Driving south on 101, near Refugio Beach, I noticed a helicopter making an unusual delivery. I suspect it was connected with the cleanup operations from the recent oil spill near Refugio State Beach.

Helicopter lifting outhouse

Yes, that’s a Porta-Potty being delivered. At first glance, seeing the stripe on the helicopter, I thought it was the Coast Guard. On closer inspection, it isn’t actually the Coast Guard color scheme.

As the helicopter banked, the outhouse swung wide… I wondered what that ride would be like.

Helicopter lifting outhouse

On reflection, probably the only sensation would be that of an increase in weight. Just a feeling of being pressed down onto the seat, little different from a carnival ride. In a windowless flying outhouse, a passenger’s only frame of reference is the swinging outhouse itself.

So if you’re ever in a Porta-Potty, and you hear the roar of a helicopter overhead, and you suddenly feel much, much, heavier- don’t open the door. You’re the victim of an elaborate prank.