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Camino packing, Camino planning, Uncategorized

Camino Packing – My Camino First Aid Kit

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Yes! It is true, you can find a farmacia (pharmacy) vending machine stocked with FirstAid supplies along the camino. This did give me a giggle when I first spotted one. You will also find many farmacias along the camino to purchase all your first aid requirements. Just look for the neon green cross, if it’s on, you’re in luck.

We’re all trying to keep those packed kgs low. What do they say ‘carry less than 10% of your body weight’. BUT, if like me you like to be prepared, a little kit is a handy way to deal with any niggles as early as possible. Little niggles can become bigger problems later, and along our camino, we all want to stay healthy and keep walking. Right?!

Obviously prevention is best, so shoes, socks, training, foot care, hydration ya da ya da. However, even with our best efforts niggles and problems can occur. Over the years and many camino and hiking trips later I’ve created the kit list below that works for me. (Save some grams by not packing the packaging.)

💫 👣💫 If we don’t need to use what bring, just maybe we’ll come across someone who does.

My Camino essential FirstAid kit

  • Tiger balm (rub into feet daily after shower)
  • Small ball to roll under feet at the end of the day
  • Blister patches (compeed)
  • Bandaids
  • Electrolyte sachets (to pop in my water bottle on the big days)
  • Sunscreen and lip balm with UV protection
  • Antibacterial hand gel
  • Painkillers (paracetamol)
  • Anti inflammatories
  • Repellent, bug bite cream and antihistamines*
  • Sterilised needle and alcohol swabs**

My Camino FirstAid Kit

Weighing in at 300 grams.

* I have an allergy to bed bug bites. I know, no one wants to hear about bed bugs but they happen. I have had them in a donative, a private albergue and a pricey hotel. Not along every camino, but 3/5 of them. Being able to manage the itch and my reaction right away makes for a far more pleasant experience. I learnt the hard way after walking a whole day before finding a farmacia. I won’t share a photo but think hives, huge itchy red angry ones! Eeek. Just writing this makes me itch, fingers crossed for my next one. Oh and if I am out of antihistamines I buy them in Spain before I leave, the farmacias there are good like that.

** This is a new edition for me. How to treat blisters is controversial. I tend to go with deal with them directly as soon as you feel them by supporting and protecting them with compeed, rather than risk infection by popping them myself. Of course prevention is best. I have managed to avoid them for many caminos but the last two I was wearing a different trail runner and I wasn’t so lucky. I had a blister on the insides of my big toes and they needed the pressure removed. I waited too long and ended up with a lot of pain and losing toe nails. This time I will be prepared if it happens again. Also, I am back in my trusted brand of hiking shoe so hopefully no issues. There are places along the way to get foot care if needed and of course seeking proper care is smart and preferable. Your albergue can often help you locate where.

*** My husband (the gear freak) always packs an emergency blanket. I read recently of a few people who became hypothermic after crossing the Pyrenees in bad weather. I won’t be in any big mountains so will leave it out this time. Perhaps when I get to the Primativo camino again.

Right … digging out the silk sleeping liner that apparently those gross little bugs hate and booking in a pedicure now to be sure my toes are in top shape before I leave!

Any other suggestions?

I share my shower essentials here in My Camino Shower Kit.

Other resources:

Camino Live Blogs

LIVE Blogs & Instagram Accounts From The Camino to Follow Along…

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Imagine waking each day to a new story from a fellow pilgrim/hiker and their musings and images live from the camino! Ohh la la what a JOYOUS way to start/finish the day, or to dig into when you have some down time. I will keep an active list here for you and you’ll find them updated regularly, so do bookmark this page if this sounds like your jam!

Ps … If you know of anyone or if you are blogging or instagramming daily from the camino, please let me know so I can share here.

June 2023

Hiking for children with health problems

Start date: June 9th, 2023

First post: day 1

Blink and you will miss this one! Franzpeter is hiking for children with health problems. I nearly fell off my chair when I read his fist uodate. Yes that is three days of hiking for me. And he is keeping up this pace too. I’m in awe of this ultra hiker and his hiking philosophy. You can follow his journey and sponsor his charity if you’re inclined. Find his blog here.

The charity he is walking for is The foundation “Wunderlampe” / “Lampe magique”. The foundation fulfils heartfelt wishes of children and teenagers with serious illnesses or disabilities, they create a moment of joy, a glimmer of hope, in this everyday life, with a beautiful, unforgettable experience.

May 2023

Karissa from in old cities

Start date: May 28th, 2023

Instagram – @in.old.cities

Karissa is currently taking a sabbatical to travel and lucky for us she is sharing her adventures along the way. Her posts share her day, the stats and the story as she walks the Camino Frances! A fun and informative follow.

Mel … life one big adventure

Start date: May 19th, 2023

First post – day 1

I have followed Mel for a few years she shares a wealth of camino stories, helpful advice and travel posts. Mel is doing a camino combo, not one but 7 different camino routes on this trip!

Frank @ CaminoScapes

Start date: May 15th, 2023

Instagram – @caminoscapes

Dr Frank is currently walking the camino and is instagramming along the way! So if you’re like me and enjoy the photos and the captions do follow along.

Jaime at Camino de Jaime

Start date: May 12th, 2023

First post – day 1

Jaime is blogging live from the Camino del Norte. He shares his stories from the trail along with his great photography! I am enjoying reading about the characters he meets as he shares his daily musings. I’m also taking notes for when I go back to finish my Camion del Norte.

Bill Bennet – PGS the way

Start date: May 11th, 2023

First post – day 1

Instagram: @the_way_my_way

Here is a SUPER interesting follow! Bill Bennett writer of the 5 star reviewed The Way, My Way is back on the camino to make a movie of his book. Yes! A movie – hows this for an unfolding Aussie story along the camino in Spain.

A Season for Hiking

Start date: May 9th, 2023

First post – day 1

Jackie is hiking through retirement! Quite the adventurer she is hiking along the Camino Ingles, the Camino Frances and the Camino Primitivo this trip. She shares beautiful tales of the characters she meets along the way and those magical moments of synchronicity and coincidences we all (well I) love.

Conundrum Hikes the El Camino Frances 2023

Start date: May 4th, 2023

First post – day 1

Lisa is a seasoned long trail hiker. Her posts have beautiful photos and her musings do make me giggle. For those of you who know me or have hiked with me you know I am rather fond of out hiking anyone who is in front of me, we share a love of this sport! Lisa also gives a good insight along the way of the joys and struggles.

Lisa aka Conundrum is now hiking the Camino Frances (491 miles + 54 miles Camino Finisterre) but under her belt she has the Appalachian Trail (2185 miles), NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail (1175 miles), C&O Canal (184.5 miles), Great Allegheny Passage (150 miles), and the Greenbrier River Trail (78 miles). Impressive resume.

April 2023

Sophie Goes Hiking

Start date: April 3rd, 2023

Instagram: @sophie.goes.wandering

Sophie walked the Camino Frances and shared her walk along the way! Her photos and posts have me all excited about walking again soon. What a walk.

That Camino I blogged …

When I walked in 2018 for One Girl, I blogged daily. I wrote these posts at the end of the day, reflecting, sharing the images, tales of the trail and the characters I met. My posts that were often written late at night as I rested my weary body and cosied up in my sleeping bag for the 10pm Albergue curfew.

It was a wonderful way to collect my thoughts and to keep friends and family up to date with my fundraiser and adventure. Reading all the support messages from around the world was well appreciated and absolutely kept me courageous in my desire to walk this walk to send girls to school! If you are interested, here are those posts.

P.s. Eeek .. I do cringe a little reading these posts now but they are a record of that time so I’ll choose to see past the embarrassment.

Camino packing, Camino planning, Camino TIPS

The Credencial del Peregrino, Your Official Pilgrim Passport Along The Camino

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One of your most exciting packing essentials is your credencial del peregrino as it’s known on the trail your camino passport. Your own little cardboard concertina of blank pages. Day by day you will slowly fill these blank pages with stamps as you walk, or cycle your way along your chosen route towards Santiago de Compostela.

What is it?

The credential was the official documentation that safeguarded pilgrims in medieval times. While it is not a ‘must’ to carry along the camino now, it is a must to obtain your compostela when you reach Santiago. It also allows you to stay in pilgrim accommodations and obtain pilgrim meals. It is proof of your walk and also sentimentally, it’s a special keepsake of your adventure along the camino.

What do you do with it?

As you walk your camino you collect stamps along the pilgrimage route. Mostly, you will collect your stamp from where you are sleeping. Whether that is at an albergue, hostel or hotel. You can also obtain them along the route at churches, cathedrals, tourist offices, pilgrim offices and more. Getting your stamps is not difficult. So don’t worry if you’re camping! As mentioned you will collect one a day and for the last 100 (walking) or 200 (cycling) you will need two stamps. Again, even though you need two, these are easy to get.

A note from the official pilgrims office. “… if you only do the minimum required distance (last 100 walking or 200 km by bike), you must always get your Credencial stamped at the start and end of each stage, including the corresponding date, to show that the pilgrim has resumed the Way in the same place where they last stopped (i.e. you should always get the stamp at the starting point even though you have already stamped the card in the same place at the end of the previous stage).”

Fun fact, where to get a wine with your stamp!

After you pass through Bodegas de Irache you will find the Fuente del Vino (the wine fountain). Yes, actual red wine from a winery. The idea of the wine fountain, which is open to all is apparently to offer motivation to fatigued pilgrims! You can also get a stamp with a smile from the winery. We stopped for both.

Where do you get it?

You can order your pilgrim passport before you leave for your camino, you will find some links below to help with this. You can also buy a passport upon arrival in most main starting points at either the pilgrim office such as St Jean Pied de Port, at some churches or cathedrals. Some albergues also sell them. In the off season it can be harder if offices and albergues are closed. I once met a pilgrim wandering around Irun looking for somewhere to buy himself a passport before he could begin!

Worldwide associations approved by the pilgrims office in Santiago are listed here.

I have purchased mine from Casa Ivar previously. Ivar ships worldwide. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Or from your local friends of the camino group …

Australian Pilgrims
British pilgrims
American Pilgrims
Irish Pilgrims
Canadian Pilgrims
South African Pilgrims

I hope you found this helpful! If you have walked a camino did you get your credential before or upon arrival? I always get mine before as it is one less thing to worry about when I arrive. I like to arrive walk ready. Shout out if you have any questions or comments.

Buen Camino!

Camino accomodation

Le Refuge Orrison, The First Stop Out of St Jean Pied de Port. To Stop or Not?

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The camino season begins with the arrival of spring in Southern Europe and with it many of the albergues and refuges that have been closed for the winter season will reopen. For those pilgrims who are starting out of St. Jean Pied de Port in France and taking the Napolèon route across the the Pyrenees, here is a question/option for you. At about the 8km mark you will walk to Le Refuge Orrison. Here, there is an option to stop overnight, or you can push on the extra 17kms or so up and over the pyrenees and into Roncesvalles in Spain.

I’ve done it both ways and I can tell you my preference would be to stop. It was a pilgrim tip I had read on a blog and one that I have shared with anyone I know who is setting out on their first camino. It is a tip that has always been appreciated. It may not sound much, but 8kms up hill on your first day is a challenging beginning as your feet, body and mind settles into your camino. The Napolèon route is strenuous and it’s mountainous so it is susceptible to the intensity of all the elements. Sun, wind, snow, rain. I’ve hiked it in all of these conditions and the time I stopped at Orrison was by far the kindest way to begin such a long walk.

Aside from the physicality of the walk, staying at Orrison is an experience. It is a way to acclimatise to walking your camino, to get used to albergue/camino life early in the day and not when you’re tired and spent! Those days will come. At Orrison there’s a special group meal where everyone shares their reason for walking. Of all the places I stayed, this night and these people, and their reasons have stuck with me. You’ll meet people who you may well see over the next week/s while you walk, we did. Lastly, but by no means leastly if you ‘re lucky, you will be rewarded with a spectacular mountain sunset and sunrise.

Accommodation is in dorm rooms. The rate includes dinner and breakfast and a token for a 5 minute shower. There are also a few private chalets if your budget stretches a little more. The restaurant has plenty of tables to spend your afternoon in ‘camino’ vibe mode. Those who wish to join in and chat with others will find each other. And those who prefer to write, read or ponder a little more quietly will also find their space.

Tips!

  • You do need to prebook, you can do that directly on the Refuge Orrison website. The night I stayed I saw many people miss out.
  • There is a water fountain at Orrison to fill your bottles.
  • It is a lovely stop for coffee and a soup or sandwich if you are walking on.
  • You can order a baguette for lunch to take the following day if you stay. From here there is only a food truck that may or may not be on the mountain. No food supplies is a risk.
  • Ear plugs … you will always need earplugs if you’re staying in a dorm, always.
  • Get there early for a bottom bunk, if that’s your preference.
  • It’s seasonal!

Have you stayed at Orisson? What was your experience?