I fly Sept 1. Been training for two full months. Increases had plateaued. Then I added walking poles and the mileage increase almost immediately. Recovery was easier as well due to the rediuced hip load day to day, Even the bank teller was offering unsolicited advice about being a tourist in Spain. It never ends
That's an excellent topic you brought up. If you've never used walking poles before - definitely practice with them ahead of the camino. And now the unsolicited advice if you're flying in: walking poles must go in checked luggage. I carried my backpack into the plane cabin as hand luggage so I couldn't bring poles. I bought my hiking staff in France. Many pilgrims buy their poles in Spain or France and when they reach Santiago they abandon them or ship them home. I mailed mine. Cost about 30 Euros. It's getting very close to when you begin. Buen Camino!
Catholics can follow a Mass in any language. I agree with you - not necessary to attend if you’re not Catholic. But pilgrim’s blessing is a bonus and open to all. Do the tour buses have a preference for the most comfortable hotels?
I enjoyed evening service with the sisters in the tiny town of Rabe de las Calzadas, near Burgos, all in Spanish but they spoke slow enough for me to follow. In a very plain room, like a classroom, so not at all like the church in Roncesvalles. The pilgrim blessing including a little necklace to keep us safe. Also not necessary to attend, but this one was so peaceful.
Rule No.1 of yours: September ‘23, I met a 75 year old German lady who had walked Camino Francés every year since 2001. When I met her, she was walking her second 2023 Camino. She was blind. Yes, anyone can walk the Camino!
Wow! I love hear stories like that on the Camino. But again that goes to what I'm saying - a pilgrim must be physically and mentally strong. The strength and determination this woman has to walk the Camino every year - and last year twice! I don't have that in me!
I agree with most of your comments. However, not the headlamp! If you are walking in summer it is bright but 6.30 and your eyes adapt to the early morning light. However, the biggest curse of headlamps (selfish) users who turn them on in the dorm at 5.00am. I train more to snag list the adjustments on my backpack and to cull the ‘just in case’ items. A great down to earth and sensible video. I am sure it will be of great help to many first time pilgrims.
Thank you for watching! I walked from Sept 20 to Oct 27 last year and the sun didn't come up until around 8:30am. I usually got going around 7:30 each morning so I needed the headlamp for a short time each morning. I never used it inside the albergues, but I saw those annoying people who did. Including the woman on the bunk above me who was leaving at 4am in the pitch dark. But she was using her light to look for her socks and bra. She couldn't find one sock and her bra because it was inside my sleeping bag for being my victim of pilgrim justice on something else she did to piss me off!
I fly Sept 1. Been training for two full months. Increases had plateaued. Then I added walking poles and the mileage increase almost immediately. Recovery was easier as well due to the rediuced hip load day to day, Even the bank teller was offering unsolicited advice about being a tourist in Spain. It never ends
That's an excellent topic you brought up. If you've never used walking poles before - definitely practice with them ahead of the camino.
And now the unsolicited advice if you're flying in: walking poles must go in checked luggage. I carried my backpack into the plane cabin as hand luggage so I couldn't bring poles. I bought my hiking staff in France. Many pilgrims buy their poles in Spain or France and when they reach Santiago they abandon them or ship them home. I mailed mine. Cost about 30 Euros. It's getting very close to when you begin. Buen Camino!
Catholics can follow a Mass in any language. I agree with you - not necessary to attend if you’re not Catholic. But pilgrim’s blessing is a bonus and open to all. Do the tour buses have a preference for the most comfortable hotels?
I enjoyed evening service with the sisters in the tiny town of Rabe de las Calzadas, near Burgos, all in Spanish but they spoke slow enough for me to follow. In a very plain room, like a classroom, so not at all like the church in Roncesvalles. The pilgrim blessing including a little necklace to keep us safe. Also not necessary to attend, but this one was so peaceful.
Rule No.1 of yours: September ‘23, I met a 75 year old German lady who had walked Camino Francés every year since 2001. When I met her, she was walking her second 2023 Camino.
She was blind.
Yes, anyone can walk the Camino!
Wow! I love hear stories like that on the Camino. But again that goes to what I'm saying - a pilgrim must be physically and mentally strong. The strength and determination this woman has to walk the Camino every year - and last year twice! I don't have that in me!
I agree with most of your comments. However, not the headlamp! If you are walking in summer it is bright but 6.30 and your eyes adapt to the early morning light. However, the biggest curse of headlamps (selfish) users who turn them on in the dorm at 5.00am. I train more to snag list the adjustments on my backpack and to cull the ‘just in case’ items. A great down to earth and sensible video. I am sure it will be of great help to many first time pilgrims.
Thank you for watching! I walked from Sept 20 to Oct 27 last year and the sun didn't come up until around 8:30am. I usually got going around 7:30 each morning so I needed the headlamp for a short time each morning. I never used it inside the albergues, but I saw those annoying people who did. Including the woman on the bunk above me who was leaving at 4am in the pitch dark. But she was using her light to look for her socks and bra. She couldn't find one sock and her bra because it was inside my sleeping bag for being my victim of pilgrim justice on something else she did to piss me off!
Def need a headlamp. 😅
Yup, especially since it doesn't get light outside until around 8:30 in October.