Month: January 2009

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Mastering the Black Tank

Warning, this post is not for the faint of stomach. Julie, this means you! 😉

It’s only today that I can truly say that I have mastered the care and feeding of Miranda’s black tank. I was pretty sure I had done so before the big freeze, but needed another full cycle to make sure I really had things down pat.

Once I got the black tank emptied of the PO’s gifts, I found myself having difficulty emptying it without poking being involved. I asked my RVing friends for advice and started quite the discussion about what could be trapped in the drain (nothing, I assured them) to the value (or lack thereof) of special RV toilet paper to what chemicals should (and should not) be used. Finally, someone asked me how much water I was using. A lot, I thought, but, as it turned out, it wasn’t enough!

So, this is Rae’s number one tip for dealing with the black tank: use more water than you think you’d need!

Start with an empty and clean tank. Close the black valve, then go in and pour two toilet basins full of water down the tank. This will fill the drain with water and prevent the solids from blocking it.

When you use the toilet, apply the following rule of thumb: half to one basin of water for liquid waste and two to three basins for solid waste. It sounds like your tank will fill up very quickly, but, in my case, I’ve had to empty the black tank less often. Why? Because the water is dissolving all the waste, of course!

Before dumping your full tank, make sure to top it off with water. Then, just pull the black valve and listen to that wonderful gush of liquefied waste happily making its way out of the tank. Rinse the tank with the black valve open, then start all over.

As a final note, I’m in the anti-chemical camp because some chemicals are toxic, some kill the bacteria in the tank that help dissolve the waste, and some are just plain useless. If water is strong enough to erode rock, it’s strong enough to deal with a bit of human waste decomposition.

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Waiting for the Locusts

British Columbia’s southwest mainland (where I am) is now under flood warning thanks to all that wonderful rain we’re getting that is melting all that lovely snow. The province hasn’t had it easy the last few years thanks to forest fires and now here we are with flood warnings.

The last few days have brought back lovely memories of my time spent in the Scottish Highlands. Until now, there was the only place I ever saw mist and fog so thick as to completely block out the sky. Oh, I’ve lived in the Gatineau hills and made mention of pea soup fog along my journeys, but this sort of fog is a breed unto itself. The sky seems heavy and 1PM looks like 9PM, it’s so dark out. The Scots call this weather ‘atmosphere’ and that’s entirely appropriate! Like those days back in June of ’98 in a stony croft in Glen Nevis, I just want to wrap myself in a wool plaid by a hot fire! Of course, a bathing suit and hot tub are going to have to substitute. 😀

I’m finding it more difficult to find a comfortable ambient temperature inside Miranda in this sort of weather than I did in dry cold. It’s damp and I’m heating with propane, which pretty much makes the problem worse. I don’t have a 15A outlet on my pedestal here, so running a space heater is out of the question. But this is truly a petty concern; it’s not cold, just chilly, and, again, I have a hot tub to run to when my fingers stop working. Okay, enough with the amenities already! 🙂

I’m definitely settling in here, having found the shortest route to the nearest Walmart. 🙂 Thursday afternoon, I have an interview with an employment agency here in Surrey; this is great news! I spoke with another agency yesterday but doubt that anything will come of that conversation. The lady had a hard time believing that I am allowed to take temporary employment during my sabbatical, much less that I left on good terms and that my supervisor is available for a reference!

Going back to Walmart for a second, the south Surrey Walmart is the hugest Walmart I have ever seen!!! It rivals any American ‘super’ Walmart I have ever seen! It even has a complete grocery section that rivals any grocery store I’ve seen in months (for one thing, it stocks halva!). After the absolutely ridiculous grocery store prices in Oliver and environs, I’m going a tad nuts with my stocking up!

Well, I have a a lasagna to assemble and laps to swim and rain to listen to (love that sound on the roof) and interview clothes to assemble, so off I go. It sure feels nice to not be miserable anymore. 🙂

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A Wash

Well, today gave me the evidence I needed to justify just chilling out in south Surrey for a couple of weeks instead of heading out and doing touristy stuff in Vancouver and environs.  It’s warm out, the region has had record amounts of snow, and they don’t have the snow moving equipment needed to deal with the fallout. So, there is slush everywhere, parking is in short supply, and the natives have no idea how to drive in these sorts of conditions. After the morning I had, even venturing into the city with public transportation seems unappealing.

My plan for the day was to drive into Steveston Village in Richmond, spend the latter part of the morning, have lunch, and then come home. After a half hour of battling ankle-turning slush, I gave up and decided to return in more clement weather. I did take the time to have a quick tour of this quaint fishing village, enough to convince me that I really do need to visit it properly once all the snow has melted and the sidewalks are clear!

As I walked the streets, I got an eerie sense of déjà vu, like I had been to Steveston before. It looked a little different under the snow, but I had a few moments of turning street corners and knowing exactly what I was going to encounter. It was unnerving, but I was able to elucidate the mystery once I got home: Steveston was the filming location for a favourite episode of a favourite television series, Stargate SG-1! LOL!

I popped into the museum/post office that was formerly a bank and poked around, but there wasn’t that much to see as the museum is under new directorship and undergoing changes. I bought the Stevenson walking guide (2$), figuring that it would come in handy when I return.

Here are some pictures I took. They’re not very interesting, but they’re proof that I did step outside my bubble today! 😀

Georgia Cannery, Steveston (Richmond)

Cannery, Steveston (Richmond)

(I just realised where I’ve seen this cannery before, not on Stargate, but on MacGyver!)

Steveston Harbour

Steveston Harbour

Steveston Wharf

Steveston Wharf

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What Price for Joy

It’s my third night here and I’ve already got ‘Going to the pool, YAY!!’ down to a science. Sometime between seven and eight, I put on my bathing suit, throw my jammies over it, and schlep over to the pool building with my bag holding toiletries and a towel. This way, I don’t have too much ‘stuff’ (ie. clothes) to deal with at the pool and I can shower right there.

I don’t believe there is anything in the whole of the universe that gives me as much joy as does swimming. Just doing laps doesn’t satisfy me. Soon as I hit the water, I have to play, turning somersaults and spending as much time under water as possible. There is no more glorious feeling than that of being completely submersed. I must have been a fish in a past life. No, make that an otter!

In 2009 I have already swam as many times as I did in 2008 and I plan to make up for 2007 when I didn’t get to swim at all.

So, what price for joy? I’m stretching the budget by staying here, but I have yet to feel that the price I’m paying is too much. 😀

For those who are curious about what this paradise called Pacific Border RV Park looks like, the park website has lots of good photos… just add a generous amount of snow to them. 😉