Cades to Cicera

Packing for the Camino is a science. You pack for necessity, you pack for weight, and some things you pack for convenience. But when you are carrying your backpack over 500 miles, your back, knees, and feet let you know that there is a fine balance between convenience and physical pain.

After every trip, we talk about what we brought that we didn’t need, what we needed and should have brought, and how we might pack differently next time. While we are on the Camino, we keep track of what we have used and what we haven’t. There are a few things I will always carry and just pray I won’t need – extra tips for my walking poles, and an extra bite valve for my water bladder. In both cases, I’ve lost them and had to go without, which was traumatic. They are worth the extra little weight. I also carry emergency toilet paper, cashews, and electrolyte packets. Bonnie carries the emergency peanut M&Ms.

I don't carry a camera, a fan, or a hairdryer due to their weight, but I’d love to have all three of them. Last night, the albergue allowed us to use their hairdryer to dry out our socks, as they didn’t dry out on the line in time before the rain started last night. I do carry a mini elastic clothesline and tiny safety pins, which we use frequently.

I carry three pairs of underwear. Today, this proved to be a great decision. I wore one pair to hike in. The pair I wore yesterday was still damp from the wash, so thankfully, I had a third clean/dry pair to put on after my shower. Now the other two are hanging on hooks near the window in our room as it is getting ready to storm outside again. It is not uncommon to see pilgrims with yesterday’s delicates pinned to the outside of their backpacks so they can continue drying.

One of the last convenience items I removed from my backpack before leaving Boise was a miniature bottle of hot sauce. Sounds silly, but it is true. While I appreciate the protein and carbs in a serving of Spanish tortilla (kind of an egg and potato omelette in the shape of a pie), I find this national dish, that you can find in most any bar or cafe on the Camino, rather bland. I like tortilla and even purchased interlocking pans that make cooking them at home convenient. But when I share servings of them with friends and family, I also offer salsa, hot sauce, and sour cream.

We met a pilgrim from the Boston area. Sarah was talking with us about food on the Camino. After looking around to make sure no one could overhear, I admitted to her that I found tortilla bland.

“Me too!”

“I almost brought hot sauce with me.”

“I did bring some!”

“Are you kidding me?”

“Nope. I pull it out at each bar when necessary.”

This was just the permission I needed. The next time Bonnie and I were in a grocery store, I saw a small bottle of Tabasco sauce that has now been added to my emergency bag. It has even seen some use.

I do like trying the local food. I ate chickpea stew for dinner yesterday and ordered lentil stew today for lunch. I just need hot sauce for my tortilla.

And salt for my french fries. What is the purpose of french fries if they are sans salt? At least they provide salt packets if requested as they have not heard of salt and pepper shakers over here.

P.S. These mountains are majestic!Læs mere