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Recent content by Hiawatha

  1. Hiawatha

    What exercises to do to strengthen lower back?

    Backs are as individual as fingerprints, no two are the same , especially injured ones . Sixty eight , two fused vertebrae, one laminectomy , many successful treks . My one piece of advice is to be very wary and very prepared when putting on or taking off your pack . It is when you are eager...
  2. Hiawatha

    When plans go pear-shaped …. Need Meseta strategy with a recovering bruised hip

    Find a pharmacia or natural remedy shop and buy some Arnica cream or lotion . It is an amazing cure for deep bruising and the dispersion of subcutaneous haematoma. Frankly akin to witchcraft , so effective as to be akin to some type of arcane magic . Get well soon , walking is also a great...
  3. Hiawatha

    Long pants and long sleeves in summer? Smart or big mistake?

    A disturbing sight ; one I will never forget , is that of the calves of two young Norwegian pilgrims I tended to along the way . Not what you may think though ! I could describe them both as ' fairer than fair ' and totally unaware of the strength of Spanish UV ( fortunately this didnt happen...
  4. Hiawatha

    Walking at 4 am. Under a full moon?

    At Calzadilla de Los Hermanillos .
  5. Hiawatha

    Not what I expected!

    What surprised me was the friendliness of the general population of Spain . Of course I had heard of and read of it , though nothing is quite so charming and delightful as finding out that for the most part , it's absolutely true .
  6. Hiawatha

    What’s a Good Gite to Stay at in Le Puy?

    Yes Ibis is boring and adequate. They do have a tendency to swap rooms around at the last minute which can be inconvenient if you have special needs . A bed is a bed though , if you can have a good night's rest you will walk well the next day . Surely that is the main goal .
  7. Hiawatha

    plantar fasciitis

    Anti inflammatory medication and two simple exercises will help a little . Walk backwards along a corridor ( sounds silly ) . The corridor stops you falling over or crashing into things , walking backwards stretches the plantar ligament more than walking forwards . The other ; toes onto a step...
  8. Hiawatha

    Please help me identify this old carving

    Jeanne de'Arc ( patron saint of France ) is almost always depicted carrying a sword .
  9. Hiawatha

    Dealing with PTSD on the Camino

    I have battled the same condition for decades . It isn't easy , you have my respect for being able to confront it . If you can cope with sleeping in a confined space a swag or bivey bag might be an option . ' Camping ' in the backyard of an albergue might not be as glamorous as in the wild but...
  10. Hiawatha

    New backpack strange.

    The weight of the pack itself is the immediate question . Two frames , a sliding mechanism , a suspension device and some type of resile elastic must add weight not found in other light weight packs . This would seem to be a case of attempting to make a back pack seem to weigh less when it's...
  11. Hiawatha

    Effective quick bed bug killer

    For many decades I have collected and restored old books . Silverfish are a terrible pest when it comes to vintage papers . I microwave books to kill unseen and inaccessible larvae and eggs lodged in spines and binding crevices . All books treated in this way ; including those that had...
  12. Hiawatha

    Rain Pants/DIY- Rain Kilt /Skirt made from a big black plastic bag- Cheap and Light

    Walking in a plastic bag , no matter how cold it is , will only get you wetter inside it than outside .
  13. Hiawatha

    Camino Frances preparation advice

    Two small tips that will help along the way . Make a coloured photocopy of your passport ID page and have it laminated , use this when registering at hostels , it saves dragging out your passport and reduces the risk of losing it or leaving it behind . Only major hotels insist on seeing the...
  14. Hiawatha

    Urgently need dentist in Sarria!

    Just the sort of on the ground information that makes a pilgrim's journey easier . Thank you for sharing .
  15. Hiawatha

    Voltaren Avilability

    Voltaren 50mg enteric coated tablets are easier to find than Smarties . It is a serious and very effective drug if used correctly . Taken with a substantial meal well before lying down at night reduces reflux side effects .
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