Chris Melbourne
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- May 2016
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Walking after sundown? In summer? On the Frances? Then let's add to the "please don'ts" please don't walk super long days that have you walking into albergues after the others are alraeady asleep. In fact, if you do that, all you will manage is not finding a bed.Don't forget, though, that you might also need a torch if, for whatever reason, you're still walking after sundown.
I wouldn't recommend walking in darkness along the Camino. If you want to rise early to greet the sunrise, you'll have a good hour of daylight before the sun rises. Also, if you are in shared accommodation, other peregrinos do not like (a) to be disturbed by an early riser and (b) being awakened by a head torch shining in their eyes. If you intend being up and out early, be mindful of your fellow peregrinos./Hi there. I'm starting my first Camino from Pamplona on May 17th. I'm early riser and will probably need ta head torch for the first hours walking.
Can any one suggest a good head torch that is bright enough, light enough and not too expensive?
So please do your camino my way, so that I can be happy.
I have a lanyard with three items attached that I wear pretty much non-stop except in the shower. The first item is my mini-Swiss Army knife (16 grams). The second item is a whistle (7 grams). The third is a red LED micro light (9 grams). This final item is great for navigating the albergue at night and solves the problem of timed lights.You do however need one to go to the washroom ... even in daylight. Often the lights are on a timer and there is no way to activate them when your pants are around your ankles and you have a hank of soiled paper in hand. No aid the sun if there are no windows.
If you use it to navigate around the bunks in the albergue in the wee hours, put your hand over the light and allow only a few beams of light to escape between your fingers. It shouldn't be on your head when used this way.
Lets take it as read that its not safe for any pilgrim to disturb others in their slumber and you wouldn't otherwise need one to walk.
You do however need one to go to the washroom ... even in daylight. Often the lights are on a timer and there is no way to activate them when your pants are around your ankles and you have a hank of soiled paper in hand. No aid the sun if there are no windows.
If you use it to navigate around the bunks in the albergue in the wee hours, put your hand over the light and allow only a few beams of light to escape between your fingers. It shouldn't be on your head when used this way. Consider it a game where you don't want to be found out to be 'the noober that wakes everyone'
ROFL!I always laugh when people mention the lights going out "mid way"---I have decided recently that as long as the door is locked, I can usually find the paper and my backside in total darkness!
On Camino now and the headlamps tendChris, enjoy your Camino BUT if you plan to sleep in shared accommodation you will soon find that early leavers are classed alongside snorers. The noise an early leaver makes and the light cast from their head torch wakes other Pilgrims so you may learn some "new" words and phrases.
The second thing to consider is why travel to Spain and not see the lovely scenery beyond the narrow torch beam? The Camino isn't a race, slow down and enjoy the experience.
Someone more cleaver than myself described "an albergue full of headlamps being like drunken lighthouse operators". My very first night was a room well-lit by a pilgrim reading by headlight. The reflective light kept most of us awake. I gave my headlamp away in Larasona. I use a small, waterproof light that wraps and connects to itself, blinks and has a red light. I handhold it flashing in early morning traffic, or connect it to the chest strap for guidance. The Tikka was a great light and I have replaced it for camping . Please be considerate in albergues. We all need sleep...... Ultreya......... Willy/Utah/USAMine is a ThorFire cap light: rather than strapping it to your head, you clip it onto the peak of your cap. Weighs 50gr plus the weight of three AAA batteries.
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