Just got back from a leisurely holiday in South Africa. Very nice, but the wind was quite incredible. For example, spent an hour with a group of six of us doing some nasty (for the one in front anyway) chain ganging. It was only when we stopped and looked back at the road that we realised we'd been going downhill the entire time. Going down a mountain pass, I thought I'd try freewheeling..... came to a complete standstill. On the bright side, I've discovered that I enjoy being blown up hills (on the very odd occasion where that happened).
Is it the windiest country in the world, or can someone do better?
Is it the windiest country in the world, or can someone do better?
In more local terms, the .za climate is similar to the med. You must've gone at a particularly windy time.
You want real wind, go to, say, Bangladesh or Florida in hurricane season. Or to an island in the near-arctic zones: my most vivid recollection of strong winds was from Iceland, where the sandstorms gave a new meaning to the sandwich. But I've encountered winds that fit your description even within the UK - generally towards the northern end.
Just got back from a leisurely holiday in South Africa. Very nice, but the wind was quite incredible. For example, spent an hour with a group of six of us doing some nasty (for the one in front anyway) chain ganging. It was only when we stopped and looked back at the road that we realised we'd been going downhill the entire time. Going down a mountain pass, I thought I'd try freewheeling..... came to a complete standstill. On the bright side, I've discovered that I enjoy being blown up hills (on the very odd occasion where that happened).
Is it the windiest country in the world, or can someone do better?
The UK is allegedly the windiest country in Europe and the Shetlands the windiest part of the UK. Allegedly New Zealand is the windiest country in the world
-- Tony
"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using his intelligence; he is just using his memory." - Leonardo da Vinci
"Just Visiting" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Just got back from a leisurely holiday in South Africa. Very nice, but the wind was quite incredible. For example, spent an hour with a group of six of us doing some nasty (for the one in front anyway) chain ganging. It was only when we stopped and looked back at the road that we realised we'd been going downhill the entire time. Going down a mountain pass, I thought I'd try freewheeling..... came to a complete standstill. On the bright side, I've discovered that I enjoy being blown up hills (on the very odd occasion where that happened).
Is it the windiest country in the world, or can someone do better?
I pal of mine George Brown had several very windy experiences is Patagonia. Mind you it sounds very windy right now in Leeds :-)
Just got back from a leisurely holiday in South Africa. Very nice, but the wind was quite incredible. For example, spent an hour with a group of six of us doing some nasty (for the one in front anyway) chain ganging. It was only when we stopped and looked back at the road that we realised we'd been going downhill the entire time. Going down a mountain pass, I thought I'd try freewheeling..... came to a complete standstill. On the bright side, I've discovered that I enjoy being blown up hills (on the very odd occasion where that happened).
Is it the windiest country in the world, or can someone do better?
We had windy experience on south coast of Crete. Series of headlands and river valleys. Pedalling hard downhill in low gear to the head of each valley then being blown up steep hills on the other side - wind blew T shirt off back and broke mudgaurd. Eventually reached rocky valley which was impassible due to stones being blown off sides flying through the air. Mini water spouts being blown across the sea. No camping! Stayed in B&B.
"Tony Raven" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Just Visiting wrote on 19/11/2006 22:15 +0100:
Quoted message said:
Just got back from a leisurely holiday in South Africa. Very nice, but the wind was quite incredible. For example, spent an hour with a group of six of us doing some nasty (for the one in front anyway) chain ganging. It was only when we stopped and looked back at the road that we realised we'd been going downhill the entire time. Going down a mountain pass, I thought I'd try freewheeling..... came to a complete standstill. On the bright side, I've discovered that I enjoy being blown up hills (on the very odd occasion where that happened).
Is it the windiest country in the world, or can someone do better?
The UK is allegedly the windiest country in Europe and the Shetlands the windiest part of the UK. Allegedly New Zealand is the windiest country in the world
They dont call the New Zealand capital windy Wellington just because the polititions are based there. The flight into Wellingtons airport is usually interesting and there have been many cases of wind gusts at critical moments causing Boeing 737 sized aircraft wingtips to get very close to the ground. When you have to chain down a Lockheed Hercules to the tarmac as a precaution against weathercocking and you see horizontal rain, you know the place can get windy.
South Africas Capetown is renowned for the "Doctor" which is the localised wind around table mountain but when I went there for a couple of months a few years ago although I encountered headwinds on the plains/velts, riding a motorcycle makes light work of it.
The windiest continent would be Antarctica, the weather there can get very extreme and it's unique.
