Seeing as you're in Florida, why would you use hot water? Even in March? A shower (bath,swim,etc) is a necessity while touring, so just use what you got.

About half the camping we did last summer had no hot showers. There was usually a stream, lake, or pump at the campground; we braced ourselves and took a dip (with or without soap, as appropriate). Some of these were downright frigid, but after the shivering stopped the only lasting damage was the memory. This was on a ride up the Canadian Rockies, so be thankful you're in Florida....

A couple of time we didn't bathe, like the time we got drenched in a hailstorm riding up Rogers Pass and camped in a viewpoint shelter (who needs more water at a time like that??). A couple times we camped in bone-dry areas and used a water bottle each for a sponge bath. Heating the water for a sponge bath just wouldn't be worth it, once it's on your body the water is at ambient temperature in about a second.

I think the "rinseless soap" is a bad idea for hygiene, except for hands. The most important thing is to prevent saddle sores, so make sure you clean and dry properly in that.... um.... area.

-- Mark

Bath?
Shower?

I'm not sure I know what those words mean.
The only way to protect yourself from the "10 Eternal Questions" when stopping at overlooks or convenience stores is to stink so bad that nobody will come within 50 yards (metres in the rest of the world) of you.

If you do bathe in streams - please, please, please - do not soap up and rinse in the water. Even biodegradable soaps pollute. Many of the streams in remote areas have low flows and the habitat is very sensitive to pH or chemical inbalance. Jump in, get a couple of bandanas soaking wet, then go 100 yds from the stream to soap up and use the bandanas to rinse. I would avoid using my cook pan to rinse with unless you are careful to boil water in the pan before cooking since giardia may be a problem.

I made a neck gaiter that converted to a hat for camping in the Boundary Waters in the fall. I sewed fleece into a tube - big enough to go all the way over my head. I hemmed one edge and put a casing in the other end and threaded elastic cord (sold by the foot or yard at REI, and sometimes at a fabric store) through that, then attached a locking toggle at the ends of the cord. I could draw the cord tight, "closing" one end of the tube, secure the cords with the toggle, tuck the cord inside, turn up the other edge and wear it as a hat. I was glad to reach for it the night I woke up shivering in 37 degrees. Loosening the elastic, I could wear it around my neck, pulling it up over my nose if I needed to: the minimalist's best friend: one piece of gear that does many jobs. In that vein, the first purchase I made when I got back was a titanium spork and a titanium bowl - a little bit bigger than a mug, which would handle any kind of food, including soupy ones. If you haven't experienced titanium, I encourage you to do so. It is light as a feather and strong. Its only drawback is that it is comparitively expensive. I used my folded-up rain jacket for a pillow and I did find a zillion uses for zip-lock bags and caribiners. I used baking soda for deodorant and for brushing teeth. I made a shelf I could install at the top of my tent using some mesh fabric (like that used in bags for washing delicates), grommets in the corners, nylon cord, and caribiners.

Happiness! I love the innovation and economy of minimalist camping - how to get along better with as little as possible.

For the pillow bit my bike jacket has a huge pocket on the lower back, its orignal use is for inverting the jacket in it zip it way and with the straps provided its suppose to be able to strap on to your waist, this makes a perfect pillow. The sleeping bag, now the one that measures 80 cm across the chest, well its a straight jacket, I went and got the one that measures 90cm across, what a difference, usuall the army ones come in that dimension. A buble cap on the head, 70% of your body heat is lost through the head, and good socks, if your head and feet are warm the rest of you will be warm.

Clever move sleeping out in the back yard before moving off, gets these teathing problems ironed out so you can enjoy the tour. Silck liners for sleeping bags is also a good option. enjoy your tour, tell us all about it

Even though I carry my tent in a pannier, I carry the stuff bag also. It has two uses: #1 Smooth pillow, when filled up with cycling clothes. #2 if I find myself running out of room (book buys are my weakness on tour) I can free up an entire pannier by using the stuff bag for the tent and strapping it on top of the back rack.

For sleeping, I carry a pair of over the calf wool socks which I usually wear under bib tights on a cold day. I sleep in the socks, polypro long bottoms, UnderArmor shirt, and a fleec cap. My 30 degree bag keeps me mucho warm.

Tent-XTO Zeus 2 man, which gets a good deal of condensation. First thing in the morning---take my chamois towel and wipe down the inside.

Get one these radiant liners for your sleeping bag, it will take your 40 degree bag to 20, adds no weight or bulk and if it warms up you don't have to use it. Sometimes if it is warm the liner is all I use. This is one great product!!
http://store.bentgate.com/hotsacvblvap.html

Want to be more comfortable in a tent? Get rid of the tent and buy a camping hammock:

http://www.speerhammocks.com/

http://www.hennessyhammock.com/

http://www.junglehammock.com/

how to be comfortable in the tent?


check the surface and pitch of what you're setting up on. prepare the ground by picking out the sticks, rocks, and pine cones, then carefully determine the best direction and placement for you to lay down for the night, usually by laying down on the ground for a minute. Take advantage of the hollows in the ground, and the way the slope runs, to give you the best sleeping position.

There's ALWAYS a slope.

This is an awesome idea!

Just a quick thing to add on the tuque thing. I found a tuque/beanie that is just the right thickness that if I take out the thin pads from my helmet I can wear it over the tuque. This is great for cold days, or starting off in the morning.

Another pillow idea: Sew in a thin layer of fleece or other soft fabric to the inside of your sleeping bag's stuffsack. Invert the sack and stuff with clothes for a nice soft pillow. I think they even sell these stuffsacks at REI now.