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  1. JenCamino

    What is Your Comfortable Pack Weight? / Gear Advice?

    You've already got a great pack weight, and have obviously spent a lot of time considering your items. I walked with a 10lb pack, and one of the things that caused me to change a few items was practicing walking with the pack and the gear. If you've never walked with a pack before, I think this...
  2. JenCamino

    Quietest Camino

    That's amazing to me, based on my experience there this past sumner, but maybe it might have to do with particular pinch point locations or certain times or "surges" or travellers?? I walked it for most of June (yeah, I took my time), but never had a problem with beds. I didn't often stop at the...
  3. JenCamino

    Quietest Camino

    I did the Primitivo, which was quiet enough for me, but got really overwhelmed when it hit the Frances. So I cut across to the Ingles, and then came down the end of the Ingles into Santiago. Worked really well. Didn't see anyone else by doing that. :)
  4. JenCamino

    Overthinking my Camino Experience!

    THIS. I too traveled my Camino in hopes of answering the question of what to do with my life, and when I got back home I felt a little disappointed that I never had that "big moment" in which the truth was revealed. BUT... I took a few more days walking trip in my home country afterwards, kind...
  5. JenCamino

    July Pilgrims: Anyone Ever Walked In Stockings?

    Yep, I wore tights (thicker and stronger than pantyhose) with knee-length skirts on my Camino in July. I guess they did work as sun protection, now that I think of it, because I didn't use any sunscreen on my legs, and got no tan/burn on them. I used the tights mainly as a protection from ticks...
  6. JenCamino

    considering canceling my trip :(

    THIS seems significant to me. I walked with my cousin, and we were both facing similar "huge neon NOT OK signs" in our lives (mine with my career, her with her family). She mostly used her Camino as a way to "escape" her problems/home stress for a while. I walked my Camino as a "prayer" or...
  7. JenCamino

    How to deal with dogs?

    Most dogs I encountered while walking in Spain and France were quite friendly, however I did run into "iffy" situations three times. I had read to swing your pole slowly and rhythmically back and forth in front of your body, between you and the dog, while keeping your face towards the dog. I...
  8. JenCamino

    Food and snacks to carry along....

    I did the Primitivo, and sometimes places to eat were few and far between. Twice, the *only* bar listed in the area was inexplicably closed. Plus, several times, I arrived at a bar/restaurant/grocery at the "wrong time" to get food. In those cases, I was glad to be carrying snacks with me. I...
  9. JenCamino

    Solar charger: Game changer or wasted space?

    I took a small rechargable power pack with me and used it nearly every day. I had no trouble finding outlets in the hotels/albergues at night, but I used my phone to take all my photos... and to take notes about places... and to check maps... and to look up historical stuff on the internet as I...
  10. JenCamino

    Is it worth taking a foldable bowl? Link in description.

    THIS. Taking like 6 sturdy Ziploc bags of various sizes weighs nearly nothing, and you'd be surprised how handy they are!! I like the thicker, "freezer" kind (over, say, the "sandwich" kind), because you can wash them and reuse them many times before they will break. Some examples of use...
  11. JenCamino

    Is it worth taking a foldable bowl? Link in description.

    I bought a similar-looking foldable silicone cup that I had planned to take with me, and use for drinks and oatmeal, but trying it out at home, I found that I basically could not touch/hold it when it had anything hot in it. o_O So I ended up not taking it. Instead, I used my water bottle for...
  12. JenCamino

    Training schedule for the busy

    I agree with those who have mentioned the importance of footwear and pack weight. They will make HUGE differences. I agree, even more than being "fit enough." I would check your shoes on at least a couple long walks here and there before you go (I know you don't have the time to dedicate to...
  13. JenCamino

    My only Camino souvenir

    I liked those too--took a photo of one in the Catro Ventos Bar in Barbeitos. :) So your 13-year old bought it for you and shipped it home for you? Wow!
  14. JenCamino

    Running Tights & Leggings

    I totally did this!! I only packed tank tops, and then packed home-made nylon arm warmers. Perfect versatility!! In combination with a pashmina scarf, the arm warmers kept me warm on cool days (I didn't pack a coat-- it was June/July). Plus, they didn't get sweaty like a long sleeved shirt...
  15. JenCamino

    Running Tights & Leggings

    I wore "tights" with skirts during my whole Camino this past summer. In my book, there are three more reasons besides thigh chafing to wear "tights" (ie thick nylon stockings) while doing the Camino: ticks, blisters, and convenience. These nylon, footed-type, of leggings beat "running...
  16. JenCamino

    Do Your Knees Hurt When Hiking Downhill?

    I used to have severe knee issues, which gave me a lot of pain and weakness, to the point of my knee collapsing if I moved the wrong way. Then my 20s I learned tai chi, which is basically the alignment and muscle-building suggested in the article. That helped quite a bit. I had to train my knee...
  17. JenCamino

    Alternative to Modern-Day Backpack?

    Does it need to be "historical" or just any alternative? This July, I saw an elderly man on the Camino with a type of little cart with a long pole attached, that he pulled after him. Almost like a small bike trailer.
  18. JenCamino

    Perfectionism and the Camino experience

    Glad you are enjoying your new adventure with less planning. For some people, especially those who over-plan, this is indeed good medicine!! :) For others, for whom getting off-track might be a nightmare, ;) may I suggest one way to mitigate this issue: never "max out" on your daily km in your...
  19. JenCamino

    Perfectionism and the Camino experience

    For my Camino Primitivo this July, I planned like crazy, 21 days of pre-booked accommodations, nearly 1000 "pins" on my map, about the same number of training hours... all worked out great! I enjoyed the planning stages, "walking" portions of the trail on google street view, finding alternate...
  20. JenCamino

    Leaving in 2 weeks and final packing question....

    I took nylon arm warmers on my Camino, and no long sleeved shirts at all. I did go in July, so it might not be what you need in October, idk, but I just wanted to say that I found them so great and practical that I now carry them with me all the time on hikes and around town at home. Like Mike...

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