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mattythedog's latest activity

  • mattythedog
    I am 68 and walked solo Porto to Santiago. I got so much wrong, but so much right too. I had trained - somewhat. I began 27 March in run up to Easter and walked into terrible weather on Coastal route. Poncho ripped in the 40 kms wind day one...
  • mattythedog
    Probably an unpopular take, but I find many people overthink water and water bottles. If you’re walking the CF you are almost always within a couple km of water. I bought a small 500ml bottle of water when I arrived and carried that and refilled...
  • mattythedog
    Short answer, NO. Just take pillow and case they provide on the plane to guarantee you have one. As said in posts, 99% of albergues provide a pillow, and you can survive without one once. No guarantee of a case, and it is usually thin plastic...
  • mattythedog
    mattythedog replied to the thread Trekking Poles.
    Good advice in this post, but definitely buy a cheap adjustable PAIR now and practice with the various walking styles you can learn on YouTube and from others. Practice on varied terrain with your loaded pack. You need to do this NOW because it...
  • mattythedog
    mattythedog reacted to t2andreo's post in the thread Trekking Poles with Like Like.
    This is an eternal discussion. It never ends. This said, given what you wrote, I recommend getting a pair of length-adjustable hiking poles. You do not need to spend top price for Black Diamond or other branded carbon fibre poles. There are...
  • mattythedog
    mattythedog reacted to LTfit's post in the thread Trekking Poles with Like Like.
    Poles all the way and not one but two! They help take weight off the hips and knees, make for a more efficient stride and greater speed and your fingers won't swell. Going both uphill and downhill they are a great help, especially downhill...
  • mattythedog
    mattythedog reacted to DoughnutANZ's post in the thread Trekking Poles with Like Like.
    Often they are sold in pairs but I only ever use one. For me, the additional utility of one pole is worth the extra weight, extra thing to carry around with me that is an awkward shape and might get left behind. The second pole does add utility...
  • mattythedog
    mattythedog reacted to DoughnutANZ's post in the thread Night stage recommendation? with Like Like.
    I prefer not to live my life out of fear. If the only places that I could go in this world were places where other people were watching me then I would not be long for this world. I cherish the opportunities that I have to go places where there...
  • mattythedog
    mattythedog reacted to Tincatinker's post in the thread Night stage recommendation? with Like Like.
    Someone somewhere is doing something? And presumably read on the internet. That seems a sound basis for a plan and/or an excellent excuse for some adventure. Walking the Meseta at night under a fullish moon or a blaze of stars can be a life...
  • mattythedog
    Naw. . . I just pulled it out of thin air. I guess installing solar systems on homes and RVs and dealing with charge controllers from 12 to 48v and inverter/charger installs on multi Kw/Hr battery banks made me forget my place. Sorry.

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