There are a variety of ways to keep cool when trekking in summer. Fresh water lakes are fun to swim in, but unless we can find shade, we'll have that RV cooking in the sun. I've created a variety of solar shades to help. This morning I finished the one for the lily pad (our cabin) next to the pond.
How I make these
I prefer Coolaroo Sun Shade. These are made of High Density Knitted Polyethylene. It is breathable and blocks 85% or more of the sun's UV rays. I sometimes paint to to give a little interest.
I may use vinyl cord for the edge.
Here's the sketched outline on the shade I painted today. I adjusted the brightness and contrast so the outline would stand out for this photo. I painted it while on the ground, and then hung it to complete the drying process. I use enamel:
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| Contrast adjusted to show sketch on fabric |
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| Partially painted |
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| Paint complete, hung to dry. |
At times I get creative for the hanging method. This one is 15 ft. tall and has two pipe supports from above:
