What is Cana Verde Medianas?Once you start out, if you are in Spain, many of us will mail any items identified as surplus to needs, or just too damn heavy, to Ivar in Santiago. He operates a very convenient “warehouse” where he holds all manner of things shipped or mailed to him to hold.
About the only thing I cannot recall seeing in six years, is a shrink-wrapped spouse... just sayin...
Alternatively, if you have a hotel reservation at Santiago (you should BTW), you could contact them to ask if they will accept and hold a parcel for your arrival. I have never been refused.
Finally, if the item is of low value, or a consumable item, consider donating it at the nearest Albergue.
Assess, adapt, overcome...
We ALL have packed and carried too much at some point in our collective Camino experiences. It is sort of the “original sin” of the Camino. I suspect it is anxiety about the unknown and inexperience that causes overpacking.
With experience, you will learn too. The forum can help you avoid some of these packing issues. But, in the end, most all of us end up lightening our load. There is no shame to self second-guessing...
I have personally dumped the entire contents of my rucksack on the post office floor in a Pamplona to hold a field-tear down and repack. On my first few Caminos, I mailed so many Cana Verde Medianas to Ivar that he jokingly gave me his Camino Idiot’s discount. We are talking like one box a week for a month. I guess I was a slow learner..,
Hope this helps.
I think that he meant Caja Verde Medianas. Medium size green box that Correos sells.What is Cana Verde Medianas?
My thoughts are that you should reduce your stuff ! It is hard to be more specific unless you tell us what you are taking. We can certainly help you reduce your list, if you post it. How heavy is it, and what are you comfortable carrying for a few hours?Well I have packed my bag with all the essentials and will start walking from Irun in the middle of June. I am a little worried as my 36 l pack is stuffed full and is quite heavy and I won't be able to walk with it as I planned. Any thoughts?
Me too. In fact I had to buy some things, like body lotion, after walking a few days the first time. I thought that my sunscreen would be moisturizing enough, but multiple 30°+C days said otherwise.I did, thanks to good advice on the forum.)
Thanks it really does!Once you start out, if you are in Spain, many of us will mail any items identified as surplus to needs, or just too damn heavy, to Ivar in Santiago. He operates a very convenient “warehouse” where he holds all manner of things shipped or mailed to him to hold.
About the only thing I cannot recall seeing in six years, is a shrink-wrapped spouse... just sayin...
Alternatively, if you have a hotel reservation at Santiago (you should BTW), you could contact them to ask if they will accept and hold a parcel for your arrival. I have never been refused.
Finally, if the item is of low value, or a consumable item, consider donating it at the nearest Albergue.
Assess, adapt, overcome...
We ALL have packed and carried too much at some point in our collective Camino experiences. It is sort of the “original sin” of the Camino. I suspect it is anxiety about the unknown and inexperience that causes overpacking.
With experience, you will learn too. The forum can help you avoid some of these packing issues. But, in the end, most all of us end up lightening our load. There is no shame to self second-guessing...
I have personally dumped the entire contents of my rucksack on the post office floor in a Pamplona to hold a field-tear down and repack. On my first few Caminos, I mailed so many Cana Verde Medianas to Ivar that he jokingly gave me his Camino Idiot’s discount. We are talking like one box a week for a month. I guess I was a slow learner..,
Hope this helps.
I started with 9 kilos in hondarribia. Walked to orio and posted 2 kilos to ivar. Then walked to san vicente and posted another 2kgs. My pack weighs 1.8 kilos. Next time i would carry a lighter pack and less stuff again. In the end i walked in the one set of clothes every day and just washed them out each night. When i opened the packs i sent to ivar i had to laugh at myself for including the extra weight. Definitely wouldnt worry about anything u can get from a chemist coz they are everywhere. I wore Hoka shoes (lightweight sturdy trainers). Im from Australia. Next time i would prepare a pack of post camino clothes/gear and send to ivar once in spain (the reason my pack was so heavy).Well I have packed my bag with all the essentials and will start walking from Irun in the middle of June. I am a little worried as my 36 l pack is stuffed full and is quite heavy and I won't be able to walk with it as I planned. Any thoughts?
Well I have packed my bag with all the essentials and will start walking from Irun in the middle of June. I am a little worried as my 36 l pack is stuffed full and is quite heavy and I won't be able to walk with it as I planned. Any thoughts?
What is Cana Verde Medianas?
I started with 9 kilos in hondarribia. Walked to orio and posted 2 kilos to ivar. Then walked to san vicente and posted another 2kgs. My pack weighs 1.8 kilos. Next time i would carry a lighter pack and less stuff again. In the end i walked in the one set of clothes every day and just washed them out each night. When i opened the packs i sent to ivar i had to laugh at myself for including the extra weight. Definitely wouldnt worry about anything u can get from a chemist coz they are everywhere. I wore Hoka shoes (lightweight sturdy trainers). Im from Australia. Next time i would prepare a pack of post camino clothes/gear and send to ivar once in spain (the reason my pack was so heavy).
I think that he meant Caja Verde Medianas. Medium size green box that Correos sells.
I second @Dladders advice to take sufficient water and refill at every waterstop, for every camino except possibly the Frances. The problem with water is that: 1. You need it; 2. It is very heavy to carry; 3. There is a tendency to not weigh it and include it when planning the pack weight; 4. On many camino routes, the supply of water is irregular and sometimes unreliable. Fuentes (public water fountains) marked on a map may be dried up, not potable, or diverted by the locals to some other use. 5. It is. to some extent, a seasonal need. Walking in June, you will need lots of water but the supply may be unexpectedly limited. Don't get caught short.Take two litres of water (one for emergencies) and fill up at every single waterstop. You can also fill up at bars and cafe’s.
I feel like an expert now! I have never had to ship anything but if I ever do....!!!!Caja Verde refers to the “family” of corrugated boxes the Correos sells for you to ship your stuff in. These boxes have a folding and tape seal system, although I find a little extra shipping tape comes in handy. My kit always includes a small remainder of a small roll of the clear 2” wide tape.
Mediana refers to the size. It is about the size of a man’s large shoe box (smaller than a hiking boot box). It will hold most anything you need to ship.
Hope this helps.
I also used a filter in my one litre bottle as Sri king from fountains was a worry maybe it should not have been but I could also drink from streams as needed that way too. 1ltr is 1kgI second @Dladders advice to take sufficient water and refill at every waterstop, for every camino except possibly the Frances. The problem with water is that: 1. You need it; 2. It is very heavy to carry; 3. There is a tendency to not weigh it and include it when planning the pack weight; 4. On many camino routes, the supply of water is irregular and sometimes unreliable. Fuentes (public water fountains) marked on a map may be dried up, not potable, or diverted by the locals to some other use. 5. It is. to some extent, a seasonal need. Walking in June, you will need lots of water but the supply may be unexpectedly limited. Don't get caught short.
I carry a paper of water purification tablets from the Red Cross in my kit. It weights very little and ensures that I can drink water from questionable sources. But I have never done so yet.I also used a filter in my one litre bottle as Sri king from fountains was a worry maybe it should not have been but I could also drink from streams as needed that way too. 1ltr is 1kg
Hmmmm purification tablets I am not so keen on. In an emergency maybe but I think (I may be wrong) that it’s effectively a poison of some concentration of chlorine or other. I filtered every drop I drank and the weight was a limited additional burden. I took Imodium too but never used it. I hope the carbon filter was god enough. Spain is a European nation so I suspect all the water is very clean. Springs can be contaminated and streams too all by accident so. But hey. I wouldn’t use purification tablets, you still want the bits of crud out of the water and as many bugs as possible.I carry a paper of water purification tablets from the Red Cross in my kit. It weights very little and ensures that I can drink water from questionable sources. But I have never done so yet.