I’m on the CF and need a shop that sells walking sticks - any suggestions?

[LuisaR]

Hello,
I’ve just left Murias de Rechivaldo and on my way to Foncebadón. One of my walking sticks has just broken and I really struggle without them. Is anyone aware of a shop along the way that will come up soon-ish where I can buy new ones?
Thanks in advance!

 

[mspath]

Hello,
I’ve just left Murias de Rechivaldo and on my way to Foncebadón. One of my walking sticks has just broken and I really struggle without them. Is anyone aware of a shop along the way that will come up soon-ish where I can buy new ones?
Thanks in advance!

LuisaR,
You are not exactly walking in the commercial hub of the universe now; it will be difficult to buy a stick. However you might stop at any albergue along the way to see if a pilgrim has left a stick in the donation box. Rabanal has many albergues and perhaps a hospi could fix your stick.

Good luck and Buen camino!

 

[amancio]

The nearest shop is probably in Ponferrada, but the suggestion by MSPATH above might actually work quite well, ask for help in any of the albergues, perhaps Tomas in Manjarin might have some walking stick or staff that he might give you, always worth asking (particularly considering you have a looooong descent ahead!

 

[peregrino_tom]

LuisaR,
You are not exactly walking in the hub of the universe now; i t will be difficult to buy a stick. However you might stop at any albergue on the way to see if a pilgrim has left a stick in the donation box. Good luck and Buen camino!

I agree with Margaret and amancio on this, as you'll just be passing through villages over the mountain all the way to Molinaseca and Ponferrada. Some of the village shops keep a small range of pilgrim essentials, so you might get lucky there.
It's also worth asking each time you stop in a cafe/bar, to see if they have held onto any sticks that previous pilgrims left behind. And if you still haven't found one by the time you get to Rabanal, then pop into Gaucelmo, the CSJ UK-run albergue - they are very resourceful and are likely to be able to think of something.
As you head further up towards Cruz de Ferro, you'll pass some woodland, so if you still haven't found a pole by then, you may need to source a useable stick, to assist you down the other side - and pop into Manjarin, they are also helpful there! Good luck.

 

[LuisaR]

Thank you for all of your replies. The Camino provides: stick bought in shop in Rabanal del Camino. The shop owner allowed me to buy just one for €10! It’s identical to my broken stick - I am ecstatic!

 

[mspath]

Thank you for all of your replies. The Camino provides: stick bought in shop in Rabanal del Camino. The shop owner allowed me to buy just one for €10! It’s identical to my broken stick - I am ecstatic!

Great news! Which shop was it?

 

[LuisaR]

@mspath there is a Camino shop full of supplies! I tried the first supermarket on the left but nothing, this one was the second shop on the left. Not far from the end of town. I really lucked out with this considering the descent tomorrow!

 

[Anniesantiago]

@mspath there is a Camino shop full of supplies! I tried the first supermarket on the left but nothing, this one was the second shop on the left. Not far from the end of town. I really lucked out with this considering the descent tomorrow!

Thanks for this information. I had no idea there was a pilgrim shop in Rabanal!

 

[APilgrim3393]

Hello,
I’ve just left Murias de Rechivaldo and on my way to Foncebadón. One of my walking sticks has just broken and I really struggle without them. Is anyone aware of a shop along the way that will come up soon-ish where I can buy new ones?
Thanks in advance!

As an hospitalero in the albergue system. I can say that you could have a good chance if asked in any albergue private or otherwise, if they had any walking poles that were left awhile ago. Many pilgrims leave poles and never return to get them.