- Time of past OR future Camino
- Francés x 5, Le Puy x 2, Arles, Tours, Norte, Madrid, Via de la Plata, Portuguese, Primitivo
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Amused to see there is a new App out called "Get Away From Me". Requires iOS 4.0 or later. Supposedly provides assistance when you are feeling threatened by sounding a whistle and shouting: "Help! I am being attacked!" and "Get away from me!" at your aggressor.
If you're truly nervous. Carry a loud whistle and mace. They surely must sell mace in Spain. And keep your phone handy. I'm a fit 35 year old and I carry those when I'm in big cities. I also live in the states, so I carry a pistol instead at night. But I don't think firearms are permitted for travelers in Spain. Whistle and mace are plenty effective. And GOOD PEOPLE . There seems to be a lot of them on the Camino
You are correct there. SY... But I don't think firearms are permitted for travelers in Spain. ...
YIKES!!!! Sorry MikeSass but this is scary stuff!
I agree with you though re- 'good people'. That is the one thing that will for ever stay with me after my pilgrimages!
Oh, yeah. It's a lot different here in the states. No worriesWe may be 'talking' at cross-purposes here... I was only reacting to your carrying a pistol but then I live in Europe
Those Anatolian shepards are no joke!!! I volunteer at our local animal shelter, I love dogs and am not afraid of MOST. Here at home I went toe to toe with one. It picked up my Great Dane and shook it like a toy. It was a bad scene. My Great Dane, my hound dog, and I all ended up in the hospital. While the Anatolian walked away. after a long court battle and another attack on a neighbors dog and wife, the giant dog was euthanized. I dunno why someone thought you could keep an animal like that in the suburbs. Those dogs are popular in the western US for wolf protection on ranchesOk I'll own up, I was really scared of dogs in my last walk so carried a dog dazzer thingy, mainly in fear of the Anatolian sheepdogs which in the end I managed to avoidbut I did encounter loads of stray dogs and at one stage a girl dog and her pups who just didn't like me! So out came the dazzer and... Nothing! I muttered to myself 'd*mn thing doesn't work' and waved my sticks madly whilst yelling at the dog to stay away from me....
Turns out in my utter panic I was pointing the dazzer at myself
Come on, that made you laugh didn't it?
Those Anatolian shepards are no joke!!! I volunteer at our local animal shelter, I love dogs and am not afraid of MOST. Here at home I went toe to toe with one. It picked up my Great Dane and shook it like a toy. It was a bad scene. My Great Dane, my hound dog, and I all ended up in the hospital. While the Anatolian walked away. after a long court battle and another attack on a neighbors dog and wife, the giant dog was euthanized. I dunno why someone thought you could keep an animal like that in the suburbs. Those dogs are popular in the western US for wolf protection on ranches
The CF appeared to me to be overall a very safe experience for women, though I don't blame anyone for being a bit concerned in any situation where so many people congregate. After all, people will be people. The good with the bad.
Pepper spray is good stuff. Used it as a copper. It does get a person's attention (we all got sprayed when training with the stuff). Don't spray in a headwind. Aim for the forehead, as there is a tendency to spray low, and if it does hit the forehead gravity will send it into the eyes. Don't know if legal or practical to carry on the Camino, though.
Most packs do have a whistle, but you can buy an emergency boat whistle that is larger and louder and can hang off the pack. My best advice is that if one finds oneself in a bad situation, yell and scream and blow on the whistle as loud as you can, and get out of the area ASAP, and even grab your phone and call for help or pretend to call for help. Bad guys hate unwanted attention.
That may have been the breed of dog I encountered outside of Puenta la Reina on my first Camino. I sat on the edge of the trail, and took a break while a shepard went by with his flock of sheep. He had some smaller dogs moving the sheep along, but bringing up the rear was an immense dog which must have weighed 60-70 kilos. I didn't give him much thought as he passed, but suddenly he took a quick right turn and was upon me. I was quite startled until he began licking my face and playing with me like an immense puppy. He was very strong and intimidating, but loveable. He plopped down next to me and shared some of my bocadillo while the herd and the other dogs went out of sight. A few minutes later a couple of the smaller dogs returned and barked at him at which time he lumbered off. He is behind the flock in this photo.Ok I'll own up, I was really scared of dogs in my last walk so carried a dog dazzer thingy, mainly in fear of the Anatolian sheepdogs which in the end I managed to avoidbut I did encounter loads of stray dogs and at one stage a girl dog and her pups who just didn't like me! So out came the dazzer and... Nothing! I muttered to myself 'd*mn thing doesn't work' and waved my sticks madly whilst yelling at the dog to stay away from me....
Turns out in my utter panic I was pointing the dazzer at myself
Come on, that made you laugh didn't it?
Yep. That's one Mark Lee. Well trained and well excercized those dogs make good family dogs (so I hear). Let them do what they're bred for. That one probably thinks it's a sheep, it was probably raised from a pup with the herd. But instinct comes out when a threat appears.That may have been the breed of dog I encountered outside of Puenta la Reina on my first Camino. I sat on the edge of the trail, and took a break while a shepard went by with his flock of sheep. He had some smaller dogs moving the sheep along, but bringing up the rear was an immense dog which must have weighed 60-70 kilos. I didn't give him much thought as he passed, but suddenly he took a quick right turn and was upon me. I was quite startled until he began licking my face and playing with me like an immense puppy. He was very strong and intimidating, but loveable. He plopped down next to me and shared some of my bocadillo while the herd and the other dogs went out of sight. A few minutes later a couple of the smaller dogs returned and barked at him at which time he lumbered off. He is behind the flock in this photo.
View attachment 16937
It seemed he didn't want to go back to work and wanted to stay there with myself and a few other peregrinos that had stopped. Content to lie in the shade, bum pieces of sandwiches and be given attention, ha ha.Yep. That's one Mark Lee. Well trained and well excercized those dogs make good family dogs (so I hear). Let them do what they're bred for. That one probably thinks it's a sheep, it was probably raised from a pup with the herd. But instinct comes out when a threat appears.
Great photo, Mark!That may have been the breed of dog I encountered outside of Puenta la Reina on my first Camino. I sat on the edge of the trail, and took a break while a shepard went by with his flock of sheep. He had some smaller dogs moving the sheep along, but bringing up the rear was an immense dog which must have weighed 60-70 kilos. I didn't give him much thought as he passed, but suddenly he took a quick right turn and was upon me. I was quite startled until he began licking my face and playing with me like an immense puppy. He was very strong and intimidating, but loveable. He plopped down next to me and shared some of my bocadillo while the herd and the other dogs went out of sight. A few minutes later a couple of the smaller dogs returned and barked at him at which time he lumbered off. He is behind the flock in this photo.
View attachment 16937
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