My times on the Camino de Santiago
A new and worthwhile link for you.
To improve how we pack, the guys at the following site have talked with 21 experienced pilgrims and asked them to share their best advice on kit and packing.
Read on and learn from their best tips and tricks.
https://mightygoods.com/camino-de-santiago-hikers-packing/
There are literally hundreds of videos on YouTube about the Camino de Santiago, from the very well made to the hastily put together. Each and everyone of them tells their own story. I think YouTube is a great source for information for those reading up on the Camino, as well as blogs and forums. So I would encourage any future pilgrim with a few hours to spare to spend time there.
That being said, I would recommend the below set of videos. Andrew Suzuki has recently walked from St Jean Pied de Port to Finistere and he has put together a very slick set of clips with some great advice. He has described this series as a “users guide to the Camino de Santiago”. I think he has managed to fit everything in, including the blisters 🙂 There are also some great pieces of advice from people he walked with. The series is also an extension to his own documentary “Beyond The Way” and if you are Facebook-inclined, you can find out more about here.
I pretty much have had the same pack since 2012 when I walked from Leon to Sarria but over the last few years I have made a few changes. Anyway, this list (link below) is where I am at the moment. The advantage of arriving early in St Jean (compared to arriving late in Leon and Logrono) is I can buy a few supplies.
Feel free to offer critique, either in the comments or on the spreadsheet.
So one of the downsides of postponing any trip is it gives you leeway to change or rejig what you are packing. Well, I’ve just gone and bought a rain jacket to add to my pack. So, out with the poncho and in with the rain jacket. The debate over rain gear on the camino (I’m not going to even start linking to these articles!) has been going on for years and for the last few years, I have swore by my poncho. This time I’m going to ditch it. I reckon the Marmot Precip is a good buy. It is breathable, lightweight and is pretty waterproof. All I need to do is give it a test run. I promise to leave my rest of my list as it is!! (although I said that before I bought the Precip!). I am the worst when it comes to gadgets however, so don’t be surprised if I bring more than my iPhone and charger.
I’ve started to get in some kms over the last week. I try and get in 10km during the weekend and maybe 5km each working day. Not running. I don’t think I’ll ever run..not sure why? I hope to do a long distance walk (maybe 2) before I go..there are a few trails along the west coast I want to take in.
I have also been quietly reading up on the Camino Portuguese for the future. One of my blog followers has just completed her Camino from Lisbon to Santiago and she gave some great tips that I will take note of. I don’t think I will start in Lisbon though, but Porto. You can read the blog here from day one. Another follower, Natasha Murtagh has started from Porto with her father and are both making their way to Santiago. You can read their story on natashamurtagh.wordpress.com. Natasha and her father have previously walked the French Way a number of years ago (I think it was 2011?) and wrote a very successful book called “Buen Camino!”.
