Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2002 13:49:36 -0500
Reply-To: "G. Matthew Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "G. Matthew Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Organization: Bulley-Hewlett
Subject: Re: Showering on the road
In-Reply-To: <005701c1a1de$1db69080$6601a8c0@vista1.sdca.home.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Is Anthony Mourkas still on the list?
If I recall correctly, he had designed some fancy-dancy recirculation
shower majiggy that incorporated a heat exchanger on the stove, a
plastic pan in which one stood, a shower curtain which hung from
something up near the skylight, and a recirculation pump of the type
used in a live-bait well. It sounded pretty nifty for those who MUST
have a shower.
As for me, having spent weeks without a shower in the Marine Corp, I
don't shower while we are on the road. When we stop at a hotel or some
similar habitation, (every 5-7 days or so) I'll shower. On the road or
when camping remotely, I use copious "Diperene Baby Wash Cloths" to
scrub up in the evening and morning, wash my face, get those
biologically grungy areas.
Every couple days, I'll throw 1.5 gallons of water on the stove and take
a canteen-cup sponge bath as follows. The method calls for a clean
washcloth for each bath, a bathroom hand towel (12" x 22") for every 2-3
baths, and a single bath towel for every 5-7 baths, provided you can
dry these while encamped or on the road.
Throw the bath towel on the floor in front of the galley unit to catch
the excess splashing. Using the washcloth and half of the water (poured
into the sink, remaining water remains in the pot on a low flame);
lightly soap and vigorously scrub the cleanest areas first (face, arms,
etc.), Then get your hair (with the washcloth) then work your way to the
biologically grimy areas LAST. I use ZEST, as it rinses easily, there
are other soaps that make similar claims available at camping stores.
Drain the sink. Rinse the sink and your washcloth out THOROUGHLY with
the faucet. Refill the sink with the remaining hot water
rinse/chamois-off your body in the same order (face first, etc.). If you
shave when on the road, you'll want to put on another pint of water to
shave in. DO NOT use your rinse water; it is full of biological stuff
you don't want to introduce into a slight shaving wound.
When you are done, drain the sink, dry off with the hand towel, then use
the bath towel from the floor to dry down the sink and cabinetry, which
gets unavoidably splashed. Splash on a light aftershave, including your
arm-pits. The alcohol tends to kill off bacteria, which are the source
of BO and shaving infections. In the summer, I follow this with a
liberal use of baby powder in those areas which are prone to sweating.
Fresh as a flower, in about :20 minutes, using only your Westy, and a
few towels.
From historic, walkable Mount Olive, NC,
G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett
Corporate Communications
Business: www.bulley-hewlett.com
Alliance: www.ntara.com
Home: www.MountOliveNC.info
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