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  1. mattythedog

    Collapsible hiking poles

    I carried trekking poles through Madrid airport about 12 times in last 8 years in carryon, sometimes through multiple security scans on heightened alert situations with no issue
  2. mattythedog

    Need Help / Advice on Accommodation in San Sebastian and Northern Route

    I walked this area 23 Sept 2024, and around 1600, every place I called within the city was booked. 12 Tribes well up the hill before San Sebastian had beds when I walked in, but I wanted to be closer to town and bars. There is a hostel closer, but still far up on hill before town, and it had...
  3. mattythedog

    Collapsible hiking poles

    Yes, I have always carried my z poles inside carry on, even through Santiago airport. Last month I saw a man at the gate with his rather long telescoping poles, one attached to each side of his pack and clearly visible.
  4. mattythedog

    Do you drop any personal restrictions on Camino?

    I generally eat everything I want, drink all I want, stop wherever, etc, but I have learned that eating a menu del dia at lunchtime and drinking the whole bottle of wine has deleterious effects on walking the remaining 20 km that day, so I have restricted that a bit😀
  5. mattythedog

    Unsolicited Camino Prep Ideas

    Very good points. I use most of them myself
  6. mattythedog

    Bronze Scallop Shell…Carry-on?

    I bought one from Ivar last year and carried it on, just as I have many moderate sized castings without sharp edges or looking like handgrenades
  7. mattythedog

    Paulo Coelho's "The Pilgrimage" to be made into a Netflix movie

    Another quackpot
  8. mattythedog

    Paulo Coelho's "The Pilgrimage" to be made into a Netflix movie

    Yes, there were no arrows, but actually he spent the week wandering with his Shaman in the Pyrenees and eating magic mushrooms. Easy read, but pretty far out. Shirley's journey was also quite fantastical, although she did not consume a similar quantity of fungi. I did enjoy Jack Hitt's book...
  9. mattythedog

    Memorable Climbs

    I ate a menu del dia I ate a menu del dia in Finisterre one afternoon, drank the whole bottle of wine, went to the lighthouse, descended the rocks to the ocean, got my pant legs wet in the surf to prove it and climbed back up. I don’t remember it taking long or being particularly difficult, but...
  10. mattythedog

    A call for regulation or permit on the Francés

    I only stayed in 3 Albergues between Sarria and Santiago last month. Each I walked into at end of day with no reservation and got an entire dorm room to myself. 😀🤣🎉
  11. mattythedog

    Type of bike for Camino Francés

    I rode a mountain bike on my first CF and never hope to do that again! I am a cyclist and bike hiker in US, and follow bike rules of etiquette. I learned within an hour I did not enjoy waiting for groups of walkers to move aside, and they certainly did not want me there. I rode the roads as...
  12. mattythedog

    Problems with Iberia and American Airlines (standby seats and lost luggage)

    With the exception of a couple United flights, I have used American to get to Spain and back to US 9 times in the last 8 years with no issues. In fact I love the flights. In coach I get all the wine and extra food I want, no charge....and all on frequent flyer miles. I used Iberia on most...
  13. mattythedog

    Travel from Santiago to Lisbon

    Presumably you are looking online. Last year, I also had many problems as all modes for the weekend were full or cost hundreds of dollars. San Martin Pinario staff recommended I go directly to main bus/train station and book there. Information/ticket office at the station booked me (internet...
  14. mattythedog

    October Camino - shorts?

    Personally I used to take convertible pants, but now only long light weight hiking pants. Keeps dust out of shoes, and after hot summer it WILL be dusty. Obviates sunscreen on legs. If I want shorts, I just roll them up and safety pin them. Lighter, cheaper and easier to wash than convertibles
  15. mattythedog

    Best tape to prevent blisters

    Best = cost/availability/utility/ease of use. As stated, duct tape and leukotape both work great. I prefer to wrap about 1/2 meter of Duck or Nashua brand duct tape around a trekking pole. Gorilla is too thick. I carry a very small 10gram dropper bottle of isopropyl alcohol to clean the area of...
  16. mattythedog

    Accommodation during El Camino de Santiago survey

    I am an engineer, not a psychoanalyst, so I just applied my general experiences over my last 12 varied Caminos, and I found the questions easily answered with just a bit of hesitation on 2 of them. Like Camino days, just take the questions as they come and try not to read anything else into them.
  17. mattythedog

    How to explore Basque Coast (Bayonne, Anglet, Biarritz, Saint Jean de Luz, Hendaye stretch) before Irun?

    You will have had a 27 hour rest, so sling your pack and get going
  18. mattythedog

    Pilgrim rubbish left at Fisterra - video

    I was in Finisterre last week after walking the CF. Now I have to ask who is the moron who put up that fence? A dumpster would be more appropriate. Here is part of my email report from that day: Traditionally, Peregrinos would burn their old stinky worn out clothes here. It pissed off the...
  19. mattythedog

    Group of prison inmates walking the Camino

    Last year I walked for a time witih a 42 year old criminal from Poland. Yes, he proudly told everyone he was a criminal. He spent 20 years in prison for burgleries. Once out, he was OK for a year or two, and then he started to revert to his old habits. Realizing there would be no good...
  20. mattythedog

    Coffee

    Had you stayed in Albergue de la Santa Cruz, you would have been able to get coffee when the breakfast room opened at 0600😁

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