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  • Users: Melensdad
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  1. Melensdad

    The 'politics' of bikers passing walkers on the trail

    Found this article in Outside Magazine's online addition. Found it very interesting, and somewhat non-traditional in its approach. As a hiker I know that I've been scared many times by bikers. Personally I think bikers would do well to have a small bell on their bikes and I'd prefer that...
  2. Melensdad

    2017 - Assisi to Rome?

    Giving some serious thought about doing a hike from Assisi to Rome in the summer of 2017. Thinking that 2 weeks for that journey, plus another 10-14 days doing tourist stuff in Italy. This would be my second trip to Italy but the first for my wife & daughter and my first in central/southern...
  3. Melensdad

    PLEASE get a BELL for your bike

    Outside of Pamplona we saw a group of bikers collide with some English women. Fortunately no real injuries. Many people yelled "BIKE! BIKE!" as they passed. Germans were yelling "ACHTUNG!" The bikers passed at a speed that was a bit too high but it was a downhill section and the trail...
  4. Melensdad

    Finished a few days ago... am I the only one who

    Loved my Camino from SJPDP to Sarria. Disliked the way it changed with the heavy crowds and noise after Sarria. Packs of teens from schools were singing or carrying music players. Loud talking adults. Tranquility lost to the herd. Now I'll say the groups were polite, just loud. At one...
  5. Melensdad

    Brierly Guide worst guidebook ever written?

    Is there a worse guidebook than the Brierly guide? Started in St Jean, now in Herrerias, have not found any of the maps in the guide to be even close to reasonable. The descriptions seem to be written by a frustrated author and are often less than informative. Seriously is this the best there is?
  6. Melensdad

    5 Day Sale: Smartwool Merino Wool

    Just in case anyone is looking for some quality Merino Wool clothing, there is a 5 day sale of SMARTWOOL brand products going on now at www.steepandcheap.com I have no connection to Steep & Cheap other than as a satisfied customer. Figured some people might be interested in this sale. Not...
  7. Melensdad

    Men's Underwear Thread, anti-chafe/pro-support (NSFL 'not safe for ladies')

    LADIES WARNING: contained in this thread may be more personal information and or discussions of the male anatomy than your delicate constitutions may endure, proceed at your own risk. MEN: This is a serious thread, but clearly male sensibilities meet a somewhat lower bar than that of the...
  8. Melensdad

    10 TIPS to Prevent Identity Theft while Traveling

    I follow most of these, but also do a few other things. As suggested below, I weed out all non-essential items from my wallet. But then I also make 2 photocopies my credit cards/debit cards/passport/drivers license that are carried. 1 of those photocopies is left at home in my safe where it...
  9. Melensdad

    Guide by Sergi Ramis for French Way?

    at the local bookseller today and they have a copy of the Camino de Santiago guidebook by Sergi Ramis, published by Aurum Press. Has anyone used this guide? Any reason not to?
  10. Melensdad

    2.5 day sale of SMARTWOOL items at Steep&Cheap

    Sale lasts only for the next 2.5 days. Mens and ladies TOPS and BOTTOMS, short & long sleeve, lightweight, midweight, heavyweight items for all weather. LIMITED inventory, limited sizes, colors, etc www.steepandcheap.com I have no financial connection to this vendor but I am a regular...
  11. Melensdad

    Suggestions for lightening you load

    1. Instead of packing 8 beers with you each morning just take 6. Total weight savings: 1.5 pounds. You can always get some Vino Tinto at the little bars along the route to fortify you if you run out of beer. 2. At St Jean, open your pack and remove two or three pairs of shoes. You can mail...
  12. Melensdad

    Merino Wool on sale at Steep & Cheap (2-1/2 day sale)

    If anyone is interested, www.steepandcheap.com has STOIC brand products on sale for 2.5 days only. They have 150 weight Merino wool shirts (with and without zippers) on sale, also Merino wool bottoms. These are seasonal close outs and sizes/colors are very limited. BTW, to find it, go to the...
  13. Melensdad

    5 backpacking lessons we can learn from the Military

    The US military has extensively studied carrying heavy loads, long distances, by foot and there are some lessons that backpackers and hikers can learn from their experiences. From BACKPACKER magazine I offer up this article because I think there are some very pertenant points...
  14. Melensdad

    Merino Wool ~ YES, it is worth the high price + its "stink free"

    I've only been wearing 100% Merino Wool shirts & fleeces for the past couple of years. Back in the late 70's/early 80's I had lots of itchy/heavy wool that I wore out in the field and I think tha past experience with heavy wool is why I favored the modern synthetics for many years. But...
  15. Melensdad

    Paying household bills while on the Camino

    We've taken several 30 day trips away from home, each time I just prepay the recurring monthly bills. But looking at a 45-ish day trip to walk the CF, not sure that pre-paying bills before departure is the smart way to do things. How do you pay your household bills while you are on the Camino...
  16. Melensdad

    How many rest days did you take & where did you take them?

    Just curious, but if you ended up taking rest days: Did you take it/them because you were worn out -or had blisters/injury/etc and needed a day off for health reasons? Did you take it/them in specific cities so you could do 'tourist stuff' and see the city? Did you plan them in advance (like on...
  17. Melensdad

    St Oswald's Way ~following the 7th century King/Saint in Northumberland

    Has anyone walked the (relatively new) 97 mile long pilgrim/walking route in northern England called ST OSWALD'S WAY? Starting at Holy Island (Lindisfarne) in the north, and for about 1/2 of the route, St. Oswald's Way, follows the Northumberland coast adjacent to the North Sea. It turns...
  18. Melensdad

    Average walking speed & daily distance?

    Just curious if there is any "rule of thumb" on what the average distance per day covered is? And is there any rule of thumb for walking speed? We just finished the Hadrian's Wall hiking path in England, averaged about 2mph and often felt 'beaten up' just averaging 12 miles per day and some of...
  19. Melensdad

    10 rules for not upsetting EVERYONE in the Albergue... add your own

    Thought this article was pretty good. Anyone who has ever slept in a dorm setting could learn from these rules, in fact I think they should be posted at the entrance to each dorm, in all common languages, perhaps with a complimentary copy of the Rosetta Stone (the real one, not the computer...
  20. Melensdad

    Skivvy Roll: how to pack clothes for the day

    Seems like most wilderness backpackers are not pilgrims and most pilgrims are not wilderness backpackers. European backpacking is travelling city to city with a backpack. But American style backpacking is wilderness hiking into remote regions. I think both groups can learn a few tricks from...

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