M/V Serenity: 20 November, 2019 Zero day on anchor

Hiking the Appalician Trail a zero day was no hiking. We took a zero day today.
Anchor alarm off at 0415--low battery.

Coffee, study and reflection. Last night was 1st night it was relatively warm and we went out on the foredeck/bow and watched the stars. Truly a dark sky and the milky way so bright and distinct. As Carl Sagan (Sagan) said--billions and billions. Today was forecast to be fabulous; light winds, clear skies and 70s for the high. The day has not disappointed. We have a slip booked for Thursday and Friday at Kingfisher Bay marina in Demopolis, AL. Since we did the long day yesterday, it is only about an hour cruise tomorrow. We were lazy this morning; just watching nature, fixing a full breakfast of grits and eggs. I cleaned the outside of the boat and rearranged the bumpers and dried lines. POC (aka Kim) cleaned the galley area.

Our neighbors, Gary and Jackie anchored behind us last night. Their vessel “Nomad’ a Albin 36’ trawler is a sharp looking boat. We met them two nights ago, at anchorage when the came by in their motorized dinghy with their two dogs. They were headed to shore for the dog thing. They came by today via dinghy after a dog romp on the near by sand bar. They are from Colorado and are doing the loop.

Composting head--I have routed the vent hose, powered vent via computer fan, to engine bay, which has worked well especially under way. Only a slight earthly aroma when I open hatches to do engine checks. Yesterday at anchorage, noticed a more predominant earth tone aroma. Why?
1). Engine bay has good ventilation port and starboard. I did have the hatches open longer doing a more extensive engine/engine bay inspection after yesterday’s 9 hour run.
2). Based on airhead instructions and other documented users, a couple should get a month of use before emptying the solids tank. We are only at day 20.
3). Did I not initially place enough media (coconut coir) at start? I did add 4 cups this morning --with use, solids dehydrate and so maybe it was needing a little topping off?
4). Was the initial batch of coco coir too moist? The coir come as a dehydrated, compressed brick, which is hydrated with 5 cups of warm water. Did I make it too damp?
5). Men are recommended to sit to pee. Important to keep the liquids separate from the solids. I have cheated a few times and perhaps my aim was off and liquid did get into the solids tank. Decomposing solids will not have odor; aging urine will. Need to change my technique, maybe?
Numerous articles and YouTube how to on composting toilets. There is a learning curve--short but does take a bit of tuning. Will empty the solid tank in a day or so when we get to the marina. Assess, evaluate and reset for another month.--near end of day--aroma not noticeable--perhaps the addition of 4 cups was the ticket?

Still no internet. We pulled up the anchor at 1345 and cruised east, up the original Tombigbee River. Chart plotter and depth sounder showed good depths as we eased along at 4mph. Went for 45 minutes without discovering suitable cell coverage so we turned around. This abandoned section of the original river, bypassed by the waterway, is rustic. Saw a few folk fishing and great blue herons. Returned to original anchorage, set the hook and secured for the night. Fantastic day. Making rice and stir fry vegetables in thermal pot. Everything to a boil for 5-7 minutes, dump in canned chicken, then place the pot in the insulated outer pot---hot supper in a few hours. Kind of like a Crock pot w/o electricity. It saves stove fuel, only need to get most things to a strong boil for about 5 minutes, cover and place in outer pot and let the insulation do the cooking.