Uh oh- Couldn't figure out the toilet

So my in-laws are in town and we took a nice trip to the beach.  We stopped at a little road side farm to get some home made sandwiches to bring with us.  Once we got there I felt the call of nature.  It didn't look like a place that would have a public bathroom but I didn't care.  It wasn't D but it was urgent.  So I asked for a bathroom and was told there was one by the roosters next to the barn.  Anticipating an outhouse I prepared for the worst and was relieved when I saw a modern looking toilet and TP but no sink or anything.  Turns out the toilet was one of those new composting toilets that turns the waste into fertilizer.  So I lifted up the lid and the distance between my butt and what was going to catch my waste did not look like it was far enough.  If looked like I would be going right on some cover or something.  So there was a crank on the bottom right and I started to turn it.  As I turned it someone elses used TP came up.  I figured at that point that I was supposed to just turn the crank until I got a clean spot and then go.  I tried turning the crank just to make sure there wasn't a hole I was supposed to aim for.  So I went number 1 first just as a test and it seemed to go down.  So then I went number two.  And it filled it up the little spot SO fast.  I started to turn the crank and it would only go so far.  When I turned it back the other way my number 2 was still there.  So I just turned it so it wouldn't show and called it good.  I just fear that I used it completely wrong and left a pile on some cover or something that some poor farmer is going to have to clean up.  I told my hubby I was worried and he said "it was someone elses problem now."  He had a point that if they were going to have a complicated toilet they should have instructions on how to use it.  So can anyone assure me I used it properly?

That was a great story for a good laugh. I pictured myself doing that---and I projected alot of swear words coming out of my mouth. But I think your hubby is right, if a toilet is going to be that complicated it better come with instructions. :)

OMG ewww.  Now I am a farm girl and I know all about cow manure, but human?

ICK I once had to visit a sewage treatment plant in college and they would do all these things to turn it into fertilizer, that was gross but at least it was a process.

I hope I never come upon such a toilet although I suppose a toilet crank in hand beats a bush.

I don't laugh out loud at much - I'm a tough audience. But this one really gave me a chuckle. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the video. It does confirm my fear though. The crank is only supposed to be turned every few weeks. I think someone before me turned it, then threw in tp or something and the crank got jammed. So I probably went on the drum instead of in the hole. (periodically turn the crank to rotate the drum) or whatever they said. I didn't see any hole. If it was just at the beach where a public bathroom is expected I wouldn't care so much. It was at the farm stand/sandwhich shack along the way which was run out of someones cute little house. I still think there should have been instructions but I do feel terribly sorry if I made a mess. I wouldn't want them to have "NO" bathroom in the future. And, its not like there was even anyone around for me to ask instructions to. The woman took sandwhich orders and then disapeered into her house to make them. Oh well, just another memory to repress.

Aw Fitzy! This just shows that you are not a callous uncaring person. Think about that instead of dwelling on something was wrong. You tried to do the right thing!

Now I have to say I giggled at the thought of "not knowing how to go to the bathroom". Ironic that we CDers should know everything about the potty or often think we do.

I worried about the same thing but didn't think of it until a few days later.

Thanks for a really good laugh! I know it wasn't funny for you, but I will certainly make it a point to avoid this particular contraption.