Tuesday 14 October 2014

Toilet talk

 

IMG_4177With an early start it was straight on to the services at Fenny Stratford. We were low on water and had a couple of bags of rubbish and 3 full toilet cassettes to get shot of.

Now then while on the subject of waste. when ever you meet up with other boaters the talk eventually always gets around to toilets as it did yesterday. We can still not make our minds up whether to go down the composting toilet route or not, I have read and read about them and i must admit only having to empty them every 2 to 3 weeks or even longer is very appealing. Well in fact it is only the number two’s you empty every 2 to 3 weeks ,the number one’s goes into a separate container and you just empty that in to a convenient hedgerow when full which would be every 1 or 2 days. I would have thought that you would need 2 poo containers as it would need more time to compost after its last use, so storing a container of you know what for a few weeks could be an issue .We have a total of 4 cassettes with each one lasting about 2 days but have so far never used the 4th one. Another option that has been mentioned is to buy a Porta Potti and just use that for number ones and then use our main Thetford Cassette for number two’s. The problem i envisage with that is trying to empty the cassette after maybe a week of poo when most of its contents are solid, my hands are to small to fit into the cassette and pull it all out but thinking about it i bet Carolyn could get her small hands in so that might work, but thinking about it i don't think that idea will go down very well with her Ladyship . There is also the Bucket and chuck it method, but again were not sure if that is the right way to go. Anyway still no the wiser on what to do.We will just have to sleep on the idea for now.

IMG_4182Going through Fenny lock and we did think about mooring next to the lock ,but as there is an IWA clean up happening soon all of the moorings were taken up and the ones below the lock had no internet so that was a no to stopping here from Carolyn.

IMG_4183This Heron was taking full advantage of this boat to fish from.

IMG_4186This is bridge 84 at Milton Keynes and as you can see its in a bit of a bad way. Carolyn always says go quickly through it just in case it falls down on us. The good news is that it is being repaired in the new year, but the bad news is that the work will mean the canal being closed from the 7th of January 2015 to the 13th March 2015. That will certainly have an impact on our winter cruising plans.

IMG_4188Apparently this stretch of canal just South of Campbell park in Milton Keynes is a reasonably safe place to moor. We were told that certain boaters wanted this area to themselves so put up the sign to scare off other boaters mooring there.

IMG_4189Yet again one or two inconsiderate idiot boaters and it gives us all a bad name.

IMG_4197After a few hours cruising we picked up this mooring just south of the Sizzling pub and services at Giffard Park. There are plenty of parks and good dog walking around here, so with heavy rain on the way we will sit it out and walk it out here for a day or three.

                                                                                       Happy Days

12 comments:

  1. Well...................what to do with no 1's and No. 2's, it's so much easier in our house, just go and flush it away! No doubt your now planning the next blog to coincide with your birthday :)

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    1. We could just chuck it in the canal like some of the idiots on here do , but that's not an option for us...Did you mention my Birthday...A day off work , lovely ..ps How are you going to get my present to me ???

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  2. Oh yes I forgot you never work on your birthday! Shame you don't have a post box nearby to send your present!

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    1. Don't worry , I will be there in the morning to pick up my expensive present.. You are such a lovely sister !!!

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  3. What your coming to Totnes especially to collect your present!!!!

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  4. now do you really think we all need to know about the ways &means of your toilet problems.I thought you were a HEDGER, you will have to stop that soon with the cold weather coming soon.

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  5. Things could be worse...I could still be working for a living ...it's not really a problem ,just an inconvenience ....Still Happy Days

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  6. We have been on a boat with a compost toilet, Trisha Helen, with Mike and Sue on board. They were very happy with it. The poo is in some sort of container which you can store. Didn't seem to be any smell. They had fitted it themselves. Has an electric fan, but not sure what for! We saw a teapot on a table in a cratch. Guess they just can't decide!! Jill

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    1. Hi Jill . It's just the fact that every 2 days we have to think about changing the cassette and get rid of it. It looks like composting is the way to go. To late to fit a tank unfortunately . Anyway if we all had perfect bogs what would we all have to talk about when we meet up !

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  7. Just came across this blog researching solar panels. We own an old Airstream trailer (we are Canadians, living in Toronto) and are in the process of installing a Nature's Head composting toilet. It was originally designed as a solution for boats, but works extremely well in trailers, tiny houses etc. If that's what you're thinking about installing, I cannot recommend them highly enough. No smell, no black tanks to empty, extending the time we can camp with no services.

    Best of luck with your decisions.

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    1. Hi Andreas , thanks for the input. We have so far looked at the Airhead and are still not sure what to do. I think the problem is the time it takes to de-compose and what we do with it during that time. We will look at the Natures head when we can find a dealer on our travels..many thanks

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