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If I was faced with a top bunk with no railing, I would definitely use my pack as a fence. Way more scared of falling out than bedbugs.
Scared of heights to begin with so glad I haven't faced one yet.
Dont worry, you will meet people.
As far as walking, think of your day as a series of walks, not one long one. Walk for an hour, stop , have coffee, take photos, look around, chat, walk again - rinse and repeat.
You shouldn't have difficulty getting accommodation especially if you are flexible...
I don't think I was particularly worried about anything, I was excited to be off on an adventure. No real planning other than to arrive in France.
Once I reached Bayonne, it was a different story - the heat was so intense that I did wonder if I would cope with it.
I did - I became an early starter.
I just accept that I will have to fly a really long distance to get there. I do reuse items, clothes, sleeping bag, pack etc - but I do need new shoes. Apart from shoes my gear lasts me a long time. I am taking stuff on my next one, that I bought for my first. I buy or make, only as I need.
At...
I had a moment when I needed to 'go' , quickly checked around me, coast seemed clear. Stood up to find that the wild wheat on the field edges had drilled its way into my underwear and clothes, stabbing me in the process, and as I was frantically trying to get rid of the sharp seedheads, I...
I've walked in late May- June and it does get very hot, by the time I reached Santiago at the end of June it was 43 degrees. My sister, who I walked with for a few weeks, who is not an early person was planning to walk later, and revised that plan after the first day of walking, and left at 6...
I wore mine nearly every morning. Then stripped off all my layers. May/June, September October (twice). This time I will take an umbrella (for the sun)
An odd thing not mentioned, is that the pilgrims are part of the tourism attraction/experience, as I experienced once when some tourists shoved their cameras in my face. We are even included in commentaries.
My problem is just that I struggle to hear, multiple conversations just become a jumble, and I have to really concentrate to pull one conversation out of the total hubbub. I find it exhausting.
So I hate people suggesting a noisy bar to have a chat.
Apparently I have full range of hearing. I can...
On my first Camino we became part of a family, people we noticed on the first day but gelled organically after 3-4 days. a loose group of 20 or so that we kept meeting up with and a tighter group of 6, aged from 69 to 26. From NZ, Canada, USA, Denmark. We often left together in the mornings, but...
I remember it took me a long time to walk out of Ponferada (I've missed signage both times) so I assume the bear had a quicker way and wasnt following the Camino! I dont remember it being a quick exit from town. (Could have something to do with the number of wrong turns)
My father was always an active person, running, cycling, boating, kayaking, motorcycling.
He was always obsessed with one activity or other most of his life until more recently. He was a very successful farmer, an environmental activist, and interested in all sorts of topics. He always dreamed...
Carrying your pack gives you more options to stop where you like, and saves you a lot over time.
However when I hurt my knee, sending my pack ahead for a week was brilliant.
I had limited days only, as do many, and it meant I could continue walking.
I dont recall any rude locals. I do remember seeing some harried looking staff/hospitaleros occasionally. They were still nice to us. I found people generally to be friendly and pleasant.
The only rude people I met were pilgrims on my first Camino in Bayonne. Assuming we were French because we...
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