Via de la Plata: Gear for a Spring Camino

Its been suggested by another experienced distance walker that I list my gear for future reference. If your eyes glaze over at the thought, no problem...simply read no further:)

If you've decided to read on...perhaps you share the same curiosity about gear. Obviously gear weight and functionality are pretty important on a long distance shank based wander. My journey starts well south where temperatures can be very hot and will transition to cooler, high elevations and possibly wetter climes as I move towards the northwest coast of Spain. 

An electronic aside. I could carry a little less stuff in this category. Likely no one is going to understand much of what I say on the telephone anyway...and if by some small fluke they do, there's is little chance that I'll comprehend the reply. However, where the phone might help is in an emergency, 112 is like 911 at home and English is spoken. I carry a decent, but inexpensive camera. In the hostels it can be difficult to find an available plug to charge batteries, and they are so light that 3 battery packs will last about 4-5 days. They can be charged when I get a small pension or casa rural accommodation to myself for a night...clean sheets, towels and everything!! My priority will be to keep my iPad charged as I'll blog, journal, connect with home, back-up photos, read various books and occasionally find accommodation a day or two down the road.  

The following list looks like a considerable amount of stuff for a journey striving for simplicity. However, it all comes together nicely weighing a combined 19lbs dry, and the pack is only about 75% full even when carrying a full load of water. I'm always impressed with the compact, trim look of the pack...simple and uncluttered. A reflection of what I'm striving to find on this journey. The grey pack, and it will look pretty much the same this time too...unbelievable!

Pack:

Gregory Z40 (40 liters)

Clothing:

• two t-shirts: one micro-technical, one merino wool
• Columbia long sleeve solar shirt with collar
• a partial merino wool long sleeve pull-over (replacing my fleece jacket)
• 2 pairs quick drying convertible pants
• 3 pairs of Exofficio boxer shorts (fast drying)
• 3 pairs PhD Smartwool Outdoor socks; 3 pairs liner socks
• light running jacket (bright red!)
• micro cycling vest (brilliant wind breaker with t-shirt or as a layer)
• a wide brim Tilly hat-breathable (freshly washed too)
• light gloves
• micro towel
• bandana
• Merrell mid-height Moab Gore-tex lined boots
• Keen closed toe light walking sandles 

 Wet Gear:

• Altus poncho - Light: You might remember "Margarita" - lime green
• short gaiters

Electronics:

• simple cell phone, iPad mini, iPod touch with chargers, headphones
• Canon point & shoot camera, 3 batteries, 3 x 7G SD cards & charger
• 2 plug converters (I always loose one)

Personal Kit: (the usual stuff)

• toothbrush/paste, shaving oil/razor, comb, nail clippers, soap, shampoo, prescriptions, small sunscreen, Pepto, several ear plugs, lotion

Misc Gear:

• titanium pot/mug, tinfoil lid (lighter) & heating coil (boil water)
• 2 carbon fiber Pacer Poles plus spare foot
• whistle & compass
• sewing kit
• first aid kit, scissors, cloth wrap bandage, Epi-pen for bee bites
• blister/foot kit: Vaseline, band aides, moleskin, needles, sterilizer
• Swiss knife with cork screw:) Need to purchase in Sevilla.
• spork (fork/spoon combo)
• clothes line
• large safety pins (hang laundry)
• high quality sunglasses
• laundry soap (Lush bar)
• large garbage bag
• 2 spare zip-lock plastic bags
• 1 scallop shell
• head lamp & spare batteries
• 2 small flashing lights (for walking on roads in dark/rain)
• 2 liter hydration system
• 3 rolls of Nuun electrolytes (somewhat heavy but necessary)
• light down sleeping bag
• silk liner sheet pretreated for bed-bugs and insects (adds warmth in mountains and will use when hot in the south).
• small amount of insect repellent 
• bug net to go over hat (helps keep me sane!)
• ultra-micro Sil day pack
• 3 dry bags: clothes, sleeping bag(s), misc gear
• 2 micro rolls of TP
• 2 emergency protein bars
• small Spanish phase book
• passport/money pouch
• pen and small note book

There are very few current English language guides available. I have Melonie's route app which she nicely updated in March and a couple of other bit and pieces that I have printed and will carry in a ziplock bag. Additionally I have more information backed up onto my iPad and as attachments to emails should I loose something along the way. I'll be picking up a map/route book in Sevilla mostly for the maps and route profiles as apparently the descriptions are pretty basic.


There you have it...satisfied Ken?

And there is Steve...my spirit animal who I "carried" all the way across the Camino last year. At times he might be my only companion on this journey. Maybe he can help to carry the pack occasionally this time:)

Retired! Actually I kind of dislike that word. Let's just call it...Available!!

On Tuesday a very nice luncheon was hosted by my co-workers and attended by my family and some close friends from my working past to help me celebrate my retirement. It was great...just the kind of low keyed departure that I had been looking for with opportunities to visit with good friends. I was informed that tomorrow is effectively my last day, so as I'm not expecting a last final rush of work I guess its finally safe to say that I'm done and the freedom I have anticipated has arrived!! I will miss daily socializing with some very good people, but who says I can't socialize with those folks in retirement? I definitely won't miss that damn door slamming behind me as I climb the stairs to the second floor each morning!!

10 days from now I fly out and two weeks from today I take my first steps on the Via de la Plata. Pretty excited, and somehow I have managed to put my anxiety on the back burner...for now. Today I received final clearance on my ankle so now I just need to get rid of my head cold, finish breaking in my new boots and complete my final preparations...10 days should be just enough time. This time I travel alone, so the home front will be in good hands with just one more tree to prune and a garden to layout.

Weather in Spain remains pretty decent with lots of sun and temperatures
in the 25-27C range the next week. Hoping for slightly lower temperatures, but it will be whatever it will be. Thanks to all for the supportive comments and emails...as always very appreciated.

Time Passes

With under 3 weeks until departure things are beginning to shape up nicely. To be sure, that nasty so and so "Anxiety" is hovering in the background, but I'm working hard to put it away by focusing on many of the good things to come; the pleasure of the walk, meeting new people from all over the world, discovering new places, the amazing tapas in Sevilla, opportunities to write and also the photography.

I've just returned from seeing one of my physios and he figures my right ankle is shaping up well and will be fit to make the journey. I injured the tendon about 5 weeks ago and have been under the amazing care of Kim, Mark and Natasha ever since. I'm back to training with a full pack and have walked up to 30kms a couple of times, and I'm finally beginning to increase the hill climbing. I probably won't be able to start the journey quite as fit as last fall, but I don't have a serious climb until the very end of Stage 3, a very sharp, steep up and down finish to a 29km stage. Assuming there is no re-occurrence of the ankle problem then I will be fully fit long before I hit the mountain stages in the second half of the route, some 550-600kms down the road.

I finally have everything accounted for in my pack and it weighs in at 19.8lbs/9kgs dry (no water or food). This is a bit heavier than I'd prefer (1.3lbs heavier than I carried across the Camino Frances) however, I'll be carrying a light sleeping bag and silk sheet this time plus a couple of other new items. In the early stages I'll also be carrying an additional 1-2 liters of water and some food until I get further north where it should be cooler and there will be more food and water sources available. The temperatures in Sevilla have been in the very high 20's the past 10 days, but look to be dropping a bit by the end of the week. Hard to know where things will be in three weeks.
Addendum: I wasn't very happy with my pack weight so once again I went through everything and made some little adjustments and voila...I got rid of a full pound! 18.8lbs dry. Add a full 2 liters of water and food I'll potentially max out at about 23.5lbs. Much better. There are ways to lighten my pack on the trail...eg., zip-on my pant legs, wear my bandana, and tie my jacket around my waist which would reduce my pack by over a half pound. If its really hot I'll also have my long sleeve solar shirt on and I'll be shedding paper reference material as I go, so chances that I'll ever have to carry much over 23 lbs is slim...hopefully. Feeling much happier with my pack.

Still things to be done as there is before any trip, but much of the grunt work has been managed. Time to complete the training and then ease back the throttle as there is no value in achieving exhaustion before departure. Our pal Ken who we happily connected with last fall just reminded me about how tired and strained he was by the end of the Camino (me too). In a round about way, he encouraged me to take enough rest days along the way...as usual, very good advice. I start walking on May 8th!!

A couple of spring type pictures from training.