Our fellow travellers ...

[JabbaPapa]

Seems that it's no longer just on the Camino that these "fellows" can be encountered :

https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/04/18/inenglish/1524040242_186620.html

 

[Anamiri]

I often wonder about the bag transfer companies, lots of bags in close contact in the back of a van

 

[IngridF]

I often wonder about the bag transfer companies, lots of bags in close contact in the back of a van

I've thought about this too... Bedbugs on a world tour. .." ah this is a french one, let me go and see..ooh lala..but here we have Germany, Australia... etc etc "... happy chinchas travelers.

 

[Glenshiro]

The last bedbug that bit me had to check in to the Betty Ford clinic.

 

[naplesdon]

They don't bite me b/c I maintain a higher than normal BAC.

 

[Lucy Keenan]

Great. More posts on bedbugs! Tell me before I step on that plane, is it worth spraying my rucsac?

 

[peterhore]

What’s BAC?

 

[Rosemaryk1]

Blood alcohol content

 

[Fluffy]

Great. More posts on bedbugs! Tell me before I step on that plane, is it worth spraying my rucsac?

Hate them

 

[mjal]

The baggage transfer services are a source of concern.
We sprayed our luggage with Permethrin before the Frances in May 2017 (and again in June when we returned to walk the stages we failed to cycle in May...technical troubles ; don't ask). On returning home, we carried out the somewhat obsessive routine of dumping everything in the garage before carefully bringing anything into the house ; we had no infestation.
Via de la Plata in less than 3 weeks time ; no bag transfers and not using albergues so perhaps less risk. I must check the level in the spray...

 

[Lucy Keenan]

The baggage transfer services are a source of concern.
We sprayed our luggage with Permethrin before the Frances in May 2017 (and again in June when we returned to walk the stages we failed to cycle in May...technical troubles ; don't ask). On returning home, we carried out the somewhat obsessive routine of dumping everything in the garage before carefully bringing anything into the house ; we had no infestation.
Via de la Plata in less than 3 weeks time ; no bag transfers and not using albergues so perhaps less risk. I must check the level in the spray...

I have all this no thought on my last 2 caminos. Didn't luggage transfer. But I'm going to get some spray tomorrow. Thanks.

 

[Limon]

We just sprayed our bags, sleeping bags and liners with Permethrin, It's supposed to last for about 6 weeks (or 8 washes). A few years back, when we were in Andalucia and Morocco, I was bitten. Not pleasant. I'm also carrying a small can of DEET for mosquitoes. My wife is lucky, she never gets bitten. Me? Since I quit smoking 14 years ago, I've become a magnet for all small parasitic creatures.

 

[GlennP]

We just sprayed our bags, sleeping bags and liners with Permethrin, It's supposed to last for about 6 weeks (or 8 washes). A few years back, when we were in Andalucia and Morocco, I was bitten. Not pleasant. I'm also carrying a small can of DEET for mosquitoes. My wife is lucky, she never gets bitten. Me? Since I quit smoking 14 years ago, I've become a magnet for all small parasitic creatures.

FYI. EWG.org says this: When infused into clothing, permethrin can deter mosquitos from landing and prevent bites by Aedes aegypti. However, CDC officials said that recent tests in Puerto Rico indicated that permethrin “probably isn’t effective” in the current pandemic, so they dropped a plan to distribute permethrin-treated clothing. The chemical’s effectiveness declines after washing. If you want to try it, buy clothing pre-treated at the factory. Don’t treat your own clothing with liquid permethrin.

 

[Limon]

FYI. EWG.org says this: When infused into clothing, permethrin can deter mosquitos from landing and prevent bites by Aedes aegypti. However, CDC officials said that recent tests in Puerto Rico indicated that permethrin “probably isn’t effective” in the current pandemic, so they dropped a plan to distribute permethrin-treated clothing. The chemical’s effectiveness declines after washing. If you want to try it, buy clothing pre-treated at the factory. Don’t treat your own clothing with liquid permethrin.

This is good advice. It's probably not a good idea to treat clothes with permethrin as the chemical's efficacy diminishes after repeated washing. (Just the pack and sleeping bags, liners, ect., should suffice)