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  1. CA_Pilgrim

    Is Uber used in Portugal and Spain?

    I asked this question in another forum and the answer I received was yes, Uber is available in Portugal (and I'm assuming Spain but the forum was specific to Portugal). I asked if I needed a different app and the answer was no, it's the same app as in the USA. The person responding to my...
  2. CA_Pilgrim

    Any risk of walking without insoles?

    It doesn't sound like you have much in the way of options if the shoes are too small. I'm inferring from you comment about the next Decathlon store that you plan to purchase new larger ones, so doing what has to be done to get there seems the right thing to do. Long term, I would be concerned...
  3. CA_Pilgrim

    Is tap water safe to drink in Portugal?

    That brave of you to drink California tap water. :) In all seriousness, Portugal and Spain have a modern and efficient water system. However, I do bring along a Britta squeeze bottle and filter mine before filling my hydration pack. I'm not concerned about bacteria or viruses (Britta filters...
  4. CA_Pilgrim

    San Anton albergue (Castrojeriz) closes till further notice

    I heard this news from a friend on the Camino now. She was one of the last pilgrims allowed to stay there. It's sad to see it close.
  5. CA_Pilgrim

    Plantar fasciitis.

    I've had PF for well over 15 years (I'm 66 years old). I developed it while running marathons. I gave up running for long-distance hiking because it's less traumatic to the feet. However, my PF limited my hiking until I found the right podiatrist that knew how to cast feet properly for custom...
  6. CA_Pilgrim

    What do you wash your clothes with

    Thanks for the suggestion. Glad it works for you.
  7. CA_Pilgrim

    Best app to accurately record distances, elevation and descent per day

    I use Geo Tracker. It's free and available in the Google Play store. It's the best free tracker I've yet to find. Not sure if it's available for the iPhone. Another option that I have but I've yet to actually use it is the paid version of Alltrails. I know it has a tracker but I have yet to...
  8. CA_Pilgrim

    What do you wash your clothes with

    No I didn't read or look for another comment from you. Perhaps you could spare me the time to look for it. At any rate, using water that would have otherwise gone down the drain is a highly efficient way to keep you clothes clean. I will continue to use this practice. Thank you for your interest.
  9. CA_Pilgrim

    What do you wash your clothes with

    It's using water that otherwise would have gone down the drain in the shower. I'd be interested in hearing what the alternatives are.
  10. CA_Pilgrim

    Have Pilgrim's Passport, but do I need to register at a local pilgrim's office before I can stay in municipal albergues?

    My experience is no you do not need to register. When I arrived in SJPDP, the office was closed for a very long lunch and I never got back to register or get my stamp from them (one of my few regrets). I did get a stamp from the albergue I was staying at and that was enough.
  11. CA_Pilgrim

    Bugs / Insects on Route Frances

    I didn't encounter any biting or stinging insects though they are probably there. However, the face flies were a big nascence. I like to spray my hat with a non-DEET gear friendly repellant that doesn't have an unpleasant odor. I found Off Skintastic works well and there are others on the market...
  12. CA_Pilgrim

    What’s the difference between my two chargers?

    Probably the difference is in the maximum wattage output. I'm guessing the Apple charger peaks out at 20W and the Qualcomm charger peaks out at around 65W. Since the phone is probably only capable of accepting 20W, it will throttle the 65W charge down to a rate that it can handle. The 65W...
  13. CA_Pilgrim

    What do you wash your clothes with

    I throw the dirty clothes into the shower and stomp on them as I wash my body with soap and shampoo. I usually put a little extra shampoo on the clothes and then squeeze them a bit. This is followed by rinsing them under the shower head sever times and wringing the soap out. The goal isn't to...
  14. CA_Pilgrim

    Albergue pillows

    I did this. I bought a large silk pillow case that was very lightweight and treated it with permethrin. Also brought a lightweight sleeping bag liner treated with permethrin. Glad I did. Most of the albergues provide disposable sheets and pillow cases that are scratchy and uncomfortable. I could...
  15. CA_Pilgrim

    Two backpacks?

    I thought about the pack in the pack option. I could get it to work, but I found that the second pack just added too much weight and took up too much space. I also thought about using a small stuffable pack as a daypack, but I like having a frame in the pack to distribute the weight off of my...
  16. CA_Pilgrim

    Accommodation - to book or not to book

    It depends on what you want out of the Camino. For my first Camino (CF 2022), I prebooked the entire distance from SJPDP to Santiago. Glad i did because it was a busy time (May/June) with lots of penned up demand due to the pandemic and holy year. I wanted an albergue experience, so I mostly...
  17. CA_Pilgrim

    Best route into Burgos

    Most definitely the river path! I ignored all the advice and took the shorter road route. What a mistake!! Mile after mile of industrial hell and no place to stop for food or restrooms until you get to the Burger King and McDonalds at the edge of town. I was never so happy to see a Burger King...
  18. CA_Pilgrim

    Stamping process

    I almost always got mine at check in. During the last 100 Km, I tried to get two per day (e.g., at a bar along the way) as required for the Compostella, but there was at least one day when I didn't get the second stamp. They don't seem to enforce that rule too closely.
  19. CA_Pilgrim

    The one thing I should have done before I left for the Camino

    More than file a travel plan with the bank......Turn on foreign transactions for the credit card!! Made for a rough first day in Paris before I even got to the Camino. Also forgot to pay my tax accountant for his work in filing my taxes. That was embarrassing. Not much else.
  20. CA_Pilgrim

    long sleeve Merino wool shirt for SUMMER

    I no longer use wool shirts for the reason you describe. While they wick moisture well, they also tend to be heavier than synthetics. I have switched totally to a much lighter fabric with wicks as well or better than wool. My shirt of choice is made by Patagonia with their proprietary fabric...

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