Redlands Truck & RV

I’m always delighted at the site of an abandoned drive-in, and a nice one greeted us upon our arrival back in 2006 in the pretty town of Moab, Utah, near extraordinarily beautiful Arches National Park. There didn’t appear to be a screen anymore, just a cool old retro sign, a disheveled hut at the former entrance and lots of tumbleweed-like growth surrounded by stunning Utah landscape. Must have been quite the time, watching “Son of Flubber” under the stars in this awesome Western locale back in the day. The handy website driveintheater.com tells me there was a drive-in in Moab called the Grand Vue at one time so I assume this is what’s left. A grand view indeed.
Posted by Gunnar and Sherry at 2:49 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Abandoned drive-in, Moab Utah
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The Meadowbrook Drive-In of who-knows-where

I unearthed some more photos I shot of another abandoned drive-in theater, probably some time in the early 1990s. This one looks to be the Meadowbrook, but I can’t say from where. I originally thought it might be in Florida, as I travelled there back then and vaguely recall taking pictures of a place like this. However, the flora doesn’t look very Florida-like. An internet search tells me there was a Meadowbrook Drive-In in Middleboro, Massachusetts that closed in 1987. This is probably it, but I don’t remember being in Middleboro. My archivist brother would be reprimanding me for not labelling these precious artifacts properly. If anybody knows anything about the Meadowbrook, I’d sleep better having solved this mystery.
Posted by Gunnar and Sherry at 8:59 AM 6 comments Links to this post
Labels: Abandoned drive-in, Massachusetts, Meadowbrook
Saturday, February 21, 2009
An old ghost: Pennsylvania’s Lincoln Drive-In from 1991

I was rummaging through some old photos and came across some striking pictures I took of an abandoned drive-in movie theater in 1991. I made no indication on the back of the prints where they were shot, but as best I can figure, they are the Lincoln Theatre of York, Pennsylvania. We were in that area around that time, as I recall, because Sherry’s cousin Bobby was getting married in southern Pennsylvania, and I also remember it was kind of rainy on that trip. I consulted the excellent website driveintheater.com and they list a Lincoln Drive-In in York, so it makes sense to me. I can never resist taking pictures of drive-in theaters if it’s at all possible without causing a 10-car pileup or being shot at by an angry land baron in the process. They’re so, so cool in so many ways, bringing back happy childhood memories. I also love the weird irony of these big, once-gleaming, hulking icons of the past rotting away. I would imagine by now the Lincoln is long gone and a Staples or Home Depot now sits where snack bars and pajama-clad kids, Moms and Dads on a budget, and young lovers once frolicked. If someone out there can verify or enlighten me a bit further about the fate of this grand old lady, I’d love to know.

WENATCHEE, Washington —

Barely days ahead of the peak holiday camping weekend, Washington State Park officials have closed down the popular Lake Wenatchee State Park, canceling some 650 reservations, many set for Labor Day weekend. The closure has nothing to do with the economy, and everything to do with safety. In two separate incidents, large trees tumbled in the park, causing the state to bring in a tree pathologist.

The Department of Natural Resources expert determined the fallen trees had come down as victims of tree root rot. A further investigation showed a number of trees in both the park’s north and south campgrounds were likewise infected, raising immediate concern for the safety of visitors, hence the closure.

“We understand this is extremely upsetting for our customers, especially with the popular Labor Day weekend upon us,” said State Parks Director Rex Derr. “But the safety of our visitors is our top priority. We will always err on the side of caution and will work diligently to assist our visitors with making alternative plans for the remainder of the summer.”

Lake Wenatchee State Park is a 489-acre camping park with 12,623 feet of waterfront on glacier-fed Lake Wenatchee and the Wenatchee River. The park is bisected by the Wenatchee River, creating two distinct areas – South Park, with areas for camping, swimming and horseback riding; and North Park, in a less developed, forested section, a quarter-mile walk from the lake. The park has nearly 200 campsites (with a majority available for reservations), a group camp, equestrian area and hiking trails.

August 24, 2010

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed a bill that would have prohibited the sale and use of some of the most effective and widely employed holding tank deodorants utilized in waste facilities and toilets on boats and recreational vehicles.

“Current law already gives the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) the ability to address the issue of chemical toilet products in RVs. Additionally, DTSC has the ability to address this issue through the green chemistry process,” said Schwarzenegger. “This bill presents a scenario that is ripe for a green chemistry approach: competing science on each side of the issue; concern about the effectiveness of alternative products for the consumer’s intended use; consumer reaction in the wake of an ineffective alternative; and questions as to whether banning particular chemicals will actually address the underlying problem.

“Neither I, nor members of the legislature, are best equipped to answer these questions,” he explained. “We need science and scientists to undertake this challenge and develop a solution that both addresses the chemical problem and provides the consumer with a product that is both economical and effective for its intended purpose.

“Under the leadership of my secretary for environmental protection, the green chemistry process is well underway at DTSC. We will have regulations adopted by Jan. 1, 2011, and DTSC should address the issue raised in this bill either in that process or under their existing authority,” Schwarzenegger explained. “The decision was reached after considerable input from those who would have been most impacted throughout the industry.

If you haven’t seen last Saturday’s RV Travel newsletter and the post in RV Boondocking News about the ambiguity of the law regarding sleeping overnight in Utah rest stops, the issue has elicited questions about rest stops in other states, and whether sleeping overnight can result in a ticket.

California posts rest stop rules on their website, of which these are pertinent to the overnighting issue:

You May:

* Park in any designated parking place
* Stay up to 8 hours in any 24 hour period.
* Dump sanitary wastes from RV holding tanks and portable devices at designated dump stations.

You May Not:

* Camp or pitch a tent.
* Park, to do something away from the rest area such as hike, camp or hunt.
* Use The Department of Transportation’s water, electricity or gas for unauthorized use.

It is unclear whether you can fill your water tank but I would bet you can’t run an extension cord to a wall outlet in the bathroom as an electrical hookup.

California’s helpful list of rest stops includes services available as well as whether there is a dump station (RV Sanitation Station, in their language).

I also contacted the Texas DOT and received this reply:

“Bob,
“Thank you for your questions. Although camping is not permitted, visitors can certainly stay/sleep in their RV overnight. Since the facility must accommodate all visitors, no part of their RV can restrict access to roadway or sidewalks. Use of pop-out features may need to be restricted. Overnight parking is allowed for up to 24 hours. RVers are treated the same as truckers.
“The purpose of the safety rest area is to provide a safe and interesting place for drivers to stop to take a break from driving. Please encourage the readers of your blog to use them.
Andrew Keith, P. E., Supervisor, Safety Rest Area Program
Maintenance Division/Facilities Management Section
Texas Department of Transportation”

And here is a Map of rest areas in Texas, which you have now officially been invited to use overnight.

Florida is more restrictive. The following is from their website:

“Overnight camping is not permitted, but visitors may stay for up to three hours.” Additional information and a map of Florida rest areas at the FDOT website.

This is a fruity, exotic, North African adventure, not the “same old stew.” Make it in a pot atop the stove, solar oven, Dutch oven, slow cooker or pressure cooker. Garbanzo beans supply the starch but to stretch the dish further, serve it over rice or couscous.

1 pound lean cubes of lamb or beef
2 tablespoons
canola oil (except for slow cooker)
1 cup pitted, dried plums
1 cup dried apricots
Large onion, diced
1 cup water
1 chicken bouillon cube
2 tablespoons orange marmalade
½ teaspoon each cinnamon, cumin and ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
2 cans, 14 to 16 ounces each, garbanzo beans with juice
Optional Garnish:
Sliced almonds
Snipped parsley

Slow cooker method: pile everything but the garnishes in the cooker, stir and cook on Low for 8 to 10 hours. Stir, ladle into soup plates and garnish with parsley and almonds if you have them.
Pressure cooker method: brown meat in hot oil and add remaining ingredients except garnishes. Bring to full pressure and cook 20 minutes. Set the cooker aside until pressure normalizes. Stir and serve.
Stove-top method: brown meat in hot oil in a roomy pot. Add remaining ingredients except garnish and simmer over low heat, adding more water if necessary, 1 hour or until meat is tender. Stir and serve 4 to 5 people..
Dutch oven method: brown meat in hot oil, add remaining ingredients (except garnish), cover tightly and put at the same of the campfire, smothered in well-started coals, 4 to 6 hours.

Creamy Chicken Casserole

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless breast of chicken
cut in bite size
Salt, pepper,
Medium onion, diced
8-ounce can mushroom stems and pieces, drained
½ teaspoon dried basil
28-ounce can Italian-style diced tomatoes
6-serving packet ready-to-eat white or brown rice
10 3/4-ounce can condensed cream of chicken soup
½ cup sour cream

Heat the oil in a large skillet. Stir-fry chickenwith the onion in the oil, gradually adding mushrooms, until little brown bits form. Add tomatoes, reduce heat, cover and simmer 10 to 15 minutes until chicken is done through. Stir in rice, cover, and continue heating over very low flame. Whisk sour cream and soup together and stir into hot mixture until sauce is creamy and everything is heated through. Do no boil. Adjust seasonings. Serves 6.

On July 26th, a Florida family traveling in their RV to the Grand Canyon stopped to spend the night in the Walmart parking lot in Cedar City, Utah. A man, who had been loitering in the lot, and had been reported as trying to break into a car, knocked on the door of the motorhome soliciting a ride.

When told to leave, he tried to force his way in. The father, along with his wife and two daughters aged 9 and 15, tried to force the man out of the motorhome. The father grabbed a shotgun and in a struggle with the man the gun went off killing the intruder. No charges have been filed against the father.

The family has now sued Walmart, asserting that the store knew about the man. The man’s behavior had been reported more than once during the day according to the Salt Lake Tribune and Walmart failed to phone the police. The lawsuit is “alleging the retailer was negligent in not protecting the family, who claim they continue to suffer medical problems and emotional distress stemming from the incident. The suit asks for general damages and coverage of medical and court costs.”

Walmart has not yet commented on the suit, but if the store chain is found to be at fault, or litigation results in great expense to defend itself, and negative public relations are the result, could Walmart rescind their invitation to RVers to spend the night and eat and shop in their stores? And is Walmart responsible for what happens to people in their parking lot–and if so, to what degree? Or should the family, upon noticing the man’s behavior, either reported it to the police (did they report the man to store security?) or left for another overnighting spot?

Another side issue that could come up is that of carrying loaded firearms in a vehicle crossing state lines resulting in an incident where a death occurred. Though the general public would undoubtedly support the father’s right to defend his family, how might state officials or law enforcement look at the issue–especially if the incident had happened in a state less amenable to gun rights than Utah?

Travelers of all ages flock to the Golden State every year. The wealth of vastly different experiences that the state has to offer is incomparable. California boasts deserts, mountains, beaches, forests, cities, vineyards and a host of other places to discover and explore. Often, the only thing holding people back from visiting is the high price tag. Staying in hotels can really add up, so the best way to cut costs and make your trip memorable is to stay in a California RV resort. Some of the most popular destinations in California are also popular RV destinations, so you can find these resorts almost anywhere you want to be.

- KQ Ranch Resort – In beautiful Julian, California, this California RV resort is a fantastic resort in a very centralized location. The park is very close to San Diego, allowing for easy day trips into the city to explore. It also sits near the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and the Pacific Coast Trail, allowing your inner “granola-girl/boy” to hike along the miles of trails available to stunning lookout points and through ecosystems teeming with life. Also, while most couples are crowding up and touring the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma, you can be indulging in the delightful, pristine vineyards right around Julian like the Menghini Winery or the oldest winery in southern California, Bernardo Winery.

- Emerald Cove RV Resort – On the California side of the winding Colorado River, Emerald Cove is a very family-oriented resort surrounded in amazing panoramic views. Drop the kids off at the River Rats Kids’ Club where the director will entertain them for hours. During the few quiet hours you have earned, spend your time relaxing on the white sandy beach. When you converge again, head out on the lake with the kids for some water sports, or drive over to Quartzsite, AZ, where there are gem and mineral shows, as well as a large flea market full of fossils, gems, and rocks. Your kids can learn a bit of geology and you can pick up a couple of gems for souvenirs, so everyone wins!

- Cherry Valley Lakes – Moments from Palm Springs and less than an hour away from Los Angeles sits Cherry Valley Lakes. Obviously well-situated, the campground offers gorgeous mountain vistas and vibrant night-life all within easy driving distance. This is a resort to truly relax at, fish in the well-stocked lake, and unwind around the campfire with your family and friends. Fabulously beautiful golf courses are within a quick drive as well, and the shops and restaurants of Palm Springs are just around the corner.

Since many state and local governments are outlawing e-texting and cell phone talking while driving, companies are lining up to try and cash in on the legislation. Be it for employers to cut back on hired-driver texting, or by parents trying to keep the kids in line, the basic idea boils down to making the device recognize when it’s in motion, then cutting off the ability for use.

Drive Safely Corporation’s idea is to use a phone’s GPS ability to “see” when the phone is moving at more than 15 miles per hour. To make legitimate use by a passenger, the phone will flash up a series of letters and numbers–the “legit” user then simply keys back in the series of characters. The designer’s thinking is that a driver won’t be able to concentrate on driving, and keying in the code to access the road.

We can already hear many parents clearing their throats. Tell us, what teen-aged, ‘got the world by the tail’ driver isn’t going to try and prove he can beat that system and still keep the family fliver out of the ditch? Is there a “more harm that good” issue in this one? Other ideas from the safety engineers include an embargo on incoming or perhaps outgoing text messages until the vehicle comes to a stop.

The drawbacks? All of the new safety technologies come with a price, usually an up-front software download cost, and then a monthly subscription fee. And since the software can’t determine whether the phone is in an RV, car, or truck–where texting would indeed be dangerous, versus whether the phone is on say, a bus or commuter train, there’s always the “override” to allow for use in the latter. Somebody who really wants to text while driving has got the “out” with the override.

This leads to but one question: Can common sense trump out over technology?

After staying in the beautiful one year old Hotel North Pole for the past six days, we were invigorated and ready to move on. We were only a couple of days from our end destination of Anchorage. The ride through the snow capped mountains and fast flowing rivers was awe inspiring. The thaw was penetrating the ice and snow here, and the spring foliage was looking pretty. Lots of blossoming flowers and trees and the dark brown mountains under the snow caps made for a picturesque sight.

Just as our tummies were rumbling, Des pulled in at the biggest igloo we had ever seen Des and the igloo
Des and the igloo
. It was built of styrene foam and timber,painted white and looked fantastic. Inside the temperature was very cool, and the building looked like it had not stayed in business very long. It was built to accommodate travelers overnight and also as a tourist office and shop. It was very spectacular inside with all timber finishes and circular appointments, because of the igloo shape. It was a shame the business could not make a go of it. Fuel costs to run the generator apparently sent the business under and it had been left derelect.

After lunch at the igloo and a walk around the surounding little log cabins, we rode through the mountains and greenery to a small place called Trapper Creek. We enquired about fod and accommodation but decided not to top up with fuel as we would be shipping the bikes from Anchorage and they would need to be empty of fuel for transportation, and Anchorage was not very far from Trapper Creek.

The Trapper Creek Inn was under new management and had some lovely rooms for rent. We selected one with a view over Mt. McKinley in the Denali Ranges. It was an apartment with two rooms and two double beds for $130.00. The restaurant in the Inn had soup to go, and we were allowed to take the whole cooking pot to our room to eat it. The beans with meat soup was delicious, so we went to the Inn again to buy the pot of Minestrone as well Maybe a hand build pickup truck
Maybe a hand build pickup truck
. Yum, a lovely dinner.

Lynn and I walked to the local second hand dealer’s yard. It was full of interesting, different and odd stuff including a few very old cars and trucks and heaps of number plates. The property was fun to photograph. The owner said the locals bring their visitors and friends to browse and shop there, that’s how his business survives. He is also the local tire dealer and fixer.

Posted by Jim Twamley at Wednesday, June 16, 2010
I have no problem recycling RV gray water onto grass, shrubs and trees. Plants will thrive on RV gray water if you don’t use harsh soaps or chemicals. Your gray tank holds shower water, laundry water (if you have a washer and dryer), dish water, teeth brushing and hand washing water. If you think about it, that amounts to a lot of water usage. Selecting plant friendly biodegradable detergents and soaps will allow you to recycle this water instead of allowing it to go to waste.

I’ve stayed at many campgrounds that didn’t have sewer drains at the campsites. We can usually go two weeks before having to dump our black water, but the gray water tank will only last about three days before we need to empty. I’m too lazy to pack everything up and go to the dump station, so I water the surrounding vegetation with our gray water.

You will need an adapter (sold at most RV stores) that will attach to a standard garden hose and to your black/gray water drain pipe.If you didn’t already know, there is a controversy surrounding this idea. Some parks forbid the practice and some people argue that it is unsanitary. I don’t let the hose sit in one place causing a puddle, but move it around to different plants until the tank is empty. In many parts of the country water is in limited supply and recycling gray water makes more sense than sending it down the sewer to a treatment facility.

When I’m at a fairground or outdoor event that has RV parking on the grass, I use a short hose to drain my gray water tank directly under the RV. By doing it this way you don’t encroach on your neighbor’s space. Instead of throwing an old hose away, I recycle it for this use.I know some folks object to this method of disposing of gray water and that’s why it remains a controversy. Because of waterborne diseases like cholera, you should always dispose of black water into a sewer system. Gray water on the other hand has far fewer contaminates and in my opinion is safe enough for recycling. As long as you are not offloading gray water near water sources such as a lake, stream or a well, there should be no problem.

Covering the gray areas of RVing – Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
Labels: Plumbing, RV Lifestyle
25 comments:

Rae said…

In Canada, it is illegal to dump your grey water anywhere but in sanidumps. There are huge fines if you get caught doing it.

I agree that 99% of grey water is harmless, maybe even good, for the environment, but a huge fine and chance of imprisonment are enough to scare me into either moving the rig or dumping into a bucket and then emptying the bucket in a sani-dump.
June 16, 2010 3:59:00 PM PDT
LiveWorkDream said…

Hey Professor, pretty brave of you to admit to it. My hubby and I will do it in places like Slab City, but that’s it. I think the Canadians have it right.

I think it’s OK to do it IF you are in a non-environmentally sensitive area and are one who uses biodegradable soaps and go easy on what you put down the drain (i.e, no animal products, harsh toothpaste, etc). Not too many people are environmentally savvy that way though, so I personally think it’s a very bad idea.
June 17, 2010 7:40:00 AM PDT
CoachDANNY!! said…

Is there a list of suggested ‘environmentally friendly’ products we should be using on board, just in case we need to shead grey water?
June 17, 2010 10:05:00 AM PDT
Jim Twamley said…

Coach Danny, to answer you question, take a trip down the soap isle at your supermarket and you will find a whole section dedicated to environmentally friendly detergents and soaps. Read labels carefully before you buy to make sure you know what you are getting. All health food stores and co-ops I’ve visited have these alternative products. Costco also has a selection of these products in the detergent isle. Happy camping!
June 17, 2010 10:15:00 PM PDT
Anonymous said…

Unless you pour actual poisons down your sink, like pesticides and herbicides, I think any normal household products are going to be so heavily diluted as to be harmless, whether marketed as “eco-friendly” or not.

Gray water is a useful resource- to flush it down a sewer treatment facility is a waste.
June 19, 2010 4:57:00 AM PDT
Alan said…

We also ensure that the food residue is removed from pots, pans and plates with paper towels, prior to be washed. This way the animals will not be attracted into the camping area.
June 19, 2010 7:05:00 AM PDT
Al said…

I asked a park ranger once about the signage that stated you could not dump ‘grey’ water and no mention about ‘black’ water. It seems is should say no ‘black’ water dumping. The ranger told me that most people in the park did not know the difference and they just used the term ‘gray’ for all water from campers.

I then asked the ranger about the folks that were tent camping in the next section and what did they do with their ‘dish’ water (gray water) every day. He said they just tossed is on the ground away from the tents. How is that different than me dumping my dish (gray) water? He didn’t have an answer; but had a puzzled look on his face.

But then he told me it was ok to dump my ‘gray’ water, since they were in a drought.

The government can be pretty confusing at times!!!
June 19, 2010 7:59:00 AM PDT
x-ranger said…

Having spent 30 plus years as a park ranger, I think other commentators hit upon several key points regarding food residue and grease in the grey water. There isn’t much of an issue associated with grey water dumping in remote areas. The problems are associated with developed campgrounds that have been it use for many years (since CCC days in some cases). Oils, grease, chlorine, and other chemicals can in fact impact the environment if everyone dumps their grey wastes in the typical 30 x 50 foot camp area. The same is true of foot traffic around campground trees compacting soils and making it a tough environment for the campground trees to prosper. It is the numbers and repetition that is the problem
June 19, 2010 10:59:00 AM PDT
Ken and Helen said…

In just about every instance, my gray water has been used to come in contact with some part of my body, so why wouldn’t it be safe enough for the ground outside? It makes perfect sense to use gray water to water grass and plants, and I will continue to do so with reasonable caution.
June 19, 2010 11:38:00 AM PDT
Anonymous said…

Grey water comes from sinks in which dishes with food residue are washed. On our trailer, grey and black water exit via a common pipe. For tenters, signage says wash dishes in the sink, and it is prohibited to wash dishes atthe fresh water spigot. Wonder why.
Twamley gets it wrong.
June 19, 2010 3:29:00 PM PDT
Anonymous said…

A few years ago areas of PA were in severe drought. We were asked to not only use dish water etc from stick homes to water plants and trees but RVers were also asked to do same with their grey water. Were told if you didn’t want to use it on your property to use it to water public grounds.
June 20, 2010 8:20:00 AM PDT
WCForbesPE said…

I agree with Jim that grey water is pretty innocuous, but there is some research (for houses) showing surprising levels of coliform bacteria in grey water. If you have a washer dryer, or are changing baby (or adult) diapers, or have other circumstances where feces may wind up in the grey water, you should definately use the dump and not put it on the ground.
June 20, 2010 2:54:00 PM PDT
jhp said…

I go along with the person who said that there are contaminates like grease and food particles in the grey water that will build up over time and attract flies. I suppose if you are the only one that does it, there is no problem?
June 20, 2010 4:01:00 PM PDT
Camper Dick said…

When boondocking in the desert we will do the dishes in a plastic tub and dump ihe water in the fire pit. The evening fire will cook the oils etc. out of the soil. This helps slow down the gray tank
‘fill up’.
June 20, 2010 6:10:00 PM PDT
Malc said…

All pleasure crafts on the Great Lakes do not have grey water holding tanks, all sinks and showers drain directly into the lake, no problem. Soil is a good filter.
Why are RV’s allowed to have out door showers if there is a problem?
I dump the grey water at the dump station when avaible but I am comfortably dumping grey water on vegetion.
June 21, 2010 3:34:00 PM PDT
jhp said…

Showers are different than dishwater in that there are no food particles in the water. Dumping gray water in the Great Lakes is like dropping a grain of sand on a beach. I did stay at a campground in TX that allowed you to drain gray water at the camp site. I still say gray water that includes dish water will draw flies.
June 22, 2010 8:48:00 AM PDT
hankaye said…

Howdy, Wounder why it is that when some of the conservation folks say it is a GOOD THING to use your household graywater (includes fats and everything else that goes down the drian), to use for your plants and lawn (being eco-friendly), yet if we want to do the same at a campground we are being an enemy of the eco-sphere. Am I hearing “double-standard”?
June 26, 2010 5:36:00 AM PDT
Anonymous said…

We have been doing this with a garden hose for several years now. It’s amazing how green & plush the grass will get within a 10′ radius of the dumping site! One thing to remember is after a while solids will build up and the hose connection will need cleaning. I recommend wearing gloves when disconnecting the hose as backed-up gray water will spill suddenly.
June 26, 2010 6:33:00 AM PDT
John B said…

I would venture to say tent campers have done this for years !
June 26, 2010 6:33:00 AM PDT
Anonymous said…

My inlaws had their grey water go directly from the house to her VERY lush garden. I’ve often thought that made much more sense than to make our treatment plants treat water that can water our plants and lawns. We’ve been in areas where we were told to dump gray water directly onto the ground, with no ill effects. In drought stricken areas, that’s only common sense.
June 26, 2010 4:39:00 PM PDT
David said…

Depends on how heavily used the site. Is there someone else ready to pull in as soon as you leave, or will it be days/weeks before the site is next occupied?

It does take a period of time for the soil to biodegrade the waste, no matter how ‘eco-friendly’ the product claims to be. If the next camper dumps his waste on top of yours before yours is fully neutralized, a cumulative problem will develop.

Old Chinese proverb: No single raindrop feels responsible for the flood.
June 26, 2010 8:30:00 PM PDT
Anonymous said…

A few years ago San Diego Ca rewarded us for dumping household gray water on our lawns. Made sense because we were in a drought. Makes sense before you enter a drought. Can’t see wasting a precious resource. We went to a Holiday Rambler rally in 1999 and were told to dump as we entered. Then we could dump our gray water on the dead and dying grass. After a week there was no odor in the fairgrounds.
June 30, 2010 10:36:00 AM PDT
Anonymous said…

As my husband and I sit in an RV park,in Whitehorse Yukon, Canada,we are 10′ away from our neighbors on either side. That doesn’t leave much room for us to use the provided picnic table. I can only imagine what the smell and wet ground would be like here. I agree that in the “wild” it should be OK. However, we have found that many areas have been closed to us now because some people decided that if they could dump grey it must be OK to dump black too!
July 2, 2010 10:40:00 AM PDT
Boonie Rat said…

This is an interesting topic to say the least! I used to go up into the mountains where even hikers wouldn’t go- – - Jeeping that is. We showered, ate, etc and the gray water was dumped onto the vegetation. Potty material was buried and per BLM & FS instructions and general common sense. Now, as for the issue of gray water being dumped/poured etc, onto vegitation, why not? I use an approved bio-grdeable solution purchased to pourr into the gray water tank to take care of the grease, etc. I have no qualms using the gray water from my tanks onto vegetation. However, I will check with the campground or responsible organization (BLM/FS rangers) as to their wishes. Hmmm- – - Interesting subject it is!
July 3, 2010 8:59:00 AM PDT
janis said…

well, this is interesting topic. i remember reading one time about a woman RVer whose dog had gotten hold of something from the grey water tank dumping they had done. the dog almost died from it. i will never dump my grey tank on the ground due to having a dog i love too much to chance it. just a thought.