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  1. Northern Laurie

    Skirts and wool leggings

    I wore the Makabi skirt - loved it! Its quite long, but can be cinched into a short skirt. I had the skirt, a pair of convertible pants, a pair of leggings, and a very large scarf I could use as a wrap skirt/pillow case/privacy screen/scarf. This combination worked extremely well for me as I...
  2. Northern Laurie

    Were the pilgrim tips or packing list from books useful?

    I read a selection of different pilgrims books as well as this forum. Most of them repeated the same information and yes, it was generally useful. The most important message that was clearly transmitted was “keep the weight down”and “you don’t need as much as you think you do”. Some ideas on...
  3. Northern Laurie

    Does having a half-full pack affect the weight distribution in a pack?

    I used a 68l pack with exterior compression straps and one inadvertently genius move: a travel cube I was worried about load distribution, so I bought a light weight packing cube about 4”x12”x16” (100mm x 300mm x 400mm). All my clothes went inside. It made packing and unpacking a breeze- I...
  4. Northern Laurie

    Sweating using pack with contact back suspension

    I can’t speak to those models specifically, but mine did get sweaty, but not smelly. Or at least not that I ever noticed-fellow pilgrims may beg to differ. The only word of advice is if you happen to be walking a coastal route and. Feel compelled to put your pack down on a sandy beach, don’t...
  5. Northern Laurie

    Useful Items from the Dollarstore to take with ? On a budget

    I got a hand-me-down backpack, but65L size... super comfy but on the big side. So my dollar store purchases: -two packing cubes(rectangular bags for packing clothes). Made for brilliant mornings and nights cuz nothing fell to the bottom of the back pack. -toothbrush -mini ziplocks for pills...
  6. Northern Laurie

    Macabi skirt - which colour

    Charcoal, long and full. I did clip it up in the shorter setting about 25% of the time, usually on especially hot days. I liked the neutral colour. And I liked creating a breeze on my legs. FYI I am 5’8” for height reference.
  7. Northern Laurie

    What if I don't have a cell phone?

    I did the Norte last year. I brought my phone, ereader and DSLR camera. While holding back tears I mailed on my DSLR and ereader cuz my foot couldn’t tolerate the weight. My phone replaced both. It was my source of music between Gijon and Aviles. I used almost every night to post updates...
  8. Northern Laurie

    Sarong or quick dry towel?

    I took both. Wonderful.
  9. Northern Laurie

    4 gear questions: Keen sandals, dry sack, Euroschirm umbrella, Macabi skirt

    The pockets are amazing!!! Especially the clever passport pocket.
  10. Northern Laurie

    4 gear questions: Keen sandals, dry sack, Euroschirm umbrella, Macabi skirt

    DUCK ;) I loved my long Macabi and clipped it up into a short skirt quite often. I’m 5’9” and the standard long came down to my ankles. Sometimes I wore it low on my hips; sometimes higher. It was important to me to wear a long skirt. The waist sizing is very forgiving. Elastic plus a...
  11. Northern Laurie

    Packing List - What's missing?

    I brought two pairs of Jockey Slip Shorts-they worked as pjs and I washed them everyday. The only problem... the last 100km they kept rolling up because I’d lost fat. I prefer skirt and top combos rather than dresses-more flexibility, and the Macabi was long enough I could also use it as an...
  12. Northern Laurie

    What did you bring on the Camino that you wound up not using?

    Noooo not the Macabi ;) That was easily my favourite item of clothing, and I wore it constantly. Quick dry, comfy, quicker to convert to something shorter than pants. Could hitch it up while wading and use it as a change room. I brought a light weight thin scarf as well, roughly 3 feet...
  13. Northern Laurie

    What did you bring on the Camino that you wound up not using?

    I took some soap leaves for shampoo and laundry-didn’t work for me. I took two face cloths. Only needed one. There were things I did use but still mailed on because of weight: DSLR and assorted accoutrements; kindle; watercolour pencil crayons. Wish my feet were stronger. I bought cheap...
  14. Northern Laurie

    Pack is too large for carry-on

    @SeattleJen I used a 65L pack, and was glad - not for the capacity (I didn't use half the volume!), but for the comfort. It worked for me. If it feels good on, it will work for you. I didn't have a problem with carry on during homeward bound flights, because it was cinched up tight, but I...
  15. Northern Laurie

    Bottle vs hydropack

    @davebugg apologies - I misunderstood what was being suggested (if I'd read closer...) I feel like I should add a disclaimer: Learn from my mistakes... I didn't bring enough water a couple of times, and ended up in rough shape unnecessarily. I got cocky and comfortable after the first week...
  16. Northern Laurie

    Bottle vs hydropack

    @davebugg you may need to refill the reservoir while on the Camino - it depends on which Camino and where along the route. Not to mention how hot it is. The first day from Irun (Camino del Norte) is a minimum of 15 km (if you notice the little sign directing you to a fountain about 200m off...
  17. Northern Laurie

    A decade later; then and now

    Funny story about using a phone on silent mode... I thought I'd plugged in my headphones to listen to some music quietly without disturbing others. Turned the volume up a bit. Then realized my headphones were not fully plugged in! So much for not disturbing others. @bhavagrahidasa I can...
  18. Northern Laurie

    Less baggage for second camino Frances? (backpack stories please!)

    Thank you Kanga for keeping us on track ;) rather like herding a large (and ever increasingly larger ) group of pilgrims to a restaurant for dinner at the same time in Arzua...
  19. Northern Laurie

    Bottle vs hydropack

    Come now, not all of us ;) I used a bladder (2L), and had a mental calculation of what I thought I would need during the day. I also carried an empty 1 L water bottle in a pocket on the backpack. On the Camino del Norte, there were a number of days that had very long distances between safe...
  20. Northern Laurie

    Less baggage for second camino Frances? (backpack stories please!)

    I borrowed a huge pack (65L), and cinched it tight. I wanted to buy a new one, because this was a new adventure - but a freebie that reminded me of my family was too lovely to pass up. I saw people with super light and tiny tiny packs; people with 65L packs that were filled and overflowing...

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