- Time of past OR future Camino
- CF 2024
Back recently from my 4th Camino Frances, and and came across this thread. In scrolling through the posts, I didn't see what the OP's actual pack weight was. As I have posted several times previously, the 10% "rule" means almost nothing given the range of pilgrim body weights and physical condition. I carried a Stratos 24L that weighed in at 13 lbs. Probably could have gotten down to 12 but I wanted to bring an iPad mini in addition to a few other non-essentials, and still had extra room.
Ms. Thyme, like many if not most things in life, less is more.
Nevertheless, I did see some mighty big and heavy packs--from 50 to 80L whose contents were often straining at the pack fabric. I kept thinking I would become well enough acquainted with one of those pack owners that would allow me to actually see what was in one of those behemoths. Anecdotally, it seemed that the French were carrying the largest packs while Spaniards had coalesced around a 30L.
On a side note, I walked a relatively slow Camino this time, departing Saint Jean May 23 and arriving SDC July 1. Although there was the usually influx of pilgrims after Sarria, it was not crowded--never saw a traffic jam or a conga line. In one of my new favorite in-between places, Villares de Orbigo, I was the only one at the very hospitable and charming Albergue Villares de Orbigo. I did see some rowdy school/church youth groups in Santiago. One day sitting in that outdoor section of the final bar on Rue de Franco (adjacent to Praza de Fonseca) before the entrance to Praza de Obradoiro, a large and very noisy school/church youth group came marching by with banners and flags and in their excitement at being so near started running and cheering towards the Praza. It was highly loud and disruptive . . and it was glorious. At that moment I think I was the only non-Spaniard sitting there. The entire outdoor seating customers burst into applause. Spain. Spaniards. They get it.
Ms. Thyme, like many if not most things in life, less is more.
Nevertheless, I did see some mighty big and heavy packs--from 50 to 80L whose contents were often straining at the pack fabric. I kept thinking I would become well enough acquainted with one of those pack owners that would allow me to actually see what was in one of those behemoths. Anecdotally, it seemed that the French were carrying the largest packs while Spaniards had coalesced around a 30L.
On a side note, I walked a relatively slow Camino this time, departing Saint Jean May 23 and arriving SDC July 1. Although there was the usually influx of pilgrims after Sarria, it was not crowded--never saw a traffic jam or a conga line. In one of my new favorite in-between places, Villares de Orbigo, I was the only one at the very hospitable and charming Albergue Villares de Orbigo. I did see some rowdy school/church youth groups in Santiago. One day sitting in that outdoor section of the final bar on Rue de Franco (adjacent to Praza de Fonseca) before the entrance to Praza de Obradoiro, a large and very noisy school/church youth group came marching by with banners and flags and in their excitement at being so near started running and cheering towards the Praza. It was highly loud and disruptive . . and it was glorious. At that moment I think I was the only non-Spaniard sitting there. The entire outdoor seating customers burst into applause. Spain. Spaniards. They get it.
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