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Reflections on my first Camino

HikingGeo

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
2017-Sarria to Santiago and Lires to Finisterre
I am back from my first Camino. Time only allowed for me to do Sarria to Santiago and then Lires to Fisterra. I fully realize that 81 miles is only a drop in to bucket compared to hiking the entire Camino or much longer segments. So my comments only reflect my experiences and are not necessarily applicable to longer Caminos.

1) I wish I had concentrated more on hills rather than distance during my training.
2) At 68, I definitely am not as young as I used to be!
3) My choice for hydration was perfect for me:



4) A rain jacket and rain pants, rather than a poncho, worked well for me.
5) A couple of pounds over 10% of my weight was not a disaster.
6) For us, a taxi was a better option than waiting four hours for a Sunday bus from Santiago to Sarria.
7) Iberia Express Airlines was a relatively inexpensive and efficient way to get from Madrid to Santiago.
8) Hiking shoes, rather than boots, were a good option for me for these secgments.
9) This forum was a wonderful source of information in preparing for my Camino.
10) The members of this forum have a wealth of valuable experience and knowledge to pass on to others. For that, I thank all of you.
11) Ivar does a stellar job of managing this forum.
12) The Camino was a fantastic experience!
 
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The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
The first edition came out in 2003 and has become the go-to-guide for many pilgrims over the years. It is shipping with a Pilgrim Passport (Credential) from the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
I love the title of the post.. Would you have considered it your "first" Camino before you left or did you catch the Camino bug???
 
I can't see the photo of your hydration system. What did you use?

Not sure why the first pic didn't come through. I used a Camelbak Eddy .75 L bottle with a Handsfree Eddy Adapter.


 
Looks like it still isn't showing. It does when I cut and paste.
 
Join our full-service guided tour and let us convert you into a Pampered Pilgrim!
3rd Edition. More content, training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc

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