Whoa there, Joel. Some intelligent folks have done the work for you.

We bought a "Family Dining Canopy" at BIG LOTS. These are 12' x 12' blue
poly tarps and a selection of perfectly-suited, hollow aluminiumunumum
tubing multi-section poles, and a selection of guy-cord (which gals can use
as well).

Amazingly, The tarp is almost EXACTLY the length of our Weshouldfollowya,
so we can attach one edge easily to the drip rail by folding the pair of
the surplus aluminiumunumum tubing legs into the edge, and using 4"
C-clamps to hold it in place. The rest of the canopy is erected as usual,
including the center "Big Top" pole, and the guy cords.

It has stood up to 15-25 mile winds during a thunderstorm, so it can't be
all bad. It is however, truly a "Spanky and Alfalfa" rig, only for use well
away from civilized people. Total cost, $15 for the canopy, C-clamps from
the tool shed.

G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
www.bulley-hewlett.com
Cary, NC USA
888.468.4880 tollfree

-----Original Message-----
From:   Joel Walker [SMTP:jwalker@BAMA.UA.EDU]
Sent:   Tuesday, June 15, 1999 3:54 PM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Re: poor man's awning - another solution

one thing you guys and gals might want to consider for
awning/tent poles:

those aluminum poles that you use for roller-painting the
ceiling. about $8 each at various large 'hardware' stores
(Lowe's, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, etc), and they have a plastic
screw-thread on one end. they also extend several feet (but
collapse into a easily-stored length) and twist/grip to stay
at any length (up to maximum). with a little
shaving/whittling, the plastic screw end can be made to fit
into a grommet hole on a tarp.

i've got them and am planning/scheming/plotting some sort of
tarp-tent ... just haven't gotten the kinks worked out yet.
:)

joel