Yet another newbie!

[vagabondette]

Hello all!

I've been toying with the idea of doing the Camino for a couple years now and after watching The Way last night, I've decided I'll do it this year. I'll be starting in either early September or October, depending on current plans to go to Italy in October. If those fall through, I'll start later as I don't want to run into visa issues as I intend to stay in Europe through New Years.

My primary reason for doing the Camino is to lose weight. I've gained more than I like in the last few years and I'm too sedentary right now so it's not coming off. In 2002 I did 150km of the Alpine Pass Route through Switzerland and I lost about 10k in 2 weeks. I figure at that rate I'll be a hottie by the end of the camino! Actually, at that rate I'd be a stick woman, but you get the idea. I've been looking for another long-distance hike that can be done with a day pack and the camino seems to be a great option (when I did the APR I had a 25L bag with 2 each - socks, t-shirts, undies; 1 pants, 1 fleece, 1 rain jacket, 1 flip flops, 1 first aid kit).

But, while that is one of my primary objectives, I also recognize that I've been floundering lately and not happy with my life. I need to make some choices and I feel like I need to disconnect myself to make them. I'm hoping that if I provide the perspiration the Camino will provide the inspiration.

That's about it for a quick intro I guess. Oh, but the basics: I'm 38, F, single and from the USA though I've lived in Mexico for several years now.

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

Hi vagabondette!
I think you'll love the Camino. I walked the 300 kms from Porto to SdC last year, and only took a day back-pack + sleeping bag. If you take 2 pairs of everything, then one on, and one to be washed each night seems fine. In April they dry quickly - hang them on the line in the albergue, or even pin them on your backpack to dry while you're walking. [Take Baby Nappy Safety pins - they won't undo and you won't lose your knickers on a mountain pass!]
I didn't lose much weight, mainly due to my flab being replaced by muscle: but what the heck, just walk and enjoy.
Seven weeks to go and I start on the Via de la Plata, from Salamanca to Santiago.
Buen camino!
Stephen
http://www.calig.co.uk/camino_de_santiago.htm

 

[vagabondette]

Thanks Stephen. That's what I did during the APR and it worked well. I'd wash my clothes with myself in the shower then dry them overnight. Generally, because it's cold in the alps and it was rainy season, they didn't dry so I'd attach them to my pack during the day so I'd have something only slightly damp to change into that night. Hoping to get MUCH better weather on this walk as the weather on that one was TERRIBLE. I'd be head to toe mud (and other stuff) by the end of each day.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Hola Vagabondette - welcome to the forum. Clearly you arrive here needing no persuasion about the benefits of light weight walking! I do hope you lose weight as you desire on camino. I lose some when I'm walking. However I lose more weight from inside my head than I do from my body! From what you write I think you sense that is one of the most profound aspects of the camino. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress towards your goal.

Best wishes

John

 

[vagabondette]

Thanks for the welcome Johnnie. I am definitely of the 'less is more' mindset when it comes to hiking (though you wouldn't know that looking at the 2 (yes, two) suitcases I currently have sitting in my hotel room... :roll:

To be honest, I'll probably get to my goal weight while training for the Camino. I just need motivation to get me off of my (much too wide) buns and get moving. This should be it. I'm in the US next week and I intend to buy shoes, socks and a new backpack while I'm there so I can start training. Sucks to have to re-buy everything when I have it all in storage in another part of the US but such is life.

Cheers!

 

[Abbeydore]

Thanks for the welcome Johnnie. I am definitely of the 'less is more' mindset when it comes to hiking (though you wouldn't know that looking at the 2 (yes, two) suitcases I currently have sitting in my hotel room... :roll:

To be honest, I'll probably get to my goal weight while training for the Camino. I just need motivation to get me off of my (much too wide) buns and get moving. This should be it. I'm in the US next week and I intend to buy shoes, socks and a new backpack while I'm there so I can start training. Sucks to have to re-buy everything when I have it all in storage in another part of the US but such is life.

Cheers!

You sound very refreshing vagabondette, not just from your night walking either; love Johnnie's comment 'loosing more weight from the head'.

We leave in less than 3 weeks, yes been 'training', in the head too, my stuff is light, my head is OK, it might put on a lot of weight nearer the off-time, who knows.
My 'expensive' boots (Meindl)(4 months trainng) started giving me jip, to cut a long story went back to shop, Cotswold Outdoor, they took one look & said they would replace. I asked to be measured again, this time got measured properly with both feet together, both sitting down & standing up, crickey my left foot is bigger than my right, & it grows when you stand up - a lot!, & you can watch it/them do it too, you don't need a video to see it either. His first comment was well you shouldn't wear meindl cause your foots too 'fat'(stubby), So a new pair of boots are in the post & two plus weeks is not really long enough to get used to them or them me.......could be interesting.

 

[letendre]

Hello all!

I've been toying with the idea of doing the Camino for a couple years now and after watching The Way last night, I've decided I'll do it this year. I'll be starting in either early September or October, depending on current plans to go to Italy in October. If those fall through, I'll start later as I don't want to run into visa issues as I intend to stay in Europe through New Years.

My primary reason for doing the Camino is to lose weight. I've gained more than I like in the last few years and I'm too sedentary right now so it's not coming off. In 2002 I did 150km of the Alpine Pass Route through Switzerland and I lost about 10k in 2 weeks. I figure at that rate I'll be a hottie by the end of the camino! Actually, at that rate I'd be a stick woman, but you get the idea. I've been looking for another long-distance hike that can be done with a day pack and the camino seems to be a great option (when I did the APR I had a 25L bag with 2 each - socks, t-shirts, undies; 1 pants, 1 fleece, 1 rain jacket, 1 flip flops, 1 first aid kit).

But, while that is one of my primary objectives, I also recognize that I've been floundering lately and not happy with my life. I need to make some choices and I feel like I need to disconnect myself to make them. I'm hoping that if I provide the perspiration the Camino will provide the inspiration.

That's about it for a quick intro I guess. Oh, but the basics: I'm 38, F, single and from the USA though I've lived in Mexico for several years now.

Money : http://alaquarelle.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/how-much-should-i-allow-each-day-on-the-camino/
The most important is a light backpack : http://alaquarelle.wordpress.com/20...-what-to-bring-in-your-backpack-for-st-james/

 

[vagabondette]

Re: shoes, that's such an important thing to have discovered before hitting the trail. Glad you've gotten it straightened out. I'm about 95% sure I'll do the camino in a pair of saucony trainers. When I did the APR I wore Lowe Alpine boots and they were great but would totally be overkill for this hike. I have a pair of trail shoes but IMO they're too heavy and my trainers are much more comfey. I can easily do a 5-6 hour walk in my trainers with no problem while after 3 hours in my trail shoes my feet just ache like crazy.

The backpack will be interesting. When I did the APR I just used a camelback day pack with mesh (not padded) hip straps and no internal frame. That is in storage so I'll be buying new. Hoping to hit an attic sale while I'm in the US but if not I'll just keep it as simple as possible. Since I'll be carrying a sleeping kit of some sort it'll be bigger than last time, but not much. I wish I'd decided to do this last time I was in the US because I bought a new pack then. The size would be perfect but as I was just planning on using it for weekends away and not hiking I got what was cheapest and it doesn't fit me well enough to carry long distances.

 

[vagabondette]

Money : http://alaquarelle.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/how-much-should-i-allow-each-day-on-the-camino/
The most important is a light backpack : http://alaquarelle.wordpress.com/20...-what-to-bring-in-your-backpack-for-st-james/

Thanks. I'm not too fussed about money. I'm naturally a budget traveler and this is part of a long 4-month trip so if I spend more on the camino I'll cut back elsewhere. Plus, I'll be earning while I'm walking so it'll be fine.