A few words about equipment, easy guides and useful items

When I bought my backpack, I emphasized that it should pass as carry-on luggage, for two reasons:

1) No waiting for luggage at airports or losing it during flights
2) Would force me to pack light

I have succeded:

Also, my money belt contains all my valuables (+ 50 % of my cash in a zipped pocket in my pants). I never let go of it: I even have it in my sleeping bag at night.

I have also laminated copies of my passport, driver's license and citizenship, as well as the complete profile of the Camino Frances, including distances, heights, details on sleeping options, etc. This comes in addition to the Camino Frances guidebook from the Confraternity of Saint James.

You can make your own and personalized walking plan here: The Godesalco website.

2 more nights, and I am on my way to Barcelona, then Pamplona and Saint Jean Pied de Port in south of France, starting my walk by crossing the Pyrenees into Spain. I shall not miss this: Snowing and stormy outside now, up in Arctic Norway, just as I write this:

Attempt of a packing list

There is much hysteria about packing one's backpack. I have a very relaxed attitude towards it, but of course, one should absolutely minimize the weight one is carrying; It makes the difference between a nice walk and a struggle. So my general rule is to pack what is absolutely neccessary, throw out what I don't need, and buy locally what I after all need/forgot.

In my backpack (7.2 kgs):

2 boxer trousers
2 pairs of sports socks with reinforcements on blister areas
1 T-shirt
1 long-sleeve shirt to look proper in evenings
1 extra pair of long trousers to look proper in evenings
1 pair of swimming shorts (for albergues like En El Camino (A haven with a pool on the Meseta), Cuatro Cantones, + Finisterre...)
1 pair of crocs
4 safety pins for hanging socks etc. to dry
Lightweight toilet map with toothbrush, toothpaste, soap box, nail cutter, comb and lightweight (58gr.) towel
Lightweight First aid kit (Compeed, needle&thread for draining blisters, patches, tape, some emergency items, vaseline, iodine, strong thread for backpack repairs, +++)
Sleeping bag
Poncho
Papers (reservations, camino profile maps laminated, from www.godesalco.com/plan)
CSJ lightweight guides (CF, Finisterre, Portoguise (just in case change of plans...))
Small toilet paper roll
Sanitary napkin pack
2 pairs of earplugs! Some pilgrims make many strange noises during night; Heavy snoring can kill your night..
Blinders for my eyes! Some pilgrims love to put on the light or use their flashlight at 4.30 in the morning...
2 x 0.5 l. drinking water bottles (ordinary lightweight plastic bottles from the shop, reused).
Shoe polish, shoe fat impregretion, and shoe brush. Yes I am old fashioned but these things work :-)

On body (2.3 kgs):

Walking boots
Trousers
Belt
T-shirt
Lightweight fleece sweater (will go into my pack in Spain)
Waterproof lightweight jacket (will go into my pack in Spain)
1 pair of pressure sports socks
1 boxer underwear
1 cap

Body belt (0.65 kgs):

Passport
iPhone (with maps, compass, GPS, Flashlight/SOS blinking light, Emergency WhatsApp +++)
Bank/Insurance/European Health - etc. cards
Euro Money (50% in my zipped trouser pocket, though)
Bank ID chip for emergency banking
Spanish language parlour

That's it. The rest, if needed, will be bought in Spain.

My list may seem minimalistic, but believe me: This is all I need and I can buy what I eventually forgot, at a better price than at home.

About a belt for my trousers: I normally wear a leather belt: It weighs 220 grams (much of it is the buckle). I suddenly realized that I could use one of these backpack leftover straps as a belt: It weighs 2o grams, and is fully adjustable. 20% of a kg. saved!

My impression is that many people bring with them far too much and/or are not aware that Spain is a very civilized country, where you can buy whatever you need, normally for a much better price than at home.

I do not know what this will weigh, but it will be significantly lower than on any of my former Caminos. I have learnt about the essentials. This is what I am aiming at, in order to be able to "run" the Camino, if neccessary :-)

And BTW: It might be a good idea to RUN downhill instead of walking: I have tried it, and found it less demanding on my feet/legs than trying to walk downhill. Strange. Other pilgrims were of course looking upon me as a maniac when I was running past them. But it was better for me; being a running pilgrim, at least downhill. I like that, being 60 years old ;-)

My above packing list will fit into a walk-on backpack and body on airlines: No waiting for luggage on arrival, and no risk of losing your belongings by foulups in airports.

Ahhh, forgot: Hat, bottle opener, and a plastic wine glass (yes, important! ;-) )

A couple of packing tips, and a little about boots

I have trown out a couple of items:

My dear sandals: They weigh almost 800 grams. I have replaced them with plastic crocs: Saving + 500 grams there. These are not for walking, but for time spent in the afternoons, as well as in the showers.

My ordinary towel has been replaced by a hightech lightweight towel: Saved + 200 grams there.

Together, on only 2 items, I have saved + 3/4 kgs in my backpack. It is of the utmost importance to minimize the weight of your backpack, in order to have a pleasant walk.

Not bad. And I am still working on it.

Also, remember: You can wash/buy new things on the Way. Do not pack too much stuff in your pack; only bare necessities. Buy in Spain what you miss/forgot.

But there is one thing I will not go back on: My boots. I wear my old Army boots. They are a bit heavier than others, but they do the job; Some people laugh when they see them, but these are real walking devices: Impregnated leather (waterproof, can walk in streams), spacious, not many blisters, ankle-high (support your ankle/lower leg), steel bands in the sole (sturdy on rocks), takes mud with no problems, can be rinsed with ordinary running water, etc. You get the point?

As a former soldier in Arctic winter and summer Norway, i know they work. They have so far joined me for +3.500 kms on roads and are still in perfect condition.

Call me old-fashioned if you wish, but they really perform:

So that's what's gonna walk the Camino with/for me. Period.

Be aware: The Camino is not a jogging ground: You will need sturdy shoes, not like trainers or jogging shoes. Plenty of rocks, difficult tracks, in rain heavy, sticking mud, etc. Get good walking shoes and wear them thoroughly in before you start walking. I have seen several young people crying in pain and going home after just a few days, because their feet were destroyed. Pay attention: Your feet are your most important piece of equipment on the Camino. Without them in top shape, you will not complete it.

Preparations for the Camino Frances from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela (and beyond)

Thought I should do something very original: Starting a Camino blog! :-) (there must be 100s of them...)

No, seriously, it is mostly to keep in contact with my dearest.

SO: What is it I am doing?

I am going to cross Spain from east to west by foot, only with my backpack, staying in albergues with common sleeping halls, and reaching the city of Santiago de Compostela, where tradition says that the remains of the diciple of Jesus, James (Jakob) is housed. A 1.200 year long tradition.

(Everywhere on this blog: Click on any image to enlarge it!)

The internet contains huge amounts of information on the subject. Just do a Google search for "Santiago pilgrim" (without the quotes) and you will be able to read a lot. Do the same search on Youtube, and you will find heaps of videos, like this one (You may want to click on the rectangle lower right to maximize the video, although it will be a bit blurred...):

This is a very special, spiritual journey. Many people walk this Way after major changes in their lives, like deaths, breakups, illness, rootless feeling, religious issues, etc. Some do it just as a different kind of vacation. Either way, it will mark you:You will make new friends and get a more relaxed perspective on life. You will not leave the Camino unchanged. The Camino is a strange thing, that you will feel. It will change your life if you walk it. It is strange.

Along the way, there are many villages, containing albergues where pilgrims can get a bed for 5-10 Euros, that have kitchens where you can prepare food, or you can go to cafes and have a "menu del dia", 2 courses + wine for ca. 10 Euros.

Eventually, you reach Santiago, can receive a diploma showing that you have done the trip, and if you wish, take a bus (or walk) to Finisterre to spend a few days at the coast of the Atlantic. The Romans named it Finis Terra (End of the world) because it was the most western point in Europe, and out of there, was the edge of the world, where you could fall off the edgde of the world. Remember, they thought the world was flat :-)

The Way has stone markers that indicate the remaining distance to Santiago. At Finisterre, you will find the last one:

Not fun, really: Ending the journey makes many people understand that the journey was really the target...

For now, if the above has made you curious, do the searches I suggested, read, and start thinking. Remember, doing new things can do you good:

If you continue to do what you have always done, you will receive what you have always received.

If you are fine with that, keep on it. If not... Try to make a change: it might do you some good.

Back on track:

I am almost done: Plane tickets OK, Hostals/albergues up to Saint Jean Pied de Port (SJPdP) booked, and Orrison booked. Packing planned, and backpak prepared.

I will start out easy: From Norway to Barcelona on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014, arriving late in the evening, a hotel near the airport, bus into Barcelona next day, train to Pamplona, staying at Aloha hostel, next day picked up and going to albergue Corazon Puro north of Roncesvalles, communal dinner, and next day (April 26th 2014) transport to SJPdP, getting my pilgrim passport at the pilgrims office, installing myself in L'Auberge du Pelerin, and start walking next morning, the 27th. So you see, I am starting out slow and easy. Only to Orrison the first day, where I have a reservation. Fitting  for a 60 years old man,,,

I need to buy a walking staff (for dogs and difficult ascents/decents), or maybe 2 sticks? Not sure about that. I only know that on my last walks, I hated the sound of sticks from passing pilgrims breaking the peace... Maybe I will now turn into one of them...?

For these first days, I have booked all steps, because it is all so concentrated at the beginning of the Camino. I started out only ordering (and buying!) a non-reversible one-way only flight ticket, so that there was a point-of-no-return, and I have later made additional planning/reservations. But after the first day (Orrison; I am going slow in order not to destroy my feet at the very beginning: Many are those who have made that mistake...) there are no plans. Just walking. Relaxing. Reflecting. Enjoying life. It will take the time it takes.

That being said: I am not new to this: In 2009, I walked the Camino Frances from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela (SdC); in 2011 I walked from Sevilla to Salamanca; in 2012 from Salamanca to SdC. Been in Finisterre twice. But this year I have managed to do improvements to my packing list, which should bring it down to around 6-7 kgs., which is very relaxing. Backpack also fits measures for hand luggage, so no waiting at the airports. :-)

Look out for this backpack:

CU around, I hope!

PS: I will try to make this blog a bit reflective, since I have no fixed schedule for this 790 kms walk. I am done when I am done. Will also try to show many photos. But I have to figure out how to manage this blog thing fully first... ;-)