails to be polished to a shimmering luster again, the quest continued. Upon reinvestigating the clothing cleaning chemicals, I spotted the Holy Grail of awnings cleaning!!



I picked it up, mixed a scoopful with a gallon or so of water, took the RV cleaning brush and coated the awning gently with the potion. Within seconds, the stains literally just disappeared! I was dumfounded! OK, maybe just dumb, but what a discovery!

And by the way, this particular version of the product states that it can be used on outdoor furniture, and awnings are outside, right?

So there you have it, a simple solution to a simple, but annoying problem. If only my explanations could be that simple, huh?

Summer, What Summer?

I used to hear the saying that we get as much sun here in Maine as some comparable city in Florida. Mind you, it's called the Sunshine State for a reason. Maine? Let's just say that if you like your sunshine in the liquid version, you'd be right at home this summer. And did I mention the temperature? Coming home from work to the cheery sight of a fire brightly burning in our pellet stove in mid-July really did happen. Kinda takes the fun out of going camping where you have to chop a hole in the ice before you let your kids take a swim in the campground pool!!

Two weeks ago while camping in Rockland, we were discussing all things weather with a gentleman who told us he arrived May 15 and had counted only 8 days of sunshine out of the 60 that he had been there. I think its a forgone conclusion that Maine just opted to save it's carbon credits by eliminating summer, and extend spring until fall arrives.

You might be asking what my tirade has to do with camping, and frankly, so am I...oh yes! I remember! You see, we only get a short time to camp (Memorial Day to Columbus Day) so when we get this kind of weather day in and day out, it affects the overall camping quality which in other years was the norm. This year, however, it is by sheer determination that we are able to get out and make the kind of memories we know we should be capable of making.

And so go we do. Because we know if we don't, the window of opportunity will close and we will be left looking out our living room window at 3 feet of snow piled on top of the Casita, mocking us for not taking whatever advantage we could when we could.

I often look at all the license plates of other campers, see they are from the south and wonder how happy they are to be spending their time and money in cold wet state. I never have the guts to ask.

On the bright side, when it is sunny, it's unbeatable. Often times low humidity, low to mid 70's, puffy clouds...If only it'd stick around so we could become reacquainted!

By the way, the picture of our kids picking wild blueberries was taken July 4, 2009. Notice the hats and fleece? I just didn't want you to overlook the proof!

Trying Something New-This Could Be Fun!

Ok, so the other day I was thinking (a phenomenon in and of itself) that I wanted a place where I could post stories, pictures and video of my family's camping trips. But wait! Even more, a place where I could be my own campground critic. How fun would that be?! Then I thought, "why stop there? Why not have a place where I can tell of our experiences with our Casita, replete with pictures and videos?" After pondering it a moment or two, as to not overtax my brain, I decided it was a brilliant idea.

Now granted, my opinions may or may not reflect reality tomorrow; but for today, it makes for a darn good tale! So there you have it, all you need to know. Well, not really, if it was, I'd be ending the blog instead of beginning it. Hope you enjoy it, learn at little and laugh a little more. Anything else should be considered an unexpected bonus.