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Recent content by paulmack

  1. P

    Ibuprofen

    ibuprofen is more than a pain killer. I believe it to be a useful inflammation reducer. It certainly helped my tendonitis.
  2. P

    back trouble

    you are right. I forgot about muscle damage! Mine was the old problem of the cushion between the vertebrae bulging and pressing in the spinal nerve. The old medical advice was bed rest, but now, they say that you should build up your muscle strength which will help to hold it all in place...
  3. P

    checking backpacks on international flights

    may I suggest that if your bag is too heavy to go as hand baggage, you are carrying too much.
  4. P

    back trouble

    Hi If it is any consolation I have twice had a slipped disk and on one occasion, like you, couldn't get out of bed in the morning. I saw a physio who said that walking was the best cure (I had no bone damage). I went straight out and walked 15 miles a day for the next week with no trouble...
  5. P

    All prebooked - yes or no ?

    Hi Howie A few years ago, when I was walking in Patagonia, I met a guy who was spending the day organising his next couple of weeks to the last detail, whereas I spent the day pottering and watching the world go by. Several days later we met again by chance. I had enjoyed my loosely...
  6. P

    A few questions

    Oh Sil, what memories you bring back - the sort of warm friendly oldfashioned Byre smell that you get in the small villages (everything is too processed and "Friesianed" in England now) and the Gaita lessons that I had in a Pulpo cafe when I was foolish enough to tell the locals that I played...
  7. P

    sleepbag/sleepsac dilemma.

    Hola Buena Last year (May/June) I carried a sleeping bag the same weight as yours and it was just right though I may not need as much insulation as you. There were nights when most of me was outside the bag because of the heat, but there were also cooler nights when I needed it. I also took a...
  8. P

    musicial instruments?

    When I was on the way last year I took a mouth organ but never got round to playing it. I was completely submerged in the camino lifestyle. I wouldn't have taken my fiddle; it would have been too fragile without a case and that would have been heavy and clumsy. I agree that a mandolin makes more...
  9. P

    Drink bottle, gloves, Torch & money belt advice

    Please, please, please don't take a head torch if you intend to use it at night in the albergues. You will wake everyone and may not survive the experience. Last year I got on very well with a single LED hand torch and that included several walks in the dark. As to water, I bought 3 half...
  10. P

    your MVP

    ear plugs sun hat lightweight sleeping bag
  11. P

    St. Jean or Roncesvalles

    I did it at the same time as Dawn (Hi Dawn - glad to hear you are still around - how is the walking?) and agree! I wouldn't have missed the napoleon route to Roncesvalles for the world. It is hard, though and so is the second day, but with six weeks you have plenty of time to catch up. I would...
  12. P

    trekking poles

    Hi Carole You could always try thinking outside the box - don't use poles (I hate walking with them anyway) and buy a knife when you get to spain (they are cheap and good). Then you can take everything on hand baggage, thus being sure of not losing it, being forced to keep the weight down...
  13. P

    Ibuprofen

    I admit to being a regular user of Ibuprofen especially when I got tendonitis on the Camino Frances in May/June this year. They seem to be easily available and not expensive - ask at any Farmacia - the name is the same but pronounce the I as ee not eye. However, yes, they do vary in strength and...
  14. P

    Looking for Carol and Ann from England

    There was a woman called Carol White who used to work for English Heritage and who painted some lovely watercolours during her walk. If this is the person, yes -she did make it to Santiago on about 15th June. She was in good form and we went to a special mass together. I vaguely remember that...
  15. P

    Water amount

    Hi I walked from SJPdP in May/June in great heat and always carried 1.5L of water. By topping up at every opportunity I seldom had to break into the last 0.5L but would not walk without it. The danger is that you start rationing yourself and then you start wondering why you feel so tired. I...
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