march 27 Mon, Billings Montana Crkr B
the weather gods took pity and the sun came out in the afternoon. So after lunch, I packed things up, and we headed to Custer’s monument. it was pretty snow covered, so we couldn’t drive the loop, just walked up to the main monument. Still interesting to think i was standing on the hill where all that went down.
On the drive to Custer’s monument (why is it named after him? he lost and messed up big time! )
I should borrow one of my Dad’s books on Custer and the Native American tribes. I think I’ve avoided learning more about it, because it’s all so depressing.
Changing topics…
The following may be TMI dear readers. There is discussion of human bodily functions…
you’ve been warned!
The bison burger I made myself during lunch got things “moving” , and I was struggling to not poo myself for the hour leading up to Custer. Note to anyone travelling west on i-90….Use that last rest stop in Wyoming (Sheridan), because there’s nothing for the next 2 hours.
as soon as we got off the highway I went to the conoco gas station to use their rest room, but there was some stupid kid camping out in the single stall. I should have just left, but i was using every bit of focus I had left to not poo my pants. I managed to not shame myself, but it was close.
Why am I torturing you all with this TMI information? because I do have a portapotty, but I can only get to it when the tent is raised and I have all the bedding stuff out of the way.
when closing up the camper, I’ve started to just open a trap door (one of the 2x2 cushions that make up the bed floor and drop the sleeping bag, 40F quilt, air mattress and pillow down below into the truck bed area over the porta potty. I keep a trash bag over the porta potty btw. even if I didn’t it’s all self contained.
so long story short, I’m screwed in a pooing emergency. I have to raise the tent, move the bedding out of the truck bed, crawl in via the tailgate over the cooler (try doing that when you have to go bad!) or setup the ladder, go up to the tent and then drop down to the toilet. That works well in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning, but not so good when you have an emergency during the day driving around.
Honestly, I think I just need some trustworthy bags and desiccant/coagulant powder are the answer.
the rear doors of the extended cab open suicide style. I could just pull over and get it over with, and when done, tie up the bag and put it in the trash carrier I have on the rear spare tire.
all the other choices take up space or have downsides I’ve already decided against.
