I was in much better shape when I was preparing for the Camino Frances. Fear is a tremendous incentive. I have been planning all year — first the Via Podiensis in France, then Wales, then the Aragones/Primitivo, and finally the Portuguese. I had various buddies who, for many good reasons, choose other paths.
One begins any venture by checking in at the watering hole of all the caminos, the Camino Forum, where I (mistakenly) set up two accounts: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/
You can’t have too many maps. But there was no book for this caminho.
Get those feet prepped! I’ve been working on my blister taping.
Here’s my favorite site:
BLISTER TAPING
https://www.blisterprevention.com.au/blister-blog/taping-for-blister-prevention/
Prep and Packing
24 SL Deuter backpack and rain cover
Shoes:
- Northface trail runners (1.5 sizes larger since feet swell)
- insoles (these made the difference on the Camino Frances)
- Xeno sandles for walking around town and in the shower. I absolutely love them
- For feet: tincture of benzoin, fixomul tape cut into shape, compeed, needle and thread, scissors, some body glide stuff
Clothes
- Sunglasses
- Two sets of reading glasses (bought at the Dollar store)
- Montbell sun block hiking umbrella
- one old hiking pole
- 2 Yellow Triangle running safety reflector lights (for road walking)
- Tiny shrill whistle
- Scarf (warmth, cover when I sit, extra towel)
- Blue light jacket
- Short black vest
- Purple Rain adventure skirt
- Grey Lulu skirt
- Short sleeve T (I wore on Camino & put away for long walks only)
- Blue short sleeve shirt
- Black thin silk long sleeve (lent by Victoria) for night
- Short black tights for after time
- 3 socks/3 fine liners, 2 underwear, one bra
Hygiene
(repacked most things in plastic bags, used smallest travel item)
Small sunscreen, lip balm, tiny brush, small antibacterial
For the shower – shampoo/ lite bar, piece of luffa, camping towel, plastic razor
Baking soda/cornstarch deodorant, Thai tooth powder, toothbrush, floss, toilet paper and dark doggie bag for “leave no trace” (there are no public toilets in Spain)
First aid – prescription med, ibuprofen (2 after every day of walking), imodium, magnesium spray,3 bandaids, antibacterial, bleeding powder,
Laundry – piece of Fels Naptha, safety pins in a small bag
Credit card, debit, passport, credential, Euros in hidden pouch
Misc: small black bag, headlight, padlock, cellphone and charger, pen and notebook,
Food/supplements
Ginseng, kelp, trail nuts, spork,