The Outhouse from on High

We have a long drop on the farm, near the old bach.  It's been here for quite a while, since 1982.  (The  heap of small branches behind is some of leftovers from my tree felling,  mentioned below.)

We recently had a visit from old friends of ours, Colin and Jeni Bell, who used to live on a small farm up the Orinioco Valley,  several kilometres south of us.  Our outhouse came from their place, offered when our old one was past repair and they didn't need theirs any more as they now had an inside toilet!

Jeni has recently written a history of their time in the Orinoco, and we learned  that the humble outhouse has a pedigree.  It used to be the outhouse for Flora Hut, the first hut on the trail in Kahurangi National Park which starts in the mountains to the west of us.  In fact we can drive up there in about 40 minutes and it's perhaps a 30 minute walk to Flora Hut.

A former tenant on the Bell's property was a worker in the then Forest Park.  The long drop was being upgraded and he spoke up at the right time to have the outhouse hooked up below a helicopter and brought down to the Orinoco.  From there it has been over 30 years on our farm, providing a useful service to friends and family staying in the bach.

The little tin building is getting tired and the floor needs work.  I was thinking of disposing of it but with that lofty history I might have to reconsider!

Update:  I remembered this old and rather poor photo.  It shows my brother-in-law, Bill, with the help of our Jaimie and his Jamie, digging the long drop hole all those years ago!  Nice one, Bill!