BoonDocking-7 Finale
See if I can finish this up. I have re-read what I have written
and one thing does not appear obvious. I am basically a tent camper at
heart. When I boondock, which is most of the time, I do things much as
I would do them when tent camping, only in the convenience of an MH. Most
of my waste water is used to water new plantings in the CG or thrown in
the bushes. When I wash up I use a washpan in the sink, put in hot water
and then add cold until it is the "right" temp. After I wash, I take the
pan outside & toss it. When I do dishes I do the same thing with a
dish pan.
I have a double sink, so I put the clean dishes in the second sink.
When done washing the dishes, I go out and dispose of the dishwater and
then rinse the dishpan at the water spigot. Go back inside, fill the dishpan
with hot-cold water and rinse the dishes. Go outside & dispose of the
water. My personal hygiene probably also leaves a bit to be desired.
I do not shower every day at home & definitely do not when camping.
About every other day I fill a bucket with warm water & set it in the
tub/shower. There is a small seat at the end of the tub, so I sit there
and take a sponge bath. Once again, the waste water is disposed of outside.
About once a week, I go down to the RV park a quarter mile down the road
and for $2.00 take a shower. To replace the water I use, I have a 2.5 gal
water can, (actually a 2.5 gal plastic gas can). Some people use a 5 gal
can, but they are too big, heavy and awkward for me. When I am sitting
around camp during the day, and the spirit moves me, I fill up the water
can and dump it in the freshwater tank. 3-4 cans-full a day usually keeps
the tank pretty full. The most I have ever put in during one day is about
12.5 gal. As for Black Water, I try to use the CG facilities during the
day, saving the toilet in the MH for my "Nocturnal" needs. Have gone almost
a month that way without having to worry about dumping BW before leaving.
Despite everything I have said, there are still times when I do drain some
GW into the Blu-boy tote tank, but once again can usually go the full trip
without having to dump. If I do, I can use the GW to water the new plantings,
or dump a in the bushes like the rest of the tent campers. If you boondock,
and use a bucket or "blu-boy" to transport BW to the pit toilets please
check & make sure the chemicals you use in the BW tank are formaldehyde
free. Formaldehyde really messes up a septic system. That is why many free
dumps at rest stops have been closed down.
Well, that is about all I can say about my way of boondocking. It is
probably not for everyone. Many people like a few more luxuries and "normal"
ways of doing things when boondocking, but that is the fun of it. We all
have our own ways to survive. As I said at the beginning, my boondocking
is usually "dry-camping" in some sort of developed CG, so the details of
doing things are different than they would be if I were in the "out-back"
with no facilities, but the principles are the same. One last word of caution.
1 usually travel with about a quarter tank of fresh water and fill up at
or near the CG. If you stop at a gas station or store along the way end
use their hose to fill up the freshwater tank, let the water run long enough
to flush out the hose. The water in the hose has been sitting there, getting
warm, and soaking up a nice rubber taste. Forgot about that one time at
home, ran out the garden hose, stuck it in the freshwater tank, walked
back, turned it on and filled the tank. Went to a CG about 35 minutes from
home for a few days fishing. Had to throw out the first pot of coffee,
drain the tank, and start from scratch. Carried a lot of 2.5 gal water
cans that day, If there are any questions or comments you want to throw
my way, I appreciate the feedback.
HOME IS WHERE YOU PARK IT!
IT IS BETTER TO DRIVE YOUR CLOSET THAN IT IS TO PACK YOUR SUITCASE!
HAPPY BOONDOCKING!
TAHOEDON