A very practical approach. One question/point = comes to mind though.  Is Zest biodegradable?  Please use = only biodegradable soaps when dumping wash water in the woods.  =

-----Original = Message-----
From:   Bulley-Hewlett = & Associates [mailto:gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLE= TT.COM]
Sent:   Friday, November 13, 1998 9:10 AM
To:     vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Subject:       = Hygene alternative, was: Showers = Redux

Just a thought on showers/hygene while = camping.

You know showers are a fairly recent = invention? Only about 70-80 years old.
How did folks get clean?

A friend of the family owns a tomato = ranch/orange farm on the West coast of
Baja California, Mexico. The ranch = once (during prohibition-WWII?) served a
"hide away" for the rich = and famous. The habitation is somewhat crude,
based on the fact that it was built = in the early part of this century, in
an in-hospitable environment. There = are no showers or running water in the
guest quarters.

Instead, just like your grandparents = or great grandparents did, a wash
pitcher and large wash bowl was = established in each room. In the morning, a
lady would roll a cart carrying a = HUGE pot of hot water, and would refill
the wash pitcher. If you wanted to = bathe, THIS was the only method.

My dad had to teach me (I guess I was = 8 or 9 years old) how to take a
"sponge bath". The method = was reinforced by field training while in the
Marine Corps (you remember = "washing up in a canteen cup", don't you?)

We use this same method in our Westy. = Place towels on the floor in front of
sink. Hot pot of water on the stove. = Pour half into the sink, mixing with
cool water. Scrub the face, neck, = ears, torso, legs, arms, then hair with
scant, but adequate soap. We use = Zest, as it rinses easily.

Rinse off with damp wash cloth from = sink. Wash the remaining "scuzzier"
parts of the body in the same manner. = Rinse again with water from sink.
Drain sink.  Refill sink with = remaining hot water. Rinse hair and body
again. Shave. Drain sink. Towel off = briskly

We have used this method for years. = Works great, and like all of the other
"simple" pleasures of = camping (being cold, sleeping on a skimpy mattress,
etc.), it makes you appreciate a REAL = shower all the more.

Gotta go now. I'm all signed off. See = ya.

gmb