Hygiene: The Second Class

The first class of Fundamental Human Needs is subsistence: eating and sleeping. After satisfying these needs the second most important class is protection, which includes keeping yourself healthy. One of the basic prerequisites of this branch is hygiene: bathing and washing. During the Peacetour this is often the need that is hardest to satisfy. But there’s always a way...

by FERENC IVANICS
As we approached the wilder parts of inland Florida we started to look for safer, more tidied-up places to sleep on. I don’t know; maybe we’re not brave enough, or maybe it’s the stories about snakes and black-widows the locals tell us from time to time, or the moss hanging from old oak trees, the swampy forests, the alligators, ants and mosquitos that scared us. But it’s true, recently we’ve been finding civilization more appealing—and civilization means dry camping spots in inhabited areas. So far, so good, everyone have been kind with us, the property owners always gave green light, we had a few square-yards to camp on every time. A few days ago we asked at River Run Campground if we can stay. The owners were a friendly family and not only had they responded positively, they invited us to a barbecue meal and let us use the shower as well.


Due to the humid and warm climate of Florida it was just about time we had a shower, we felt really grateful for the help. Though the roads we take are less traveled there are cars that kick up dust so at the end of the day we’re covered in a thin (or thick :) gray layer of mud made out of sweat and dust. It destroys our trusty look, but there’s another problem as well, it itches, rubs, aches, on the long term it’s not healthy at all. So we headed toward the bathroom, where to our surprise we found the cleanest and nicest shower and lavatory we’ve seen so far during our walk. We made good use of them. :)


During our walk... Oh yes, we had showers and washed our clothes in stranger conditions. First you need water, then dry and warm air to dry yourself and your clothes. Needles to say, during the freezing French part none of these ingredients were to be found. And indeed, we were trying to keep the filth on: it was another layer that kept out the cold.



We turned back into human beings in Spain. A gentle climate, crystal clear spring water, warm winds... What else do you need to even try washing your hair out in the wild.



Then we arrived in the Sahara, the endless desert where water is a treasure, a key to survival, restricted to oral intake, its external use is “not recommended”. But there’s sand, oh yes, there’s sweat, sometimes you need to wash your clothes even in the desert.