I am all packed for departure tomorrow...YIPPEE!
At the last moment I decided not to obsess with compressing everything into the 35-liter French rucksack I was considering. I ended up going with my old friend from my three prior Caminos. The rucksack is a 48-liter Osprey Kestrel rucksack. The smaller rucksack would be more suitable to summer Caminos, OR, for use by a much smaller person. A large person, like me, has large clothing, and everything is scaled up, even when packed and compressed.
It all fits comfortably into the 48 liter rucksack.
However, this year, for the first time, my pack weight, all in, is 10 percent of my naked body weight - 245 pounds; I TOLD you I was a big guy! The rucksack completely loaded, weighs 24.5 pounds.
NOTE that this includes my "special weight penalty." Because of chronic health issues, I must carry protein dietary supplements (1.2 Kg / 2.5 pounds for 2 weeks) and my enlarged toiletry and medication sack (1.2 Kg / 2.5 pounds for 2 weeks). I will mail a two-week resupply cache from Madrid ahead to my mid-point, for the second half of my month-long Camino. Factoring in this extra 2.4 Kg or about 5 pounds, my pack is actually LESS than the mythical 10 Kg or 22 pounds!
That, given my size and weight, is a miracle! THANK YOU DougFitz for being so naggingly correct!
In each of my previous three Caminos, I have mailed stuff ahead to Ivar at Santiago. I am resolved NOT to have to do so this time...it is embarrassing and a private joke between Ivar and me...I receive his "Camino Idiot" frequent user discount... last year on a 10-day Camino from Porto, I actually shipped him FOUR boxes! One was souvenirs and end-of-Camino clothes, but WHAT WAS I THINKING?
However, each year, I make a list of what I mailed down the road to Ivar so I DO NOT bring it the next time. Still, and proving Einstein's maxim about insanity (repeating the same experiment in the hopes of a different outcome...) I somehow manage to do it again and again. But, this time, I scrubbed each item for multiple uses, and used my dietary scale to weigh EVERY item in grams and ounces. IT DOES ADD UP FOLKS! I think the result is as light as I can make it, practically speaking. We shall see when I do my after-action, after-Camino evaluation, as I do each year.
Here is a photo of my rucksack BEFORE the laundry bag, and again AFTER the laundry bag...picture worth one thousand words...
NOTE the presence and visibility of the DESTINATION tags, both on the rucksack proper, and the outer laundry bag. I use heavy duty rubber bands to fasten the luggage tags. This way they will give if caught on something.
After tying the laundry bag closed, I tucked the excess cordage into the tiny hole remaining.
As always, I hope this helps.