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Recent content by markmcilroy

  1. markmcilroy

    Where and how I got lost on the Valcarlos route

    hmmm....I wonder he made the same mistake that I did? although the path that I took was marked with white and green markers there were plenty of off shoot paths that could have been also taken.
  2. markmcilroy

    Where and how I got lost on the Valcarlos route

    Having done the Napoleon route in 2016 and the Valcarlos route in 2017 with no problems I thought I'd do the Valcarlos again last year but this time I got very lost. Once I got home I checked with the help of Google Earth / Street view to see exactly where I went wrong so this posting maybe of...
  3. markmcilroy

    Muscle cramps & other bits

    Hey Stephanie, you can buy the bed bug spray in a trigger pack from Bunnings here in NZ or the The Warehouse, the brand is Kiwicare and its called NO Bed Bugs. Spray the inside and outside of you pack, and inside and outside of your sleeping bag (if you are taking one) and also spray your...
  4. markmcilroy

    Anyone walked the Valcarlos this summer?

    yes you are right, I made the same mistake a few years ago, its not well sign posted there.
  5. markmcilroy

    Fires in Navarra

    In October 2017 there were a lot of fires around the CF. These 3 short clips are from the trail between Triacastela and Samos when I literally walked through a forest fire that no one knew about. There were no police or firefighters about warning not to walk on the trail as they were unable to...
  6. markmcilroy

    These missing persons posts....

    There have been a couple of missing persons postings on this site and on FaceBook lately. I can understand the reasons of photographs not being shown on this website however given that this website is used by many pilgrims I am wondering if under our individual profile section we could give our...
  7. markmcilroy

    LIVE from the Camino Return to the CF after 10 years

    You may already know this......As you walk out of Burgos you walk parallel to a long concrete wall on your left, if you go to to the other side of the wall you will be in a park walking on a gravel path. This is the path with the iron gates at the end that the pilgrims in the movie "The Way"...
  8. markmcilroy

    Bivvy bag or not?

    I've done 3 Caminos and carried and emergency survival blanket with me on each but I have never used it. In saying that I will continue to take it with me as I may come across a situation where it is needed by someone else or by me. I have come close to sleeping under a church porch but haven't...
  9. markmcilroy

    OBSOLETE COVID THREAD Four cases from the Camino

    Yes so true about the lack of flu cases in NZ now and it is peak flu time, I haven't heard of anyone with influenza there is still the odd cough and cold about but even these seem to be less than usual. I believe this was the highest uptake of the flu vaccine this year so this would also help...
  10. markmcilroy

    OBSOLETE COVID THREAD Covid positive pilgrims arriving in SDC. (if any)

    With the covid numbers unfortunately starting to take off again in Spain (as in some other countries) do we have any idea how many (if any) of the pilgrims arriving in Santiago de Compostela now which is around 400 a day or enroute to SDC become covid positive during their pilgrimage? Or don't...
  11. markmcilroy

    It is still dark.

    ‘There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.’ (Hamlet Act 2, Scene 2)
  12. markmcilroy

    Smart Packing and Unexpected Backpack Items

    A very small atomiser filled with rubbing alcohol or methylated spirts. Great for sterilising / cleaning, needles, blisters, hands, sunglasses. Virtually every grocery type store in Spain sells the rubbing alcohol for 2-3 euros, so easy and cheap to refill........also a couple of large safety...
  13. markmcilroy

    Time to campeed, vaseline or duct tape?

    We only now use the non-woven paper tape that dougfitz mentions as a preventative on any hot spots and have had no blisters on our last camino...only took a 1000 plus kms to find out what works for us!....this paper tape is available all pharmacies in Spain.
  14. markmcilroy

    Starting slowly on the Le Puy route

    We stayed in Montbonnet on the first night. Just a couple of suggestions (if you haven't already) there is a excellent Face Book group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ViaPodiensis/ and the Miam miam Dodo guides books are great resources.
  15. markmcilroy

    Starting slowly on the Le Puy route

    Hi Kathy, I had a quiet chuckle when I read the title of your post.....we started on the Le Puy in May 2018 and are going back this May to carry on from Conques where we stopped. But no one can have a fast start on the Le Puy as the first hill you encounter which is still in Le Puy is rather...

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