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Lost my folding poles at Madrid airport security on way back to US. I had checked them on the way over, but was running so late for my US flight I couldn’t take time to check them. They are not expensive in SJPP, you just won’t have a chance to get used to that particular pair. Buen Camino
Highly recommend you contact Katherine at Follow the Camino and she will book your pensions/inns for you at the pace you desire, with breakfast and luggage transport. Additionally they send you detailed walking notes for each day, a training program and lots of great info. I’ve used them three...
The first day to Orisson is a tough climb. Highly recommend you start the next morning, get there by lunch, relax in their lovely patio, and make your first Camino friends. My friend and I found we were strongly connected to 3 other women at our table via the Air Force, a little town in...
I agree with the idea you should go to an REI or similar store and talk to a knowledgeable salesperson, and try on several options. I have walked twice, first with Merrill Moab Ventilators and then Altra Lone Peak trail runners. Each had their own benefits: Merrill’s had firmer soles (no...
Loved my Osprey 35! I agree about the side pockets but I hung an aluminum water bottle from the back of my left shoulder with a carabiner. Worked great, I could lean forward and retrieve bottle over my shoulder, pop open the top and drink without taking off my pack. Kept another full bottle...
In September I flew to Paris, caught a Renfe train to Biarritz, then a van shuttle to St Jean. SO easy - and I don’t like buses. Train was about 60E and van shuttle 12E.
I encountered the supposedly “deaf girls” scam in the woods near there last year in September - the ones I encountered were (reference to particular ethnic group deleted) suddenly she could hear and shook her head. I was very upset that a group of Koreans were giving them 20E notes, but I...
I walked the last 114k in late September and very rarely could I not see someone ahead or behind me - always felt safe other than encountering gypsies begging in the woods near Portomarin pretending to be deaf. Starting at St Jean 13 Sept to walk first 100 miles. You’ll love it -
Buen Camino
I walked with a vegan/vegetarian group for a few days and they had no trouble finding reasonably priced meals - they introduced me to veggie paella and it was heavenly! Just practice your Spanish asking for vegetarian options and you’ll find them.
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