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While there were definitely areas where some people were happy to wild camp on the GR5 it wouldn’t have been possible everywhere because you’re often on farmland or passing through villages. National park (or equivalent) sections tend to be more amenable to wild camping/ bivvying whether it’s...
Depending on the time of year, France has lots of campsites available. It’s very popular in the summer and many places have a municipal campsite run by the local community/government. Facilities vary but it’s worth checking their websites or Google maps of the towns you will pass through.
There...
Depending on your arrival time you may be able to take the train, which is cheaper. Or you could find others travelling at the same time to share the cost. I booked Express Bourricot years ago and it was a bit cheaper than your quote but considering how costs have risen the past few years it’s...
There’s a weather front coming through today and tomorrow and it’s not just normal Galician rain. I’ve walked out to the lighthouse in Finisterre in the rain. We couldn’t see anything scenic the whole bus ride there as it rained so hard. While it was an experience, I’d save a trip out to...
I stayed at Itzalpea with a friend but it was back in 2012. Looking at pics it seems to have been renovated since then as I remember charming old fashioned/rustic style rooms with very wonky floors. We had a good stay though.
The municipal campgrounds are generally quite cheap although some aren’t open all year. As summer winds down it might start getting harder to find open ones. I’ve been walking in north eastern France this year and lots of towns have them.
Last year when walking in Benelux, other walkers...
I walked the TMB in 2019. Afterwards I headed back to Geneva and then onwards to Montreux and Bern as I hadn’t seen much of Switzerland. It was lovely to just chill by Lac Leman(Geneva) and explore locally after walking the Tour. Bern is lovely to walk around. Geneva was my least favourite bit...
Alongside Fermor’s Time of Gifts is Nick Hunt’s more recent walk following in Fermor’s footsteps called Between the Woods and the Water. Both books inspired me to hop across on the Harwich ferry twice - once to rail travel through Benelux and Germany and secondly to walk a section of the GR5...
Not any more. I packed up my stuff in the UK to travel for a while and traded in my old 6S. I don’t make many calls anyway, it’s more useful for me to have data (when wifi is not available) and a decent battery life, as the 6S was still a good phone except for battery life.
I walked the Great Glen Way and really enjoyed walking the canal, you can free camp at some of the locks and eventually you end up at Loch Ness and Inverness. Sometimes people are down on that route compared to the close by West Highland Way but watching the boats and kayaks in the canals, locks...
I’ve walked it in sections from Maidenhead to Woolwich over the years. It’s easy walking. Some sections you have switch between banks(north/south), closer to London you have a choice which to walk. In most cases I’d pick the south bank. Usually in summer there’s extra places to get drinks and...
No I changed contract when I got the new phone a year ago. Been with EE for ages but just picked the deal that offered something useful for me (other options were sports subs or streaming stuff I think).
EE roaming offer as a extra with your contract is for whatever data/minutes you purchase. I left the UK last August and have been using my data overseas ever since. The only extra charges would be for things like calls to non-EU numbers and so forth. I try to limit non-internet based calls and...
I’ve stayed at the airport hotel which is handy for getting in or out late/early and once I stayed at the Melia Barajas. It was a very nice hotel (I must have gotten a good deal) and they had a shuttle from the airport. There’s a few eateries and supermarkets nearby but the hotel itself was nice...
I understand the logic of this but I’d actually be sadder to lose the poles and knife this way. I’ve had them a long time and am more attached to them than whatever decathlon clothes or boots toiletries are in my bag. It’s a roll of the dice I’m willing to take.
Does your current provider offer deals for travelling? When I upgraded my phone I chose a package that offered international roaming (use your own data without extra fees). It’s been worth every penny as I knew I would be travelling for extended periods (and it dealt with the loss of free EU...
I always check my bag so I can take my poles, pocket knife etc. toiletries are not an issue on short trips but for 5-6 weeks I tend take a 256ml bottle of Dr Bronners for washing me and my clothes, which isn’t carry on friendly. I may jinx myself with this but it’s never been an issue so far. I...
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