Creative Camino moments?

[Brian E]

As I prepare to depart in two weeks from SJPP I feel ready and prepared for the most part. Then it hit me last night i have no poncho or rain cover for my pack. So my MacGyver skills kicked in and noticed a box of large trash bags in my garage. So, two quick slits for the straps and i now have a perfectly lightweight and functional rain cover. Not going to lie...I was pretty proud of myself.

So as the excitement builds would love to hear any stories in the meantime about any impromtu moments, adjustments, or creative uses or things people discovered and found useful?

 

[Purky]

My DIY skills kicked in when the tightning strap between my right shoulder strap and the pack itself ripped off completely while on the road. Big bummer, because that meant that my pack swayed weirdly and put undue pressure on the left strap and shoulder. Fortunately I had some superglue and I MacGyvered the hell out of this problem by rerouting the ripped strap backwards through another buckle, using superglue, leukotape and all the three-dimensional insight I could muster. The thing actually held and functioned for another 150 km, untill I could buy another pack in Limoges. I was quite impressed, myself.

 

[RJM]

I always have at least one heavy duty trash bin liner/bag with me in my backpack. One big enough to use as a waterproof bag for my clothes, or a pack cover or even a waterproof pullover/poncho for my torso. They're inexpensive, roll up small and weight negligible and I suppose in a real emergency could save your life.
Another good thing to carry is nylon para-cord, or as they say in America 550 cord. About 10 metres worth would serve well and rolls up small and light. It can be used for a multiple of things like shoe/bootlaces, clothing line, backpack repair or even use to cinch on the expedient rain cover you made with a trash bin liner.

 

[kdespot]

Right here on the forum I learned the easy trick for making gaiters... Those thin plastic bags that the newspaper arrives in on rainy days (the old fashioned paper variety) with the sealed end opened up can be slipped up to the knees and over boots and held in place with a rubber band at the top, just under the knee. Not a fashion statement for sure, but cheap, easy, disposable and oh so effective! I wore mine with shorts in Sept-Oct and my Camino sister still laughs about them today.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

the tightning strap between my right shoulder strap and the pack itself ripped off completely

The typical French or Spanish shoemaker will stitch almost anything for a Euro or two! Back in the day when Pilgrims were held in high regard, they probably would have done it for free (I got a free thirty seconds on the sewing machine by a shoe repair shop in France).

 

[Purky]

The typical French or Spanish shoemaker will stitch almost anything for a Euro or two! Back in the day when Pilgrims were held in high regard, they probably would have done it for free (I got a free thirty seconds on the sewing machine by a shoe repair shop in France).

I know, that worked well for a tent once! But my pack was from 1993, battered and well-worn, and the tearing of that strap was the last convulsion I was going to accept. Buckles were getting brittle too, so it was time for a new one. I gave the old one a dignified farewell though, it had seen and been through a lot...

 

[trecile]

Another good thing to carry is nylon para-cord, or as they say in America 550 cord

Hmm, I'm American and I've never heard of it being called 550 cord.

 

[RJM]

Hmm, I'm American and I've never heard of it being called 550 cord.

I guess I should have been more specific. American military calls it 550 cord.
Sorry.