When we’re traveling, we do our best to pack light. That was even more important on this trip because, while our luggage is being transported for us while we are on the Camino, we will be lugging it around ourselves when we’re done.
Which brings me to the topic of this post: what counts as “clean?” We’ve found there is a sliding scale on the Camino.
We don’t have a lot of options when it comes to attire. Two or three changes for warm weather (which is pretty much all we’ve gotten), and some backup for cooler temps.
But all our clothes are quick dry, and we have been doing laundry “most” days. OK, some days – the days we’re not too tired and/or thirsty. Those days, we skip doing the laundry.
Laundry consists of washing in the sink or tub and hanging to dry. The drying component is critical – things need to be dry before we pack them back up in the morning for transport. (Though I have pinned wet socks to my backpack in the morning so they can dry during the walk.)
That’s what leads to what counts as clean. Is a once-sweaty shirt or pair of socks really “dirty,” especially if we’re just going to wear them again while walking? Let them dry, air them out, maybe give them a vigorous shake.
It’s not like we’re hugging our fellow peregrinos, so they would be offended by our smell. OK, we do usually end up at tabernas at the end of our walks, but we sit outside!
No harm, no foul is my take on this.
Underwear, well, that’s another story. Where that’s concerned, clean actually means clean.
Don’t judge…until you’ve walked a Camino.
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