Setting up a Camping Tarp for a Living Space Complete with Firepit and Picnic Table when it Rains

In this video I describe how to set up a tarp for a daytime living space for when it rains while camping. The tarp covers our seats, the picnic table, and the firepit. This works for both tent campers and RVers. A good tarp takes the misery out of camping in the rain.
Key points are the mainline cable holding up the tarp. it needs to be as high in the trees as possible. This is achievable by using tarp poles to feed the line over very high branches without climbing the tree. The corners are tied down with two cables per corner on the windward side. Proper drainage at each end is achieved by using a drain line to direct the water from the tarp to one location draining on the ground. Finally the tarp needs to be 7 feet above the ground where the firepit is, and the fire needs to be kept to no more than 1 foot high, coals and 2-3 chopped sticks. The fire can be smaller because the tarp reflects the warmth back down. By doing this the top of the tarp will stay cool, and the smoke will drift out along the both ends of the mainline cable. Under the tarp is up to 10C warmer than the ambient temperature outside the tarp. This is helpful for shoulder season Canadian Rockies camping.
I've built over 300 tarps in my camping days all while tenting, and this is the way to stay comfortable in heavy rain when the camping weather does not cooperate. I also like to use a heavier tarp, as they have a reduced tendency to flap in the wind due to the larger weight. The tarp sizes that work well for this are 12x18 feet, 12x24 feet, 16x20 feet, and I've even gone as large as 18x24 feet with a bigger group of friends.
I never use a tarp over our tent when we take our tent, I prefer a good daytime living space using the tarp instead. It works when my wife asks, "Do you think we are the only ones with a fire tonight?" This comment always comes during a heavy rainstorm. Even when we take our RV trailer we still set up a tarp for our "living room".