[at-l] Re: A soapy question

[MManzano@aol.com]

On Thu, 11 Feb 1999, sdowns@premiertechnologies.com wrote:

<< 1. If you do find laundromats on town stops, do you expect them to carry
tiny
boxes of soap, or do you maildrop laundry soap to yourself? >>

I carefully bagged up small ziplock bags with laundry detergent - started my
hike with one, but after it was gone I just found the single portion boxes at
the laundromat or shared with other hikers.  You will probably wash your
clothes once a week (at least at first) but you probably won't get one
maildrop each week, so that would leave you with having to carry detergent in
your pack - TOO HEAVY.  

<< 2. If you expect to be washing your clothes in a sink or bathtub, what do
you
use to wash them? Ditto for washing that spare pair of socks/undies on the
trail. >>

I used campsuds (a couple of drops is all you need) once or twice, to wash out
a bandana if I remember correctly.  I didn't do laundry on the trail, nor did
any other thru hikers I knew (except one).  Washing out clothes at the shelter
was a sure sign of a section hiker (no flames please - just stating my
observations).  I wore a pr of socks for a day, then hung them on the outside
of my pack to catch the sun on the next day.  They were ready to wear on the
3rd day.  On rainy days I just let them air out inside  my pack.  As I said,
most long distance hikers that I met didn't do laundry on the trail, just in
towns or hostels, and then you wear your rain gear and throw everything else
into the washer.   If you carry a travel size pack of "Wet Ones" you can do a
fair job of washing yourself on the trail, and then to be able to put on your
clean spare underwear makes you feel like a million $.  That is, if Friar Tuck
doesn't send your spares back home :)

<< Suggestions appreciated, since I expect to spend a couple weeks sans
laundry
facilities while trekking and ferrying across the Aegean... >>

I would recommend a trip to a local laundromat & buy a couple of small boxes
of detergent.  Put into ziploc bags, it looks suspiciously like what I would
imagine cocaine to look like, and I wouldn't even want to think of the hassle
you could encounter with a customs official in a foreign country, especially
if your skills in their language are minimal.

Good luck,
Gypsy




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