2010 March 1
Elwha Campground
My conspicuous cleanliness has aroused the curiosity of park rangers. One named Mike inquired today how after ten days camping in Elwha, I am not covered in a film of filth like others who stay just a few nights in the bush. The secret, I divulged to him, is each morning and evening somewhat meticulously to wash myself with Purell. The double benefit of this miracle juice is that it is both antibacterial and fragranced. A fresh smell and the power to clean 99.9% of germs, to death. That ought to be their company motto, "So clean it kills." I wash the vitals of my clothing with it and the rebellious odors disband; my face and hands before meals receive a glowing rinse; my feet fairly often, too. Thanks are owed to my fellow tax payers of America, for there is a never-ending supply of Purell mounted in a dispenser on the pit toilet wall. As well, I gave up on wood fires. In such wet environments they are more trouble than the effort rewards, and leave one sooted and smelling of ash for days. But I find the tedium of good hygiene to be worthwhile. Not only is disease kept at bay; my interactions with strangers in town seem to go better when I appear to live a normal, non-vagrant lifestyle.
Such washing brought me briskly to breakfast, and then to read psalms 103 and 104. Both were the means of solid comfort to me, like shallow ground beneath the feet of a drowning man, especially for the particular season and frame of heart in which I came to them. I was directed to His sovereign goodness for my every need, spiritual, personal, and physical. He that names billions of stars, numbers atoms, and considers the welfare of beasts shall not forsake the needs of His redeemed people. Thank the Holy Spirit for inscribing these promises on my tough, leather heart with the awl of invincible truth.
Dinner this night witnessed the accidental invention of protein dough, the result of pouring powdered protein mix into a boiling goulash of whatever leftover soups I had. Rather than dissolving as I expected, the mix instantly congealed into a doughy cake over the surface of the stew. To my surprise this turned out to be the tastiest way I have ever had such powder!
A friend sponsored me the protein.
Once again I made an evening of Vos and the brier pipe. The two suit one another so well. Before turning to bed, though, I worked out a more frugal diet high in calories and low on cost:
Coffee in place of cocoa, being cheaper. Peanuts and raisins instead of crackers or chips should give oil and vitamins while introducing needed protein. Dehydrated potatoes grant starches for fuel and are higher in potassium than bananas. Fruits and vegetables supplant less healthy sweets. Dry soup mix may be conserved by cutting the portion in half and cooking it with 1/4 cup of rice, to fill it out and add calories. Pity, dry pinto beans take so long to cook. They would be ideal with rice; but an hour of simmering cannot exist with alcohol stoves and precooked beans are too heavy and expensive.
Such are the pragmatic concerns of an ultra-budget traveler.
My alarm came in the mail!
Elwha Campground
My conspicuous cleanliness has aroused the curiosity of park rangers. One named Mike inquired today how after ten days camping in Elwha, I am not covered in a film of filth like others who stay just a few nights in the bush. The secret, I divulged to him, is each morning and evening somewhat meticulously to wash myself with Purell. The double benefit of this miracle juice is that it is both antibacterial and fragranced. A fresh smell and the power to clean 99.9% of germs, to death. That ought to be their company motto, "So clean it kills." I wash the vitals of my clothing with it and the rebellious odors disband; my face and hands before meals receive a glowing rinse; my feet fairly often, too. Thanks are owed to my fellow tax payers of America, for there is a never-ending supply of Purell mounted in a dispenser on the pit toilet wall. As well, I gave up on wood fires. In such wet environments they are more trouble than the effort rewards, and leave one sooted and smelling of ash for days. But I find the tedium of good hygiene to be worthwhile. Not only is disease kept at bay; my interactions with strangers in town seem to go better when I appear to live a normal, non-vagrant lifestyle.
Such washing brought me briskly to breakfast, and then to read psalms 103 and 104. Both were the means of solid comfort to me, like shallow ground beneath the feet of a drowning man, especially for the particular season and frame of heart in which I came to them. I was directed to His sovereign goodness for my every need, spiritual, personal, and physical. He that names billions of stars, numbers atoms, and considers the welfare of beasts shall not forsake the needs of His redeemed people. Thank the Holy Spirit for inscribing these promises on my tough, leather heart with the awl of invincible truth.
Psa 103:2-14Most of the day was passed on my stomach devouring Two Years. In the afternoon, though, to the salty tunes of Shaw's Sea Shanties, and imagining myself in the forecastle of the Alert, I sewed an external frame onto my pack from nylon webbing and dental floss. Rangers say as I move past Forks, there might be the necessity of stashing my bicycle in the woods and hiking overland four miles to isolated coasts where wilderness camping is permitted. Of course this means carrying on my back so much as normally I would haul inside of a rolling trailer! Hopefully the addition of a waist belt and a raised frame will make my outfit less burdensome on the rolling western beach trails.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
Psa 104:10-18
He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
Dinner this night witnessed the accidental invention of protein dough, the result of pouring powdered protein mix into a boiling goulash of whatever leftover soups I had. Rather than dissolving as I expected, the mix instantly congealed into a doughy cake over the surface of the stew. To my surprise this turned out to be the tastiest way I have ever had such powder!
A friend sponsored me the protein.
Once again I made an evening of Vos and the brier pipe. The two suit one another so well. Before turning to bed, though, I worked out a more frugal diet high in calories and low on cost:
Coffee in place of cocoa, being cheaper. Peanuts and raisins instead of crackers or chips should give oil and vitamins while introducing needed protein. Dehydrated potatoes grant starches for fuel and are higher in potassium than bananas. Fruits and vegetables supplant less healthy sweets. Dry soup mix may be conserved by cutting the portion in half and cooking it with 1/4 cup of rice, to fill it out and add calories. Pity, dry pinto beans take so long to cook. They would be ideal with rice; but an hour of simmering cannot exist with alcohol stoves and precooked beans are too heavy and expensive.
Such are the pragmatic concerns of an ultra-budget traveler.
My alarm came in the mail!
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