8 more weeks before we go !!!

[Dutchwalk53]

so...we got all our gear, shoes are broken in and I got my custom made insoles (I have super high arches) , backpacks picked out, got bed bug spray to treat pack and sleeping bag liner, started longer walks (10 miles) once a week with 15 lbs pack, and 4 shorter ones every week ( 4 miles) , booked some hostels (just in the bigger towns as anchor stops).....ANY last tips what I can do these last 8 weeks to be as prepped as one can be????? I keep thinking I forgot something simple .... my personal biggest concerns are still my feet and knees.
We (me and my 20 year old son) are leaving for Pamplona May 23rd and will walk from Pamplona to Burgos and then from Leon to Santiago.
SOOOO excited to get started

 

[Con Palos]

Eight weeks, that's a lot of sleeps

Buen Camino

 

[Damien Reynolds]

Hablas espanol? Your physical plan sounds great... just keep it up and maybe increase the intensity a little each week for the next 6 and then sort of rest, but on the physical side that regimen probably puts you in the high side of the spectrum of things as far as preparedness... But do you speak any Spanish? In 8 weeks you could probably learn enough to allow you to at least speak some with the locals (employing gestures and body language)...

 

[Dutchwalk53]

Hablas espanol? Your physical plan sounds great... just keep it up and maybe increase the intensity a little each week for the next 6 and then sort of rest, but on the physical side that regimen probably puts you in the high side of the spectrum of things as far as preparedness... But do you speak any Spanish? In 8 weeks you could probably learn enough to allow you to at least speak some with the locals (employing gestures and body language)...

Thanks Damien. As far as the Spanish goes I will manage. I lived in Europe for 33 years .

Hablas espanol? Your physical plan sounds great... just keep it up and maybe increase the intensity a little each week for the next 6 and then sort of rest, but on the physical side that regimen probably puts you in the high side of the spectrum of things as far as preparedness... But do you speak any Spanish? In 8 weeks you could probably learn enough to allow you to at least speak some with the locals (employing gestures and body language)...

Thanks Damien. It's great to hear from an experienced walker like you that I am on the right track physically. I will indeed "up it" a bit the next few weeks....Living in Florida means ...no hills...so I was thinking about walking on a threat mill with an incline a few times a week. As far as Spanish goes...I lived for 33 years in Europe and the language barrier is something I grew up with and will manage. Thanks again for the advise

 

[Damien Reynolds]

Hey Dutch - I should have figured that out based on your name I guess... I was just trying to come up with something simple that might be overlooked by a typical American who has never stepped foot in Europe.... like I was before my first time there... have a great time...

BTW - I myself did my first Camino from Leon to Santiago with my mother. I was 31, she was 55. It was a great bonding experience and something I highly recommend for any family member. I learned quick on the camino what family means, unrelenting loyalty, etc. I always knew, as we both struggled, that we had each other's backs completely. We came back and my mother was my best friend.

 

[Dutchwalk53]

Hey Dutch - I should have figured that out based on your name I guess... I was just trying to come up with something simple that might be overlooked by a typical American who has never stepped foot in Europe.... like I was before my first time there... have a great time...

BTW - I myself did my first Camino from Leon to Santiago with my mother. I was 31, she was 55. It was a great bonding experience and something I highly recommend for any family member. I learned quick on the camino what family means, unrelenting loyalty, etc. I always knew, as we both struggled, that we had each other's backs completely. We came back and my mother was my best friend.

Wow that is SO great to hear. I will turn 53 the day we arrive in Santiago (hence my name ) and all my 3 kids wanted to join me. However only the my 20 year old son who is still in college had 5 weeks time to take off for it. Can't wait to spend the time with him ! We agreed we would still make it our own experience but will always sleep in the same hostels and towns.....but may end up walking some hours here and there without each other. Maybe !!!! Who knows how we end up doing it all And yes I understand how you would think the language is an overlooked issue if you have never been to Europe.

 

[Dutchwalk53]

Hey Dutch - I should have figured that out based on your name I guess... I was just trying to come up with something simple that might be overlooked by a typical American who has never stepped foot in Europe.... like I was before my first time there... have a great time...

BTW - I myself did my first Camino from Leon to Santiago with my mother. I was 31, she was 55. It was a great bonding experience and something I highly recommend for any family member. I learned quick on the camino what family means, unrelenting loyalty, etc. I always knew, as we both struggled, that we had each other's backs completely. We came back and my mother was my best friend.

Wow that is SO great to hear. I will turn 53 the day we arrive in Santiago (hence my name ) and all my 3 kids wanted to join me. However only the my 20 year old son who is still in college had 5 weeks time to take off for it. Can't wait to spend the time with him ! We agreed we would still make it our own experience but will always sleep in the same hostels and towns.....but may end up walking some hours here and there without each other. Maybe !!!! Who knows how we end up doing it all And yes I understand how you would think the language is an overlooked issue if you have never been to Europe.

 

[Ness]

so...we got all our gear, shoes are broken in and I got my custom made insoles (I have super high arches) , backpacks picked out, got bed bug spray to treat pack and sleeping bag liner, started longer walks (10 miles) once a week with 15 lbs pack, and 4 shorter ones every week ( 4 miles) , booked some hostels (just in the bigger towns as anchor stops).....ANY last tips what I can do these last 8 weeks to be as prepped as one can be????? I keep thinking I forgot something simple .... my personal biggest concerns are still my feet and knees.
We (me and my 20 year old son) are leaving for Pamplona May 23rd and will walk from Pamplona to Burgos and then from Leon to Santiago.
SOOOO excited to get started

I wish you a very buen camino and offer you one caution about your insoles; make sure you break them in properly. On my first Camino, I was wearing my 2 month old orthotics. I had been instructed to slowly build up my tolerance for them but had probably only worn them for about three or four hours a day instead of building up to eight hours. Big mistake! I had no problems for over a week, but then with no warning my arches gave out and I was in extreme pain, unable to walk and reduced to crawling around the albergue. The next morning I had to buy regular inserts for my shoes and pack away the orthotics. I hobbled onward for the next few days and then was fine.

 

[Rajy62]

.... my personal biggest concerns are still my feet and knees.
We (me and my 20 year old son) are leaving for Pamplona May 23rd and will walk from Pamplona to Burgos and then from Leon to Santiago.
SOOOO excited to get started

Training in gear and on terrain is key for your feet/knee. Why not gradually increase the walking distance/frequency to about what you would do in the Camino, 20-25km/day.
If you have any rolling hills nearby, it would maximize your preparation. If you are going to use trekking poles, also use them in your training. 8 weeks is a good training period.

 

[JLC]

so...we got all our gear, shoes are broken in and I got my custom made insoles (I have super high arches) , backpacks picked out, got bed bug spray to treat pack and sleeping bag liner, started longer walks (10 miles) once a week with 15 lbs pack, and 4 shorter ones every week ( 4 miles) , booked some hostels (just in the bigger towns as anchor stops).....ANY last tips what I can do these last 8 weeks to be as prepped as one can be????? I keep thinking I forgot something simple .... my personal biggest concerns are still my feet and knees.
We (me and my 20 year old son) are leaving for Pamplona May 23rd and will walk from Pamplona to Burgos and then from Leon to Santiago.
SOOOO excited to get started

I like to run long distances as a hobby (marathons and half marathons), so I try to take care of my feet all the time. I'm preparing for my camino in May 18 starting from SJPDP. during the week, I run almost everyday exept on Fridays. I usually do 3 to 5 miles run during the week, rest Friday, then Saturday and Sunday I walk with my bag pack at least 12 to 15 miles a day. I like to use Vaseline every time on my feet, a lot of it. Since I started using it blisters desapear completely. Of course, I use running socks, my favorites Asics! I use them to run and to walk with my boots. This inexpensive trick have helped me a lot, hope it work for you too. Buen camino