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Pre-Camino
  • Diane Wheatley
Jul – Sep 2022

Pre-Camino

Background, training and prep for the Camino Read more
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    July 30, 2022
    Diane WheatleyPre-CaminoTraveler
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    The "I don't wanna' walk" walk

    July 30, 2022 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Today was a beautiful day for a walk, but I just wasn't feeling it. Took me over an hour to get out the door, then another 15 mins to fiddle with my phone, this app, my Fitbit. I was totally stalling!
    Finally headed out and ended up walking down through the College to Bedell and all the way to Oxford Mills. Had a short rest on Bedell and another at Oxford Mills - trying to mimic what an actual day on the Camino might be like. A flat day though, as there are almost no hills here.
    After my break, I started to walk again, but really didn't want to continue. Called and asked Keith to pick me up and continues for another half km or so until he got to me.
    All in all, 9.87km in 2 hrs ish today. Not too bad I guess, for a don't want to walk day. (Added Fitbit map since this app wasn't yet activated)    Read more

  • Diane WheatleyPre-CaminoTraveler

    So, what is this Camino thing?

    August 25, 2022 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    The way of St. James is also known as the Camino de Santiago. This name is given to any of the ancient pilgrimage routes to the shrine of the apostle St. James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia (north-western Spain), It is said that the remains of the saint are buried in the Cathedral.

    Legend holds that after St. James’s death, his remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spain, where he was buried in what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela. (The name Santiago is derived from Galician Sant Iago or Saint James.)

    The Camino was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during the Middle Ages, together with those to Rome and Jerusalem, and it was a pilgrimage route on which a plenary indulgence could be earned.
    By the 1980s, only a few pilgrims per year arrived in Santiago. Later, the route attracted a growing number of modern-day pilgrims from around the globe and now each year, hundreds of thousands of travellers set out to make their way to Santiago de Compostela

    There are dozens of pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. Most pilgrims travel by foot, some by bicycle, and a few travel on horseback or by donkey, as some of their medieval counterparts did. This ancient route provides an intense human experience, creating a sense of fraternity amongst travellers and a strong bonding with the land.

    The most popular is the Camino Francés or French route from the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela - approx 790 km. This is the route I will be taking, but stating in Pamplona. Originally I was to depart from St. Jean Pied-du-Port, FR and hoping to drag my fluffy self over the Pyrenees. However, Westjet has thrice cancelled my flights to Spain. So, I have since rebooked via the UK and will now start my journey by foot, from Pamplona, ES - still a journey of approx 725km. The new start will cut my walk time by approx 4 days (and 60km). This works out well, as I have volunteered to be the host at a post-Camino pilgrims retreat at the end of Oct, for 6 nights. So, I will be on a timeline!!    Read more

  • Diane WheatleyPre-CaminoTraveler
    My training shoes Altra Lone Peak 5SE
    2My new Altra Lone Peak 6s'My seriously ugly and huge toes.The right is often sore and inflamed. Yes, I've had gout too!

    Boots or shoes - the struggle is real!

    August 27, 2022 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    So, what do you walk the Camino in? Hiking boots? Hiking shoes? Running shoes? Trail shoes? Sandals? Gortex (waterproof), or not? This is one of the most discussed things on Camino forums (next to foot care, blisters, backpacks and how much to carry - or transport!). There are more answers than pilgrims.

    Common questions revolve around what season you are walking, what route, and how far on said route. Do you want a barefoot minimalist style or one that has a good drop? What does this even mean?? Each route has different terrain which may allow you to choose one over the other. If you are walking in winter you may want a boot to keep you warmer and possibly a waterproof shoe. If you are walking in spring or fall, you may want a hiking shoe or trail runner. Possibly waterproof as it tends to rain a lot in Galicia. Walking in summer? Maybe you only want a sandal of some sort. Buy hey - sandals are good anytime, right? Especially with socks! 🤣😂. The Camino is likely the only place on earth that everyone wears socks with sandals - and gets away with the look! Finally - most advice is to size up - up to 1 1/2 sizes more than your usual size. Because fat swollen feet won’t go into your regular size shoe or boot.

    I read blogs, FB posts and articles until I was cross eyed. I made two important decisions before heading to the shops. 1) I did NOT want a boot or heavy hiking shoe. Every pound on your feet is equal to an additional 5 on your back. No thanks! I wanted something lightweight and comfy. 2) I did NOT want a GTX shoe. Waterproof is all good for light rain, shallow puddles, mud etc. But they are not fabulous for heavy downpours. Water will usually find its way in if you are walking for hours in the rain, or step in a deep puddle. Then what? You swim in your shoes. And this will lead to blister (more people do not complete their Camino due to blisters than for any other reason!). Think about waterproofing - it works in reverse too, and doesn’t let water out. It can take days to dry waterproof shoes. So, I hit the stores with the sole purpose (pun intended!) of looking for trail shoes. Simple, right? Not.

    I have weird feet. Huge big toes and osteoarthritis in the joints of the big toes. Looks like I have bunions on the tops of my toes. And did I mention that they don’t bend back! This can make walking a challenge, if not downright impossible with the wrong shoes. I have more than once had to take off shoes and walk barefoot. But this won’t be possible on my Camino, so I had better get it right the first time!

    I tried on approx 18-20 pairs of trail shoes, over 6 or 7 stores the first time. Due to my weird feet, I found a shoe with a big “drop” won’t work for me. This is the difference between the heel and toe. Can be up to 14mm, but 5-6mm is fairly standard. For me, this means I am placing more weight on my toes (since they are on the lower end of the drop). Not happening. I found the zero drop shoes worked beautifully for me as it is basically the same as walking barefoot -no difference between heel and toes. In the end, I kept going back to the Altra Lone Peak 5SE, 1/2 size up from what I usually buy. What’s a couple hundred bucks for something can make or break my Camino? In all my training walks, I have had one minor blister and zero toe issues! I still wasn’t convinced though and went through the whole process again in July when getting my second pair of shoes. I did change…I have a brand new pair of Altra lone Peak 6s waiting for me 😉. These babies fit like a glove, are cushy and have a rock plate to help decrease the feel of stones under my feet. Time will tell if I made the right choice or not!

    This is just my personal choice and I know plenty of people who bought them and ended up hating them when they started training. But there is no one right answer. Because the answer depends on you. On YOUR feet.

    Just to change it up, I also have a pair of Columbia trekking sandals. And yes, I will break my own rule and I will wear socks with them. Because I sure don’t want blisters ruining my walk! Gotta look after our feet if we want to get anywhere!    Read more

  • Diane WheatleyPre-CaminoTraveler
    Packed and ready (as I'll ever be)
    Liquids, first aid supplies, toiletries bag, glasses and clip ons, dry bag for laundryTravel keboard, chargers etc,selfie stick, spork, water bottle and foot roller ballSleeping bag, sandals and flip flops (shower), silk liner, water system, poncho, rain/wind shellClothes (yellow bag), lightweight but bulky fleece (pink bag)

    To take or not to take??

    September 7, 2022 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    To take or not to take…that is the question.

    Another huge debate on all these Camino boards, chats and Facebook groups, is what to take - and what not to take. To be honest, I becomes a bit of a competition with some people. “My pack’s the lightest”, “my, what a big pack you have!”, “that’s way too much!” and on and on. The lists of dos and don’ts can get not only confusing, but a bit overwhelming. Everyone thinks they are right - and they are, for themselves.

    Two things most people seem to agree on are:
    1. Don’t carry more than 10% of your body weight
    2. Don’t pack your fears

    The first one is obvious - carry too much and you are putting unnecessary strain in your body - in particular, your knees and ankles. They have enough to cope with, without you adding unnecessary weight. The second may not be quite so obvious. What does it mean - don’t pack your fears? Basically, don’t pack a bunch of crap you “think” you may need. Anything you truly need can be purchased in villages, towns or cities along the way. Keep your weight down by not overpacking, essentially. Don’t take a full bottle of Advil. Think you may need it in a couple of days? Either take a travel tube size or buy a bottle at a farmacia when and if the need arises. Worried your shoes will wear out? Guess what? There are sporting good stores and shoe shops in Spain. Same for all the clothes you want to bring. You are a pilgrim - you aren’t going to need to “dress for dinner”.

    I am trying to keep my pack weight down and it’s harder than you may think. I still have a few items that I could and should likely leave behind, but hey - it’s my first Camino and I am not yet ready to give up all my fears. My pack weight at the moment is around 7.3kg. I have weighed Every. Single. Item. Yes…everything. Numerous times. I’ve agonized over my packing list, had experienced people review my list and revised it more times than I can count. I’d love to lose 1kg of it, but it’s not likely to happen. Best I can hope for now is that I have it just under 7kg when I start.

    So what do I have that I probably won’t use OR could have left at home and bought there?
    - my sleeping bag - 537g has a sheet top and light “blanket” bottom. Can be used with either on top or bottom. I am walking Sept - end of Oct and it’s cold in Galicia (and wet) at that time of year. This I could likely buy there, in Leon, closer to when I need it. But I have sprayed this one to help prevent bedbugs, so it is coming with me (model is aptly called the ‘Camino Traveller’ lol!
    - Rain jacket (shell), poncho, backpack rain cover. - total 700 g. All taken for the rainy fall days. Shell is more for cool windy days to cut the biting wind. Poncho is long with full sleeves and covers both pack and I. Pack cover is good for everyday use to keep pack clean and keep items dry through the frequent rain showers at this time of year. Do I need them all? Probably not, we will see. I can always drop and donate if I am not using them (and then walk through a week of freak rainstorms, no doubt!).
    - Lightweight travel keyboard and phone stand. I know, I know. Total of 230. My hands are going to be gripping trekking poles all day. It will be easier to journal on a small keyboard than with thumbs alone. I don’t seem to have much luck with voice to text stuff. Always takes me longer to proof and correct than if I had typed it all out in the first place.
    - First aid supplies - total 296g. Heaviest items are sports tape and micro pore tape. I just don’t want to be caught 10km from a town with a bum knee that needs taping or hotspots on my feet that need taping. Other items include blister patches, a few acetaminophen and ibuprofen, tiger balm, Vaseline and Sudocrem.
    - Clothing - this is the big one. I am following the wear one, wash one, spare one advice. Others follow wear one, wash one. I COULD cut back one set of clothes. But heck - I want to take the spare set, so sue me.

    Other than these, I am pretty happy with what I am carrying. It will be very interesting to see how quickly I shed weight from my pack, and what I realize I can actually live without! Follow me to find out how it goes!!    Read more

    Trip end
    September 12, 2022
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