First time walker!

[Wayfarer1]

Hi, I'm a first time walker of the trail, all the way from NZ! I'm very excited, but, as it seems with a lot of the first time posts on here, also overwhelmed with the thought. I've loved reading people's advise and suggestions, it's been very reassuring for this first timer.
I do have a couple of questions though, regarding water, how easily accessible is it on the trail, and what containers have people found the most useful?
My second question is for those who combine the trail with other travel. I'm starting in Nice, then travelling down to Sahagun to begin the trail, then after I'm traveling down to Portugal. I've heard it is possible to have extra luggage transported to an end point, for example from Sahagun to Santiago, does anyone have a reliable way they've done this?

Thank you, I appreciate all your advice!
Wayfarer rat

 

[trecile]

I do have a couple of questions though, regarding water, how easily accessible is it on the trail, and what containers have people found the most useful?

There are lots of places to refill water, from public fountains on the trail to shops and bars in the towns. How you carry it is up to personal preference. Some people prefer bottles, others hydration bladders.

My second question is for those who combine the trail with other travel. I'm starting in Nice, then travelling down to Sahagun to begin the trail, then after I'm traveling down to Portugal. I've heard it is possible to have extra luggage transported to an end point, for example from Sahagun to Santiago, does anyone have a reliable way they've done this?

You can mail your extra things via the Spanish post office Correos. You can mail to another post office or the main office in Santiago.

Send luggage along the Camino de Santiago

With Correos you can send your luggage to any point on the Camino de Santiago with the Paq Peregrino.

www.elcaminoconcorreos.com

Or you can mail to @ivar

Send your luggage to Santiago, we will store it for you (2024)

Send your luggage to me in Santiago de Compostela

casaivar.com

 

[henrythedog]

Hi, I'm a first time walker of the trail, all the way from NZ! I'm very excited, but, as it seems with a lot of the first time posts on here, also overwhelmed with the thought. I've loved reading people's advise and suggestions, it's been very reassuring for this first timer.
I do have a couple of questions though, regarding water, how easily accessible is it on the trail, and what containers have people found the most useful?
My second question is for those who combine the trail with other travel. I'm starting in Nice, then travelling down to Sahagun to begin the trail, then after I'm traveling down to Portugal. I've heard it is possible to have extra luggage transported to an end point, for example from Sahagun to Santiago, does anyone have a reliable way they've done this?

Thank you, I appreciate all your advice!
Wayfarer rat

There is potable water pretty much everywhere. As well as Fuentes you’ll find that your accommodation and any bar or cafe you stop at will fill your containers. The bottles vs bladder discussion has been rehearsed on here often and the conclusion is always ‘whatever you prefer’.

You can send luggage within Spain from spring to autumn very easily. A simple (and reliable) option is via correos to Ivar in Santiago.

The means of doing that is easily found on here, just do a bit of searching or wait a moment and someone with no pressing engagements (it’s a bit full in this pub) will point you in the right direction.

(A few moments later: Trecile’s reply above is correct)

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Welcome @Wayfarer. The forum has a search feature accessible by the magnifying glass icon. I clicked that and entered water and ticked the box that indicates that the search should find threads with the word(s) in the title. You can play around a bit later but this link will show you the results I got:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/search/3184608/?q=water&c[title_only]=1&o=date

 

[pepi]

Welcome! We missed the friendly Kiwies in the past years,

 

[Wayfarer1]

Welcome! We missed the friendly Kiwies in the past years,

Thank you! We've missed coming over!!!

 

[Delphinoula]

NZ is on my bucket list. So I have no idea how your water taste like, but I guess I do not lean myself too far out of the window it will be different in Spain France Portugal as well as a diet change untill you adjust to it you may encounter maybe some change with your digestive system, may I say the D word? Good hand hygiene charcoal tablets black tea and yogurt may help. Water bladder, collapsing bottle folding bottle, but I seem not to be able to walk and drink at the same time, but that is more likely a me problem. Get youself a soda in a sturdy bottle maybe 2 and then get a a contraption that closes like a bottle cap with a long straw , so you can have the bottle on the outside of you backpack but can drink without having to take it off
it worked well for me . But try it out at home to see if this would work for you.

 

[Wayfarer1]

Thanks for the straw advice! Yes, it does taste very different, nothing bad, but yes, different. Thankfully I've visited Spain a couple of times, so the diet changes are something I'm aware of as well. I always take things to help with the dreaded D word, but to date I've been lucky.