What to pack!!

[Geoff3]

Hi all, my name is Geoff and I`m leaving on Saturday the 24th to start my first pilgrimage. I`ll be starting in St Jean on the 25th and i`m taking a tent as I like the idea of camping out and I`m on a seriously low budget too .
Would anyone be able to advise me on what the weather may be like? Im led to believe there may be snow at times. I`m just not sure what to put in my back pack realy.
I am definately leaving my phone and camera behind though.

Packing hints would be much appreciated

Kind regards
Geoff

 

[ivar]

Hi Geoff,

I think each pilgrim has their own preference of what to take, but to get an idea... here is an example of one pack list:
http://www.pilgrim-wiki.com/index.php?t ... ke_with_me

Buen camino,
Ivar

 

[santos]

isnt it to cold for a tent at this time of the year?
i was thinking of bringing mine but told not too cuz of the weather!!
should i pack it or not!!??

 

[Deleted member 397]

I'd think twice about not taking a camera-I often look back on my photos and they often jog memories of things/people/places/events that I had forgotten.

 

[Anonymous]

Agree with Omar there. I chose not to take a camera as I wanted to be 'inside it' rather than 'watching it' and apart from three photographs that were sent to me, of me, by a fellow pilgrim, I have no image record and this I now regret. I now agree, take a camera, though ... I'd not take my digital but just a disposable and when used up I'd post it home and buy another next time (sorry Omar, sure that isn't very green).

There is a whole pre-pilgrimage thing about camping but I have yet to meet a pilgrim that actually did that. I had planned to do that but chose not to take a tent (I'm SO glad!) but to sleep in the occasional church porch. I never did, apart from sleeping outside a convent by mistake (I was tired) - but, next time, now I would be more relaxed, I would sleep more on park benches, church porches - as long as I could stay fairly clean (which becomes important as you travel along) - has any of that helped? No, maybe not, just my own experiences.

 

[Deleted member 397]

The tent thing is intriguing-I'm (semi reluctantly) taking a very lightweight tent when I start from Le Puy late June not because I like camping but because I'm apprehensive about finding accommodation at the peak time in Spain. There may be accommodation available in France but I gather that pre-booking is advised which I"m not that organised or inclined to do.
I'm hoping that I may be able to camp in some of the grounds of the albergues and use the facilities-but I will see in a few months!

 

[Anonymous]

Good point (quite jealous about you going over the mountains from Le Puy in summer - I love France) - I've never seen the Camino Frances when it's high season. Would give you a lot of freedom I should think, and take you out of the frantic pre-dawn lurch to the next bed that I've read about - luxury!

 

[Deleted member 397]

Yes Br. David-I prefer a later start that many people, never understood the getting-up-at 6am-to-walk-in-the-dark people. I even got turfed out at 9am on the VDLP, how uncivilised!
I'll let you know how things turn out-still apprehensive though