Hi Maggie do you have a list of the accommodation where you attend? Also could you PM me your packing list? Sounds like a great walk in winter. Buen Camino Sharon
Hi Sharon
We don't have a lsit of our accommodation - we jsut stopped when we wanted for the evening without planning ahead and asked at bars. We got some ideas from our
John Brierley guidebook. In Santiago we stayed at the delightful Costa Vella family run little hotel.
Here's my packing list (sorry, I can't remember how to send a PM)
Cheers
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We walked in the winter in Spain (starting December 27) and October-November in Italy. Summer might require cooler clothes, eg no headband or gloves and short sleeves. But if you are walking in winter, be aware that it was a mild winter in Europe and we did not get temperatures much below freezing in Spain in December January, in a more normal winter you might need more warmth (we sent on our thick thermals).
When you walk, you warm up, even in winter, so light clothing is good. I mostly walked just in a fine wool long sleeved t-shirt. My husband used hi-tech synthetic fabric in a long sleeved walking shirt.
In general terms, choose everything small, lightweight wherever possible.
Minimise weight doing things like clip nails before leaving and buy clippers en route and then throw them away. (I know it sounds extreme, but a few days in you’ll understand what I’m talking about).
There are plenty of grocery shops and pharmacies to buy common items eg vaselina, compeed, tissues, nurofen (ibuprofen)
You don’t absolutely need a guidebook, but
John Brierley’s was an invaluable and interesting companion along the way. I highly recommend it.
You will need to personally carry some of the “Theirs” items if you are walking alone. We were able to share them. Water weighs 1 kg per litre.
We sent on and gave away some things after we had been walking a few days. You don’t need much. Life is so simple and a light pack makes for a happy walker. It is so common that Post Offices stock what they call Pilgrim Boxes in various sizes: you send on to Post Restante in Santiago and pck up there. (I can’t remember the exact address). But how much easier to be disciplined before you even leave.
I washed every night, usually just socks and sometimes tops.
For long periods we wore one set of clothes for day and one for evening. This minimises washing. This worked well for cool /cold weather.
When you pack, put the heavy things at the bottom (eg sleeping bag) so your hips carry the weight.
I carried:
Hers
Aarn Featherlite 35 litre Freedom backpack
Sleeping bag
Silk long johns and top (for pyjamas and occasional extra warmth), 1 set (NZNature Co brand, bought mail order)
Ultra fine merino wool (Hedrena brand):
- single weight slacks, 2 pairs (I have now changed to Nike walking pants)
- undies, 2 pairs (cotton is very slow to dry, use merino or synthetic)
Ultra fine merino wool (Kathmandu brand, but I think Icebreaker from Paddy Pallin would be just as good):
- Long sleeved t-shirts, 2
Bridgedale wool hiking socks, 4 pairs (I wore two pairs each day, changed at lunchtime, washed them at night)
Anklet stocking sox, 2 pairs
Elastic knee support for a dodgy knee, 1 (two would have been good, worn on both knees)
1 bra
1 small polyester pretty scarf, when I wanted to look nicer some evenings (we stayed a a few nice hotels and Paradors along the way when we couldn’t find cheap accommodation or felt like a treat)
1 pair small earrings, worn all the time
Reading glasses and lightweight case
Sunglasses (not used)
Headlamp
Polar Fleece headband
Sleeveless Polar Fleece shell
Goretex 2 layer jacket
Goretex waterproof caving gloves
Akubra hat
Waterproof breathable overpants
Short gaiters
2 Trekking poles
Very light shoe horn
Randonnee Proof leather hiking boots
Running shoes (only used in the evening, to give my feet a rest)
In small containers (I have since heard of people usisng ziplock mini-sandwich bags, probably a good option):
- Moisturiser
- Face cleanser
- All purpose detergent (mostly you use the soap from where you are staying to wash your clothes so you don’t need much – one sachet)
Small toothbrush
Small microfibre towel (I regretted not taking a medium sized one)
Tissues
Cotton buds
1 tiny, thin washcloth
2 nappy (diaper) pins
Sponge bag (drawstring plastic bag to hold bathroom items)
Deodorant
Nurofen
Antihistamine
Vaseline
lip salve
tweezers
emery board
notebook and ballpoint pen
Small digital camera
In an inside pocket of my jacket
- emergency money
- one credit card
- info on bank accounts
- credit card cancellation info
- list of credit cards carried
- travel insurance info
- flight info
He carried:
His
Aarn 35 litre Featherlite Freedom backpack and 2 balance packs
Sleeping bag
Travel pillow
Chargers for Ipod, MP3 player, camera, 3G phone (+ Garmin gps in Italy, not needed in Spain)
Device to download photos from camera to Ipod
Adaptor plug
Swiss army knife
Sports watch with alarm, stopwatch, compass
Randonee Proof Leather hiking boots
Running shoes and bag
Running socks
Goretex 2 layer jacket
Some pharmaceuticals
Polar Fleece headband
Goretex waterproof caving gloves
Document carrier with:
- passports
- credencials
- credit cards
- money
- list of flights and accommodation
- pen
Headlight
Glasses and lens cloth
Sunglasses and case
Medium size microfibre towel
Silk handkerchief
Small toothbrush
Razor and replaceable blades
Hi tech clothes:
- 2 pr undies
- 4 pr Coolmax socks
- 2 pr Coolmax sock liners
- 1 pr trousers
- 1 pr calf length shorts
- 2 shirts
Polypropylene thermal undershirt and long johns
Polar fleece sleeveless shell
Waterproof breathable overpants
Short gaiters
Akubra hat
1 Trekking pole (in Italy 2)
We split this: (he carried 3kg more weight, mostly water, so used balance packs in front)
Theirs
Collapsible 2.5 litre water bottle (Platypus brand)
Hotel sewing kit
Twisted elastic travel clothesline
Half a tube of child size toothpaste
Bandaids and Compeeds
Antibiotic cream
Anti-diarrhoea medicine
Anti-cramping medicine
Gel heel inserts in case of heel spurs
Food for the day , usually including chocolate, bread, cheese, wine
2 forks, knives, spoons (Paddy Pallin stocks very light ones, brand I think Sea to Summit)
John Brierley guide book
