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WoW, quite varying advice….. we did the Norte in 2018. In decent sized towns (about a third of our nights were spent in sizeable towns) there will be an open bar at 7. We ate breakfast with police, other workers getting off for their day. Not the case in rural or isolated albergues, but all will...
It does add an extra day. Lugo Friol, Friol Sobrado, Sobrado Arzua, Arzua Pedrouzo, Pedrouzo SDC. Slightly shorter days as you end, but lots of opportunities to spend time with other peregrinos! Buen camino
Hi @alwalker . Looking forward to reading how you are doing. We want to do this next Spring. Please share resource sites. So far, most sites are old and under construction. How did you do for accommodation in Sicily?
Hi JWST,
It really depends on your plans for food. If you picnic a lot and have a water bladder, it is useful to have a drinking device that is not in your pack. I use a small plastic water bottle usually picked up on my flight to the departure location. A cup is good at a fountain.
Rather...
Hi @Marge666 ,
I did the Primitivo in 2019 in September. It was wonderful. To answer your question about difficulty, the stages in the above response are about as short as you can do. And as you can see, the Hospitales stage Is 23 km. It also has the highest total elevation gain and drop of any...
I may have a weird walking movement, but I always collect pebbles and grains of sand between my feet and the soles of the sandals. I need to stop at least once a km and sometimes more often. Even on asphalt, I seem to collect whatever is loose. I only saw one post mentioning that. Do you sandal...
Low-cost airlines have weird airports. Right now, RyanAir flights out of Paris go mostly from Beauvais, which is not at all easy to get to. So coming from NA, using low cost has two disadvantages: they are not available for one-ticket connecting flights (RyanAir, EasyJet, etc) and they usually...
Uncomfortable ladders…. As I walk with my better half, she gets the bottom bunk - just basic chivalry. Which usually was ok. I do get up once in the night. But if its a metal bunk bed with tubular rungs (usually about 2.5 cm or 1 inch in diameter), the ladder was torture. I love a wooden ladder...
I totally agree. And they have strapping material. And sewing machines that can do this kind of material. And they totally understand how the fabric and loads work. And not expensive. But only if you are needing to carry it later. If you do transport, you’ve got lots of advice for that.
The...
Your attitude after ending this year’s Camino is inspiring. It’s a posture I try to have after each Camino. We never know which one will be our last. Gratitude!
To free up some space in your pack, getting clothes dense is a good way. There are lots of videos on YouTube about this - here is one - Packing tightly
Good for you if you can do it in the small pack. I do tend to carry a bit of food for emergencies (like one day when all cafés and food sources...
Hi there,
you have an excellent list to begin with. I agree with everyone who mentioned the buff- rather than the scarf. Merino wool buff so it wont smell.
You do need backup footwear so your shoes can dry. I agree with the super light options. Not necessary to love them, but, in my case, after...
I have done Norte completely and Primitivo. Neither in summer months but both in warm months - May and September. 1.5 litres in a 2litre bladder was good for me except on the longest days when I took 2 litres. Didn‘t fill it during the stage. Emptied the bladder several times but certainly not...
Does anyone have the specs on the no longer available Costco blanket? Weight, type of down, down weight, etc.? To help orient my search as this has been a popular and successful piece of gear.
I see the Monbell blankets are 650 type down.
Buen Camino
We too were confused in 2018 by the stipulation that cameras and filming were not permitted and then the number of people doing it. Including the privileged people inside the cordoned off area who participated in the mass, who were filming the swinging of the botafumeiro. And our neighbour in...
Tte Valcarlos route peaks at just above 1000m. The napoleon route peaks above 1400m. SJPP is slighty below 300m. So elevation gain is very similar as the Valcarlos route has some downward sections before peaking. It is less exposed for much of the route. But it is subject to wind at the peak at...
This is sad to hear. Twice we have risen in the night to do the last 20 or so km and arrive in the morning in SDC. Some friends stopped in this albergue and we went out and had a meal with them there in the restaurant. Everything was very good. Had planned to stop there on the next trek. Hope it...
Thank you for this wonderful series of posts. It was great to walk with you.
Some of the things you left out remain a mystery to me. Expanding on the Napolitanas would be great. I had to google them to find our what they were. I usually get a croissant with my coffee and just swallow whatever...
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