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Recent content by Matthew Merten

  1. M

    Tips for Avoiding a Crowded Start Date on Camino Frances

    Paynefive, Experience from my last Camino taught me not to start from SJPD on a weekend, and especially not on a Spanish four-day holiday. So, this year I will leave SJPD on Thursday the 31st. Because I’m flying in from the States, and am limited to 35 days for my Camino, I already booked four...
  2. M

    August 30, 2023 taxi from Pamplona Airport to SJPD

    Denis1, My plan was to arrive at SJPD on the afternoon of the 30th, check into the hotel I have reserved, find something to eat, then crash out. I will be very tired by that time. If all that goes well, I will start my hike the next morning at five AM. Yes, I hike early each day. Anything...
  3. M

    August 30, 2023 taxi from Pamplona Airport to SJPD

    Hello everyone, buen Camino, According to the airline gods, supposedly I will arrive at the Pamplona Airport on 30 August, 2023, at 1330 (1:30 PM). I wish to travel immediately to SJPD. The bus from Pamplona to SJPD will not be available until the next day. I do not feel like waiting. I...
  4. M

    Camino Snobs

    Hiya! Oh, I must confess, I have acted like a Camino snob on occasion. After a long, arduous ascent on a particular part of the Camino Frances, I looked before me and saw the most wonderful sight: a paved path, at least two meters in width, winding down the mountain toward a picturesque town...
  5. M

    Walking a Camino is a Very Selfish Act - Isn't it?

    What a wonderful word, “selfish,” to describe the meaningful wandering in Spain and beyond. For three decades I’ve spent a lot of time outside of my gainful employment in volunteering for charities and in giving a lot money to others. I took six weeks off a couple years ago giving care to my...
  6. M

    Disparaging "The Way"

    There is an Interesting foundation lodged in your opinion. It reminds me of how I had to overcome some black-and-white thinking while on my first pilgrimage on the Camino. Is it walking only? Does a person have to carry at least 10% of their weight the entire time? Should the newbie hordes...
  7. M

    Hiking at Night?

    I live in a town of about 12,000 in the middle of farm land, southern Illinois, USA. Anything unusual in this area is noted by the locals, for instance, a man hiking around town with a backpack. It's not normal. Usually such a scene produces images of a homeless person, probably mentally...
  8. M

    What I learned about trekking poles..

    Mick, An excellent posting. Last year on the 800 km of Camino Frances, I followed everything on your lists (yes, I learned from the YouTube videos as well) and discovered that by using the poles correctly the constant agony in my shoulder sockets vanished. I shredded my labrum on both...
  9. M

    Best Blister Prevention Method - Vote!

    Last year while on the Camino from SJPD to Astorga I had blisters on my blisters until I abandoned my hiking boots. I switched to a pair of wool socks and Keen sandals (with the toe protector), hiking from Astorga to Santiago with a 35 lb pack, My blisters were gone by the time I got my...
  10. M

    Pre Trip Anxiety

    bobtron, Lat year I hit the Camino in SJPDP with two other people in late April and we were immediately confronted by a lack of beds in the Alburgues because of a National Spanish Holiday that spread itself over a 5-6 day period. Hundreds of locals used that vacation to walk portions of the...
  11. M

    Hiking at Night?

    Dogbreath, This is a long entry, so figure on it consuming 5 minutes of your time. Last year in May I did my first Camino from SJPDP to SDC. For the first 2 weeks from SJPDP to Astorga I hiked during the daylight times (out the door by 7 AM) and then from Astorga to SDC (the last two weeks)...
  12. M

    Haglund's Deformity/lump on back of heel

    Katie, I had both heels operated on at age 40 for Hagland's Deformity. It took about a year to learn how to walk correctly after the surgeries, and another two years before I could jog without losing my balance. I've had to wear shoes that are 1.5 to 2 sizes larger than my feet, and use...
  13. M

    11cmx11cm conch shell tiles

    AZgirl, I’m making concrete markers like they have on the Camino Frances, with the kilometer plaque and directional arrow.
  14. M

    Anyone care to share their experience walking CF in April?

    I started in the last week of April, 2018, from SJPD. We ran into a problem finding open albergues and hotels due to an elongated national Spanish holiday at the end of April, beginning of May. Really, there were so many citizens on the Camino that it was necessary to reserve the next days bed...
  15. M

    11cmx11cm conch shell tiles

    Thank you, I've looked at the website and will be communicating with Ceramica Rosi soon, -Matthew
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