Paul Corrin
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Sarria-Santiago (2017)
Santiago-Muxia-Fisterra (2017)
Porto-Santiago (2018)
Ferrol-Santiago (2019
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Tried to be safe, can only think it was mud etc from over-shoes.
Walked the Ingles during Oct.. Rained quite a lot and we were prepared for thatI used over-shoes and trainers which were used every day. On and off, maybe I got some mud, or brown stuff on my hands!? Anyway, losing weight now is not worth the extreme symptoms! A lot of Caminos are near to or on farm tracks. Many toilets are clean but try to wash hands each time (20s). Take care to use elbows to open door handles. Care with food washing. I used a water bottle with a Brita filter. My companion was fine, he drank from my water bottle in the lid. Tried to be safe, can only think it was mud etc from over-shoes. Take care, this parasitic live in companion has to be reported by Dr to Envionment Agency. Takes 4 weeks to move on. The human body is a marvellous thing! Buen Camino!!
I bought the overshoes online. Designed for motorcyclists I believe they have a rubber, slightly treaded sole. Your whole foot with trainers on slips into and on top of the sole from the back zip of the uppers. The uppers are made of waterproof black Gortex type material. Waterproof zip up the back from heel to the top of calfs. The top also has an elastic over fastening band secured with Velcro. It was a risk not taking any other shoes but light trainers and these overshoes. It did rain A LOT, and I never had a problem with wet trainers at evening meal or next day. My companion said they looked like wellies, but who cares when it’s pouring down. The thinking behind these was provoked by seeing people trying to use black bin bags over boots on previous Caminos. However, as with all waterproof material, when you are walking in ponchos for hours the condensation buildup is considerable, but not as bad as Spanish rain.I'm curious about the overshoe you wore. Can you please describe it? Thanks, Steve
Yes, 4 weeks of boredom interspersed with episodes of extreme diarrhoeaOops! I misread your post as Cryptozoology, not as exciting as I expected.
I am putting together a quick and dirty guide about water treatment options for suspect water sources for a separate thread.
Good advice, speaking from much experience traveling 3rd world and having had everything from Typhoid to...unmentionable diseases.The Brita filter does not remove parasites or pathogens; it is solely limited to various mineral and chemical reductions like chlorine. There are extremely lightweight and highly effective backpacking water filters which take care of parasites and most or all pathogens. And there are also the old chemical stand-by drops and tablets which have a high rate of effectiveness.
I always carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer in a hip belt pocket. Prior to eating, drinking or touching my face, I will use it. After toileting as well. I never rely on hand washing, alone, in public facilities as much of the time, once hands are washed, you end up using your hands to touch contaminated door knobs or handles to get out of the bathroom. So even after hand washing, once outside I am using the hand sanitizer.
Just bought a Purewell collapsible water bottle. Has a good filter system. 1000L filter life. Reasonable price on Amazon UK.I used a Steripen usb model for many years collecting water out in remote parts of Scotland. General advice was 'if you cant see a dead sheep upstream of you it will probably be ok'.
Trouble is you never know if the Steripen is working effectively until it doesn't and you feel a bit odd waving a blue light about in your water bottle. I convinced myself that it only works stirred clockwise never widdershins.
Never had a problem so assumed it worked. Changed to an MSR Trailshot which is a bit more of a faff as you have to pump the water and does require maintenance of the filter.
If bottle water is available stick to that.
I've never had a problem with tap water on the Camino. I fill up at the albergue/pension/hostal, and rarely at the public fountains.I only drink bottled water on my Camino's. That said, I do carry a life straw just in case. I also keep one in my truck at home. They are inexpensive and light weight.
rouble is you never know if the Steripen is working effectively until it doesn't
Whenever I order a Fanta or Coke mid day if I'm thirsty...the colder, the better. I always ask for ice in a glass, then pour the pop over it. The ice cubes look perfectly formed like from a factory. Is this OK or am I possibly setting myself up for an infection eventually? So far, so good on five caminos. I also fill my own water bottle, but only with potable water.
Don't worry about the ice or the water! Spain is not a third world country. The water system is very good. What @Paul Corrin experienced is a very rare occurrence.Whenever I order a Fanta or Coke mid day if I'm thirsty...the colder, the better. I always ask for ice in a glass, then pour the pop over it. The ice cubes look perfectly formed like from a factory. Is this OK or am I possibly setting myself up for an infection eventually? So far, so good on five caminos. I also fill my own water bottle, but only with potable water.
Whenever I order a Fanta or Coke mid day if I'm thirsty...the colder, the better. I always ask for ice in a glass, then pour the pop over it. The ice cubes look perfectly formed like from a factory. Is this OK or am I possibly setting myself up for an infection eventually? So far, so good on five caminos. I also fill my own water bottle, but only with potable water.
As @trecile says the tap water in Spain should be fine. However we still prefer to drink bottled water and avoid ice as an extra precaution. It is part of our background not a reflection on Spain. We use a Berkefeld filter at home - gravity feed but otherwise similar to the Katadyn filter.Whenever I order a Fanta or Coke mid day if I'm thirsty...the colder, the better. I always ask for ice in a glass, then pour the pop over it. The ice cubes look perfectly formed like from a factory. Is this OK or am I possibly setting myself up for an infection eventually? So far, so good on five caminos. I also fill my own water bottle, but only with potable water.
Yes, I have never had a problem either with tap water. I put it down to the torrential rain making the mud etc easy to get on hands, toilet door handles etc. There are so many sources of cryptosporidium, my post was just to advise people to be carefulI've never had a problem with tap water on the Camino. I fill up at the albergue/pension/hostal, and rarely at the public fountains.
I hope that people reading this thread don't get the impression that water in Spain isn't safe to drink, because overall it is very safe.
I've never had a problem with tap water on the Camino. I fill up at the albergue/pension/hostal, and rarely at the public fountains.
I hope that people reading this thread don't get the impression that water in Spain isn't safe to drink, because overall it is very safe.
Yes, I agree, the general water supply is fine, especially in towns. But, walking a Camino, rural (poor), farm tracks, animals close by. Cafes, bars with toilets used non-stop by pilgrims walking, sometimes in distressed condition! The general point I am making is to be very careful! I have 5 certificates, this was my first encounter with cryptosporidium. If this thread has helped one person avoid it, I am happy.No worries. Spain is not Mexico or some third world country. Its water is as safe as any in France, Germany, Switzerland, or the US.
Yes, I agree, the general water supply is fine, especially in towns. But, walking a Camino, rural (poor), farm tracks, animals close by. Cafes, bars with toilets used non-stop by pilgrims walking, sometimes in distressed condition! The general point I am making is to be very careful! I have 5 certificates, this was my first encounter with cryptosporidium. If this thread has helped one person avoid it, I am happy.Buen Camino
Is this an oxy moron.Water in Spain is safe. However, I prefer to use boiled water where I can.
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