Boiling socks...

[hel&scott]

Well it's more like a slow simmer... As I have a few days before I go I thought I'd take a closer look at my hi tech Camino socks. Washing en-route is never enough to get them clean, so they went through a number of vigorous machine cycles before being packed away waiting for their next outing. On taking a closer inspection I decided that they still looked pretty dire so have them simmering away in a pot to get out some of the deep ingrained trail dust (yes I checked the care instructions first). I am onto my third change of water and it is still turning black, it is not the dye, it's Camino dust. Well wait and see what the machine cycle achieves. Not really sure why I am bothering as when I hit the trail they will soon be back into their dusty feral selves, bit like me.

 

[Kanga]

I don't usually wear socks with my sandals, and I have a similar problem with my feet! Last camino it took several hours of soaking in the thermal pools in Ourense before I felt that my feet were really clean. And that was in spite of serious application of soap and water each night. Mind you, the sunburn lines were also quite impressive.

 

[Icacos]

As long as you boil them in your own pots ......

 

[nycwalking]

As long as you boil them in your own pots ......

Amen.

 

[hel&scott]

I don't usually wear socks with my sandals, and I have a similar problem with my feet! Last camino it took several hours of soaking in the thermal pools in Ourense before I felt that my feet were really clean. And that was in spite of serious application of soap and water each night. Mind you, the sunburn lines were also quite impressive.

Yeah, I comit the fashion sin of socks and sandles on the Camino, as I grease my feet to prevent blisters I need the socks to help ward of grit.

My socks are now drying and actually stretch, I forgot they could do this, and whoa is that orange and white chevrons, who knew they had chevrons.

Bring on the Ourense hot pools, oh no damn, I was trying to keep the thermal delights of the Vdlp under wraps... No, no, this is not a pleasure cruise this is a way hard forced march well beyond pilgrims abilities.

 

[hel&scott]

As long as you boil them in your own pots ......

I am now scrubbing my pot, it's the one I only use for dying stuff and sterilising the tools used for pig ringing, so I think both my socks and taste buds are safe.

 

[Anamiri]

Mine were the same, I came home from the Camino, soaked and washed my socks and discovered that they were actually blue. By the time I walked to Santiago both pairs were a uniform grey.

 

[DebR]

I don't usually wear socks with my sandals, and I have a similar problem with my feet! Last camino it took several hours of soaking in the thermal pools in Ourense before I felt that my feet were really clean. And that was in spite of serious application of soap and water each night. Mind you, the sunburn lines were also quite impressive.

Oh, those thermal pools in Ourense! Totally worth a night’s stopover en route to Madrid!
This was my feet at the end of a hot - and ambitious - walk from Ribadiso de Carretera to Lavacolla last year. Felt like I was carrying all the topsoil of Galicia that day!

 

[Jeff Crawley]

If you want to see how effective your hand washing technique is try this. Wear a pair of new socks, hand wash, dry and wear again over two or three days. Then give the socks a good long soak in Oxi action/Vanish (whatever they sell in your locale) and see how filthy the water is - yeuk!

 

[Davey Boyd]

I only boiled my socks once.
While I was wearing them.
Walking across the Meseta in 40 degrees in hiking boots.
Didn't do my socks (or my feet) much good to be honest.

Davey

 

[Icacos]

Yeah, I comit the fashion sin of socks and sandles on the Camino, as I grease my feet to prevent blisters I need the socks to help ward of grit.

My socks are now drying and actually stretch, I forgot they could do this, and whoa is that orange and white chevrons, who knew they had chevrons.

Hang on a sec here @hel&scott. You admit to the fashion sin of wearing socks and sandals, and you say you have retrieved the original orange and white chevrons of your socks ... and I gather the plan is to wear them again!!! My dearly departed mother-in-law always said that the British, unlike other nationalities, hold their eccentrics in high esteem. I love the British, and I hold you in high esteem.

 

[lt56ny]

Why don’t you just buy new socks??????

 

[Icacos]

Why don’t you just buy new socks??????

Why??? I'm guessing because they're camino gear. Like old friends.

 

[lt56ny]

I guess I can’t a

Why??? I'm guessing because they're camino gear. Like old friends.

I guess you can’t argue with that!!!!!

 

[hel&scott]

Hang on a sec here @hel&scott. You admit to the fashion sin of wearing socks and sandals, and you say you have retrieved the original orange and white chevrons of your socks ... and I gather the plan is to wear them again!!! My dearly departed mother-in-law always said that the British, unlike other nationalities, hold their eccentrics in high esteem. I love the British, and I hold you in high esteem.

Despite my fashion spence and parsimony, I am not British, it's a long way from old blightey to NZ. I do admit to being eccentric, it's more polite then mad. My socks have only done about 3000kms on the Camino/s so there is plenty of go in them for one more.

 

[Icacos]

Despite my fashion spence and parsimony, I am not British, it's a long way from old blightey to NZ. I do admit to being eccentric, it's more polite then mad. My socks have only done about 3000kms on the Camino/s so there is plenty of go in them for one more.

I didn't mean to imply that you were British; I know you are from down under. I was merely adopting the British embrace of their eccentrics, for this situation. As you say yourself, it is more polite to say someone is eccentric than to say he is mad. I'm an eccentric myself - some might say I am mad - but life is so much more interesting that way, isn't it?

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Despite my fashion spence and parsimony, I am not British, it's a long way from old blightey to NZ. I do admit to being eccentric, it's more polite then mad. My socks have only done about 3000kms on the Camino/s so there is plenty of go in them for one more.

3000kms? Mmm it probably is about time you gave 'em a wash then

Goodnight and Good Luck to you all.