West What? I stink? No Grey or Black water problem.

[Ray Eklund]

Scent is Mother Nature's perfume.

I used the prefix West on purpose. That is because my wife and I camp and others knowing where I camp might be areas to avoid at all costs.

So many Threads concern Black and Grey Water problems. Problems of filling their black and grey tanks in their trailer in three days, not knowing what to do next.

Maybe, go on a tent camping trip for ten days. Off the Grid would be the best education, but lets say you would like a milder, nicer option a camp site with a water pump and privy for the entire eight camp sites.

What did you learn from either the OtG experience, or the basic campsite in the forest option? I bet you learned a lot.

-Zero Grey and Black water.
-Showers were a luxury for those who want to be... stunning while camped.
-Cooking on the picnic table, tail gate of your vehicle... or cold sandwiches.
-Dishes washed in a plastic "oil change pan" from Walmart.
-Warm water from your propane stove for washing yourself. Soap optional.
-Clothes that still retain their original colors are considered... clean.
-Ice melts in ice chest. You can drink it or use it for optional uses, like above.
-Deodorant is optional. Makeup is optional.
-Plastic cup of water, toothpaste, toothbrush ten feet from tent, minimum.
-Use the restroom, if provided... or take a hike with a shovel. Downwind.

Did you survive? Did your clothes stink before or after you arrived home? Did you really care? After the first couple days... yes. After a week, come on. After ten days... you are looking rather wild and woolly. You have learned more than most in only ten days.

FEW backpackers and tent campers look in the mirror... or even have a mirror other than on their 4x4 truck. Your hair is the first indication that you might not be allowed into a local restaurant. If you and your wife have beards, maybe eat at the camp site. Anyone experienced in roughing it knows that just washing your face and hair is treating yourself like a King and Queen. Jumping into a 50 degree creek for a good cleansing... maybe optional after the headache and shivering afterwards.

You do not need to shower every day, every other day or even consider it at all. We go in clean... and leave clean. That is ONE shower using about 3 gallons between the two of us when going back to civilization. The scent that mother nature gave us is our natural defense from... whatever it was meant for. It will repel water, at least.

You do not need to look normal, smell normal or dress normal Off the Grid. Your hair is a mess... wear a nice hat.

A change of clothes usually is a good time to use your 3 gallons in a trailer... and take this grey water and toss it into some brush. Nobody south of the Canadian border has been attacked by a bear when holding a flashlight to find the camp restroom during the day or night. Never. Or, not reported. If I had to chose between fresh water to drink and having a refreshing shower... well, you guess.

I bring canned and bottled beverages to drink, for emergencies like water shortages.

In the Midwest... you wake up, shower. You step outside... you wasted your time. See? You wasted a lot of water as you are already a mess. Humidity is your enemy. Not taking showers regularly. Go West Young Humans. It is dry. Everyone camping... stinks. Everyone wears a hat, a cap or must be bald.

On this Forum... maybe we and our two Blue Heelers use this procedure. But you get no sympathy from me if you run out of fresh water and your toilet and sinks are backed up into the trailer.

Guys understand. Or most.

[Mrjkq]

This post grabbed me, "I Stink" , then I seen a short story & did not read. Guys, keep it short, most don't want a big read.

[rmkrum]

Heard near the end of a 10 day hiking trip without showers at Philmont Scout Ranch, "is that funny smell US?"

Our boys know that story well--they lived it😄😄😄




Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums

[orange kayak]

Love this! So true.

[xrvr]

Ray, really like your LONG stories. Great info and so true! Those withADD do not have to read them, they are the ones missing out. Keep it up. Good boondocking.

[mandolindave]

I really enjoy your writings, and look forward to them. They are insightful, well written pieces on interesting topics.

[FreshAirStmr]

Especially as a newbie, I love your posts. Keep writing in your inimitable way, Ray!

[ROBERT CROSS]

.....boi we must.


AS'n 27yrs'..
nary a shower.
navy bucket baths

Consenting partner required, CG lake & wet puppy helpful.

Bob, Sandra & 'Fado'

[Dingo Girl]

I am out of the norm . Being female and enjoying camping on a bicycle or Harley I've done both. Many times. A couple of 5ooo mile camping trips west on the Harley, alone and unafraid of a bad hair day or 10.
My Caravel will be ready for camping summer 2016 , I'm pretty sure I will have more than enough room and water for a very lengthy stay in the great outdoors. And bonus, I won't have to crawl on the ground to get into it .

[Melody Ranch]

Somewhere in the past I was taught about "spit baths"....probably in the Military. Showers are not necessary to stay clean and "odorless." A washrag and a gallon of water is more than enough. An inexpensive blue boy solves grey water problems if you can't use a hose drain. Pee in the woods if your really camping helps reduce the black water build up.

[mandolindave]

Some Appalachian Trail Thru Hikers, tisk at the weekend hikers who smell like shampoo and deodorant. The perfume is overwhelming to them, and they say, " Why bother? It's futile "

It could be that people get immune to their own smell, and don't realize what other people smell. You don't want to stink at a pot luck dinner. Heck, it could be that my stink, alerted a bear, that a pain in the neck hiker was in the area.

[batman]

Another great post Ray. Keep them coming!

Being an avid back packer, rock hound, hunter, fisherman, canoeing, tent camper. We get it.
The wife and I built our trailer for booney camping, and that is what we do.
It's the best base camp ever!

It is easy to clean up, and brush my teeth with as little as a glass of water, outside. No fresh, black or gray water problem here.

What odor, that must be you!

-Dennis

[rumrunner]

Glad to know it's not just me
We decided that the tiny corner shower originally in our 55 was futile (and didn't want to deal with water problems) so we are leaving it out in our reno. We have been taking "bucket baths " for years at remote campsites if we get too ripe and I will be engineering an outdoor shower for more complete cleaning and dog washing. Not really glamping but it fits our style
tim

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by Mrjkq

This post grabbed me, "I Stink" , then I seen a short story & did not read. Guys, keep it short, most don't want a big read.

******
Find my Thread on Winter Full Timing... where I used ONE WORD.

"Don't."

[Ray Eklund]

Of course, some of the first post is pure satire. Even satire has a word of truth in it.

I am preparing the 2016 Wyoming adventurers for a little of what to expect. There are few and far between dump sites for your Black Water. When camped for a week in my 1956 VW, two people in the Badlands of Nebraska, or the fossil Cretaceous chalk beds of Western Kansas... you learn how to survive at 15 1/2 years old with a driver's Learners Permit folded in my wallet.

There are gaming forums, my favorite Casino table game is Craps. Most newbies want a one sentence answer on how to WIN playing Craps. I have books from 400 to 700 pages long about gaming and Craps mathematics. Craps takes a life time to learn... the lesson learned is... it cannot be beaten in the long run. Same with Off the Grid camping. You cannot compress years of knowledge in one paragraph. If I did, I would be just as lost as some City Slicker that forgot to bring a good map.

[Ecodog]

Great SHORT read Ray. As long time Westerners who camp and fly fish, we can totally relate to your post. Have yet to meet a trout that gave a hoot how I looked or smelled, and everyone else just doesn't matter till I get back to the civilized world, and I use the term 'civilized' loosely...

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by Ecodog

Great SHORT read Ray. As long time Westerners who camp and fly fish, we can totally relate to your post. Have yet to meet a trout that gave a hoot how I looked or smelled, and everyone else just doesn't matter till I get back to the civilized world, and I use the term 'civilized' loosely...

*****

Right.

Several years ago we brought a couple of City Slickers that did not camp Off the Grid and their 25 foot Arctic Fox to a campsite in Wyoming. While camped there, a group of pack horse riders had returned from a week or more in the Wilderness Area. They invited us to a steak and western potato dinner that evening.

Our friend's wife sat nearest the group around the large campfire that evening.

She was practically knocked out by the Natural Scent of the group. Between themselves and the sweat of the horses... it was an experience. The steaks were thick and great beef.

The End.

[Ray Eklund]

While traveling at 15 years old with a learner's permit from Independence, Missouri, I was eager to travel during the Summer. Saving up $50, or less, was enough to stretch a trip to a week or more. My 16 year old friend had a valid license and saved up to split expenses on these adventures.

Badlands of Western Nebraska for fossil mammals and "turtles".
Florissant Fossil Beds of Florissant, Colorado for fossil insects.

Earth Science Magazine out of Chicago wanted to attract younger fossil collectors among the general age of their subscribers being in their 40's to 70's. I wrote two feature articles in 1965 and the other printed in 1966. They were, of course, well endowed with words and some photographs.

The Badlands article received a letter from the... Smithsonian in Washington, DC.

They were not happy that I was collecting vertebrate fossils on private ranches and then writing about the geology and my experience. It would "encourage others" to collect.

That was the last time I had anything to say about the Smithsonian Institution.

The same has to apply to those who do not want people pushing further into the Off the Grid camping and hiking. It is "theirs", not someone with a trailer or camper in tow.

Well... excuse me to them, as well. Today... I am encouraging as many as can be accommodated on Western Adventures. And... I hope these same members encourage others to go with them after the first or third, or tenth trip with us.

So, bear/bare with me. When I was being paid 5 cents a word versus $100 an article in Gameroom Equipment magazines... I could not do the by the word. The article needed to be written as it flowed. Rewritten and cleaned up the text. Then shortened to fit the page count needed. The $100 check arrived. Airstream Threads are written as it flows. The auto fill turns some words into others... but I do my best to keep the post... relative.

I want others to open themselves up to how you think and how you manage to leave your habits of home from getting in the way of camping out... not at a RV Park... but in those places that only YOU find yourself. How do you manage? Most that talk as if they are Off the Grid campers... do not truly know. Much like the Sheepherder Wagon. It may stink... but you have what it takes.

[Gearheart]

I am so looking forward to meeting you in person next summer. So long as we all smell the same there's no problem. Like eating garlic. Just make sure everyone gets some and it's all right. Keeping the smells at bay can be done with a litre of water and a wash cloth. Just concentrate the efforts on the high percentage areas. Pits and crotch plus any other skin folds that do not stay dry.

[shineybullet]

My days of sleeping on the ground are long over ( thank God ) I enjoy my airstream so much more than when I was young and poor