Blisters on top of BLISTERS!

OMG! I did 16 miles with my 20lb pack on Saturday and now have blisters on top of blisters! EESH!

Regardless, I am going to "cowboy up", "suck it up", or what have you, and stick with the original plan of setting out from Burgos and doing the 300 miles.

My hope/dream (and most of the information I have) is that the paths that I will be taking will be mostly dirt or gravel rural paths. This will provide more shock absorption than the arse-phalt path I have been practice-hiking on.

Finger's crossed!

BLISTERS!

OK..... I've been doing practice hikes. This past Saturday I went for a 12 mile hike with my pack, books, and walking poles. Got home to discover quarter size blisters (FULL BLISTERS) on the back slightly outside edges of both heels. So, I sterilized a needle, threaded it, pulled the thread through and left it wick the extra moisture in the blisters. When I walked across my living room, the right thread caught and RIPPED the skin off part of the blister (note to self... trim the thread!) and now I have a very painful open sore on my heel. Took a couple of days off due to torrential down pours and pain.... then tried a hike last night. Started off and crossed the highway in my boots and was in severe pain. Took them off and put my sandals on and managed only 4 miles.

Never thought I'd say it..... but I'd rather run 12 miles than walk it with a pack in boots.

Now, I'm reconsidering the starting point of my journey..... I was going to start in Burgos... but that means a minimum of 30K/(18.6 miles) day.... now I'm thinking Leon..... but I feel like a wimp...... What to do..... ? What to do......?

Packing List

Camino Packing List

Clothes

¨ Hat

¨ Fleece hat

¨ Bandanna

¨ 2 bras

¨ 3-4 sets of underwear

¨ 2 'technical' T-shirts

¨ Shirt (long-sleeved)

¨ Trousers (general walking)

¨ 2 pairs Walking shorts (polycotton)

¨ 4 pairs of thick socks

¨ 4 pairs liner socks (this means the thick socks don’t need to be washed each day, just wash the liner socks)

¨ Thin sarong

¨ Sandals

¨ Hiking boots

¨ Fleece gloves

¨ Single skin nylon jacket

¨ Lightweight fleece jumper

¨ Poncho

¨ 1 very light cotton nightshirt, this is so useful, put it on when you have had a shower to walk around in, lovely to lie on your bunk relaxing in, etc.

Gear

¨ Rucksack incl luggage label 1,800

¨ Sleeping bag (1-season)

¨ Sleeping bag liner (silk)

¨ Inflatable pillow

¨ Bin liner (for use as groundsheet)

¨ Lipsalve

¨ Miniature Swiss army knife

¨ Teaspoon

¨ String

¨ 6 Safety pins

¨ 6 clothes pegs/pins

¨ Needle and thread

¨ Cable ties (a few)

¨ Compass

¨ Whistle

¨ Camera

¨ Headtorch

¨ 2 1.5 litre water bottles

¨ Watch (with alarm)

¨ Sunglasses

¨ Spare boot laces

Toiletries / Shower

¨ Shampoo

¨ Conditioner

¨ Hair Pick

¨ Soap

¨ Gel

¨ Deodorant

¨ Moisturizer

¨ Factor 45 sunscreen

¨ Towels

¨ Toothpaste brush

¨ Disposable razor

¨ Tweezer

¨ Nail brush (also useful for scrubbing socks and mud off boots/shoes)

¨ Synthetic pumice

¨ Fabric washing liquid (in small screw-top bottle) 150

¨ Mirror

Meds / 1st Aid

¨ 1st aid kit

¨ Antifungal cream (small amount)

¨ Imodium

¨ Ibuprofen

¨ Antiseptic cream (small) 20

¨ Ear plugs 10

Miscellaneous

¨ Money belt

¨ Cash, credit card, bank card

¨ Plastic zip lock bags for notebook, pilgrim credentials, guidebook

¨ Plastic bags to keep things dry while having a shower

¨ Roll of loo paper

¨ Labels for parcels

¨ Confraternity guide to route ('updates')

¨ Guide book, maps and itineraries

¨ Ticket for return journey

¨ Notebook

¨ Pen and pencil

¨ Spanish dictionary/phrasebook

¨ Passport

¨ Pilgrim Passport

¨ Scallop shell

¨ Stone for Cruz de Ferro

¨ Key for flat

¨ List of emergency contact telephone numbers and addresses for postcards

A Month Away

Hiya!

Well, I'm finally going on a journey I've dreamed about for a long time: El Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

I've done a great deal of research (books, internet, etc.) and finally have the dosh (although it won't cost me that much) and the time to do it!

I'm having to shorten the trip a bit due to a slight limitation in time (3 weeks rather than the 5). so, rather than beginning my journey in St. Jean-Pied-du-Port, France (just across the border from Spain in the Pyrenees, and walking 800 kilometres (just over 500 miles) to Compostela de Santiago, I will be starting in Burgos, Spain and walking 500 kilometres (about 300 miles). This gives me 21 days to complete the journey. I plan on doing 20-25 miles per days. This should give me a few days of rest along the Camino.

Along the way, I'll be staying in refugios and albergues. These are special accommodations for pilgrims on the Camino and cost very little. Think of the typical youth hostel but a bit more basic.

I'm close to being completely geared up! Just a few small items left to purchase. And I'm set!

After traveling the world (30+ countries) and the US (38 states), I have never looked more forward to a journey!

bbcgrrrl