Scottish Fairs—where tents go to die

[tpa]

At Harpenden this year, both Paul Henry and Chas were ruing their lack of 56lb weights to hang from their stall frames.

Wasn't quite as extreme as those above though.

[unixken]

I have some long screw in things - I'm not sure of their original intended use but I have used them as additional tent pegs for decades.

Anne,

Might they look something like these screw-in dog anchors, meant to secure a dog's leash?

[MNlad]

Might they look something like these screw-in dog anchors, meant to secure a dog's leash?

I've seen several people use those. Where they work great is in the center of the tent holding down the center cross members of EZ-Up type tents. Of course, you stake down the corners as well. Unfortunately, they only work in rock-free soil.

[unixken]

At Harpenden this year, both Paul Henry and Chas were ruing their lack of 56lb weights to hang from their stall frames.

The normally shy and elusive Scottish Wildcat has been spotted. A wiley creature, indeed.

[ASinclair]

The screw type dog anchor securing the center of the E-Z UP tent is a great idea. Thanks!

[tpa]

The normally shy and elusive Scottish Wildcat has been spotted. A wiley creature, indeed.

Indeed yes. He was taking orders up to the end of this month to make up enough to get a bolt woven. The only authorised UK supplier I understand.

[unixken]

Indeed yes. He was taking orders up to the end of this month to make up enough to get a bolt woven. The only authorised UK supplier I understand.

Yep. (I already have some from the first run.) I just thought it neat to spot it in the photo.

[Pleater]

Very likely - though mine would be for a large dog.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Blupiper]

In a replay of the Wisconsin Highland Games in Waukesha two years ago, the Minnesota Scottish Fair and Highland Games were hit by high winds just before the event this weekend. Vendors and Clan members who set up the day before were greeted Saturday morning with a jumble of bent shelters, collapsed tents (big and small), and soggy or destroyed merchandise that looked like the aftermath from Hurricane Andrew. Very few escaped the furry of 65-70 mph winds as an early morning thunderstorm ripped through the area. Pictured below is the shelter graveyard quickly created to clear the grounds that morning, as the event went on as scheduled.


Despite a shaky start and sultry weather, most participants made the best of it.

So sorry to hear of your troubles. We at the Spokane Highland Games had a similar situation last year. Two hours after the Games' closing, the winds peaked up and destroyed or damaged most of our tenting and rain/shade flies. The vendors had a great deal of goods scattered about. No rain, though, thank heavens. The next morning, we salvaged what we could and had our own pile of bent, unsalvageable metal frames. Insurance covered many replacements and we are on again for this year. Good to hear your event was able to continue.

JMB

[The Q]

The normally shy and elusive Scottish Wildcat has been spotted. A wiley creature, indeed.

See The Times Scotland, 23rd July 2015, page 4 for a photo of the inspiration.