The incident of the toilet stop in the Desert
1979
There are always the normal and mundane to go hand in hand with the notable and exciting parts of the Expedition.
Unsurprisingly there is not a network of service stations along the route. So what to do?
Well there is a lot of wilderness which will have to replace the service stations. Eventually need is due to overcome shyness. No other traffic to worry about, and visibility was good for miles. Different circumstances and everyone would be heading for some form of cover, maybe a bush to hide behind, or alternatively to water.
The flat desert does not offer such facilities, there is nowhere to hide, or even to pretend to hide, no little hummocks, not even any big sand dunes.
The time has come.
The road is still blacktop surface on a slight embankment. The truck is drawn to a stop right in the middle of the road, and then reversed a short distance on a slight lock. This turns the trailer at the back enough to clear the drawbar away from the center, which consequently makes it possible to fully lower the tailgate. Encounter Overland tailgates were modified from the military ones, full width, to split in the middle. Easier and safer access and egress.
Out of the cab, drop the tailgate and explained why we have stopped. To maintain a modicum of decorum, boys to the left, girls to the right. The EMs clambered out and filtered accordingly. Us boys must have a good imagination. All in a straight line spaced at the urinals on the wall that just was not there, at the bottom of the low embakment. Habit I guess. Full bladders became empty.
Imagine our surprise
Finished, and turn around to return to the truck. Only to be met by the sight of a row of splendid naked bums squatting beside the truck, just at eye level. What a lovely treat for the boys. I had not brought my camera out of the cab, but some of the lads had and the inevitable happened.
Afterwards the boys gleefully explained to the girls what had happened, which was met by a mix of giggles and some slightly red faces. Fortunately we had by now spent enough time together to see the funny side and not the angry side.
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