~o~
Up at 6.40 after a quiet night with weird dreams. 78, not out, and still no telegram!
Carport No1. A slim, four legged single. Presumably no longer used for vehicles but providing dry shelter for the bike.
I may return to observatory demolition today. I need no longer concern myself with saving the timber for a carport.
Fast approaching 8am. I have been busily padding yesterday's post about my 80km ride. Having written surprisingly little I felt it deserved more. Now I had better think about a walk.
9.45 and back from the lanes. It was grey, misty, damp and wet underfoot with a cold, variable wind. The traffic was light apart from the lorries. The Easter holidays taking its toll on the commuters. Greenfinches were the lead singers in today's wall of sound. Perhaps the rest of the chorus were depressed by the weather.
Carport No2 is by a specialist Danish design and constructor firm. Their label is still attached to the substantial roof. I seriously doubt I could afford that level of investment! Probably ten times the cost of the modern, DIY kits.
12.15 Back from a ride to the village. 18.5km. Quite a large village with roughly 3500 inhabitants. I was supposed to be buying something for dinner but it is an Easter Bank holiday. So, no dinner, but while I was there I went on a search for carports. Most houses have them. Or quite often a full garage. Most of the homes in the village are detached bungalows. Arranged in a maze of quiet, minor roads. Rarely seen by anyone but the inhabitants. I used the bike to avoid walking for miles. So that I was able to cover lots of ground quickly and silently. Most of it where I have never ventured before.
I wanted to find arched roof, metalwork carports. I see these as a way for me to build something quickly. Moreover it would be smart and open. Allowing free views to what lies beyond. Rather than make some scruffy wooden edifice.
The arched carports were surprisingly rare amongst the seemingly countless examples of typically dark, wooden caves. Usually filled with clutter. While the arched metal buildings were light on their feet. None of them seemed to be a magnet for garbage and household detritus. Only for bikes.
All three carports obviously had some years on their backs. So were fine examples of the likely effects of beneficial weathering. Albeit models from the past. Rather than modern constructions. Which might well enjoy better protection from rust and UV. Modern carport roofs use curved sheets of twin-wall polycarbonate. Older models would use a much narrower strip built construction. Which I can well remember were very expensive.
It soon became apparent that metal carports have to be be substantial in construction. Or they would soon imitate a tent flysheet lifting in gale while being used as a temporary awning. One of these carports was a double and heavily built. Also very generous in depth and width. So certainly not a cheap Chinese import masquerading under a western sounding name.
The first, single metal carport [top image] looked relatively small and almost flimsy. It contained only a solitary bicycle. Despite appearances it had obviously survived the weather for quite some time. The graveled approach was clearly no longer intended for a car. Though a commercial van stood in the entrance to the drive.
The big shed outlets all list similar carports. As well as wooden examples. I measured up the Morris Minor. Then quickly realised the planned carport had to match a much bulkier, modern car. Even a people carrier/minibus. No need for a double but it must be generously proportioned. Not least because it allows for a sharper turning circle when entering or leaving. There is much less risk of hitting one of the uprights.
The designer of any carport with 6 legs must have forgotten how car doors open on hinges. Adding considerably to their width. Will the door's paintwork survive a few collisions with a central leg? My neighbours have wrapped all three central legs of their double carport with cushioning. For very obvious reasons. Presumably owners of middle legs eventually learn where to park safely. To avoid this nasty, door impact problem. Or own such a large carport that their car doors can't easily reach the legs with reasonable care. Though there are certainly four legged examples of carports available.
My own parking area is about to gain considerably in area. Once the observatory remains are safely cleared and disposed of. Would it be sensible to plonk the intended carport down in place of the observatory? Firstly, it is quite a long way from the house. So makes little sense putting it there. If multiple shopping bags must be carried across "the yard" in the rain, wind or snow.
Though this siting would provide a reasonably straight shot to drive into from the long drive. Reversing to leave is a whole different matter. Nobody wants to reverse all the way down the 100 meter drive. So a simple, fairly sharp turn in reverse must remain safely within the expanded car parking area. Preferably without risking a collision with the landscape. This need is slightly complicated by a lean-to, block built shed. Which stands against the NW corner of the house. Demolition would be a rather major affair and hopefully unnecessary.
A carport parallel with the house would be closer and make much better sense. More or less where the rotary clothes airer presently stands. Though this siting still needs enough room to reverse out again. Into the empty space left by the absent observatory? Why not?
But! This siting demands that easy access to the western lawn must be maintained. Perhaps for a modest garden tractor and trailer. Or even a full blown excavator if the next owners desire a swimming pool or large pond. Or simply want to add enough material to level the garden. Which falls away to the west.
I have recently begun to drive the car and trailer down there. To load weeds and brambles. It was never possible in the past. Due to a massive 20' high Dolobrata hedge. Which I felled and cleared. Once I was in sole charge of the place.
Having the carport in place of the clothes airer leaves the view to the north almost unobstructed. Which is what the estate agent strongly recommended. Even going so far as to felling the few trees in that area. To open up the landscape as seen from the house.
Let's give them somewhere to park while they think about it. Just as my wife and I sat in the car just short of thirty years ago. As we pondered the purchase. Back then "the carport" was made of dead branches and cement sheeting. It was hideous and too small and low for a proper car. So its demolition became one of my first projects after we bought the house and moved in.
Dinner was beans on toast.
~o~
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