Done and dusted

[Roger Deee]

Finished my first Camino yesterday and am posting to thank the Camino community for all the help and advice that made my walk successful.
I read all the threads, asked question, looked at the videos, read the packing lists and as a result had a great trip.
The only advise I didn't take was to start slowly and had to have 2 days off with shin splints. That was my fault.
Thanks a million now its time to buy that T-shirt and fridge magnet.

 

[Waka]

Congratulations on completing your camino, now it's time to start planning for the next one.

 

[Wokabaut_Meri]

Congratulations on a successful journey. Glad that the Forum proved so useful to you.

As I've said elsewhere, a warm welcome now to our Virtual Albergue where your experiences and observations can help others starting out.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Congratulations! It is hard to sort through all the advice and know what will work for you. Many pilgrims push themselves but do not get shin splints. Others get them at the drop of a hat. Even with training, it is hard to know how an individual will react to a half-marathon a day for a month! Starting slowly and building can prevent a lot of problems. However, it is hard to do. Between the enthusiasm, the goals set in planning, and the strength one feels at the beginning, it can be hard to rein oneself in!! For the benefit of others, did you use the ice pack and rest recovery technique for the shin splints?

 

[LauraK]

Congratulations! So happy to hear all of the advice was helpful. Especially glad you mentioned your problem with shin splints. It's a great reminder/warning to new pilgrims. I recently helped a friend plan her camino and did several 10 mile walks with her. Her pack weighed about 12lbs. (5.5 kg). She said she had a few more items to add....then texted me from the airport and said her pack weighed 24lbs (10.8kg)! Sure enough I got a text 4 days later that she was in pain and needed to skip sections and shorten her walking days. So tempting to just add those last minute "must have" items
!

 

[Gareth Griffith]

I too would like to thank all the people who ask the stupid questions that I didn't think to ask and got sensible answers most of the time. It helped me on my camino, especially the advice on blisters and the packing list. I was fortunate that the only thing I didn't use on my camino was my first aid kit, but I did let others use it!
The advice to take things easy was great advice and having a break at Orisson was also super advice. The next day I walked with a "well nourished" guy from Dublin and a young lady from Brazil walking with her mother, it was the first day that the Napoleon route was open and there were ferocious headwinds. Keeping to their slower pace saved me from going too far to fast.

 

[SYates]

Congratulations to your completed pilgrimage! Now the most difficult stage starts - the way home.
Buen Camino, SY

 

[Roger Deee]

Congratulations! It is hard to sort through all the advice and know what will work for you. Many pilgrims push themselves but do not get shin splints. Others get them at the drop of a hat. Even with training, it is hard to know how an individual will react to a half-marathon a day for a month! Starting slowly and building can prevent a lot of problems. However, it is hard to do. Between the enthusiasm, the goals set in planning, and the strength one feels at the beginning, it can be hard to rein oneself in!! For the benefit of others, did you use the ice pack and rest recovery technique for the shin splints?

I just rested and elevated, it worked fine, followed by a short slow day just to make sure. Then set a 30k max limit for myself. Finished strong.

 

[Mike Savage]

Congratulations Roger!

 

[wayfarer]

Congrats and well done Roger. Better start planning the next one now...

 

[Blaster]

Roger.

Now time for the next phase...

In Australia's Blue Mountains we started a group to emulate the pilgrim's Dinners last year and have been overwhelmed with 250 people attending to try to recreate the Camino experience...

Suggest you settle back home, .... find a friendly watering hole (with people that have already done the Camino) and hold a dinner for Pilgrims.... see what you get.

Have fun!

Tony and Ce

 

[Tony Bobcat]

Finished my first Camino yesterday and am posting to thank the Camino community for all the help and advice that made my walk successful.
I read all the threads, asked question, looked at the videos, read the packing lists and as a result had a great trip.
The only advise I didn't take was to start slowly and had to have 2 days off with shin splints. That was my fault.
Thanks a million now its time to buy that T-shirt and fridge magnet.

Hi Roger thanks for your honest advise which I will keep in mind, I am starting my Camino same time as yourself next year and will be taking my time. How did you find the weather,was there need for heaps of layering . cheers Tony

 

[Roger Deee]

Tony, good luck for next year.
I took 1 fleece and 1 windproof jacket for the first week or so, the Pyrenees.
As i got further west and more into june they became redundant and i dumped them, too expensive to send em home.
3 days of rain but with a poncho was still warm enough.
Roger