One drawback to a vacation stay on the Middle Peninsula is dealing with the water. First, it tastes bad – it sorta’ smells. It most definitely alters the taste of coffee, and you really have to be thirsty to drink a glass straight from the tap. The second problem is taking a bath. If you hop in the shower and put soap on your hair or body, it stays there. The water does not rinse away the soap. In fact, they are best friends. Together, they create a sudsy film that stays on your person until you reach the outskirts of Richmond.
The only way to get the soap/water concoction off is to wipe it off with a washcloth and/or towel.
Chemically, the water is classified as “hard”, meaning it contains higher amounts of calcium and magnesium. The soap reacts to calcium by forming what is called soap scrum. And it doesn’t come off without a fight.
I guess if you live there, you get used to being a walking slimeball. But I couldn’t wait to get home and take a shower.