Getting Ready for the Camino

Websites tell me that everyone tends to overpack for this trip:

I'm trying to do better than the above, but this is still a load:

The plan: walk the last 200 miles of the Camino de Compostela from Leon to Compostela with two buddies.

In January, I had the following plans:

1.     Learn some Spanish: this semester was not conducive to that, even though I bought all five levels of Rosetta Stone Spanish. Oh well. I’m taking a phrase book.

2.     Get in shape. (See above) We did get some bike riding in this week and an experimental walk with backpacks on from Riverpark to the Coke Hallowell house and back. That was about 10 miles in 3 hours, so we have an idea of the pace we can walk and how the backpacks ride. Raised one good blister before even starting, which allowed various moleskin experiments.

3.     Read some good books on the Camino (never got there: see above)

4.     Get patch and pin from Confraternity of Camino Compostela de Santiago and Credencial del Peregrine (thanks JT!)

What I’m taking (including what I’m wearing and with a few deletions):

1.     A 50 liter Alteo backpack with rain cover and Camino patch

2.     Sunhat with Camino pin

3.     Columbia Travel Vest (to give new meaning to the question, “What has it got in its pocketses?”)

4.     A walking pole (get in Spain)

5.     Guidebook: Brierley

6.     1 REI 1 liter Nalgene water bottle

7.     REI Travel Sack +55˚ F and a pillow case

8.     Big Agnes Insulated Air Core 20 x 72 x 2.5 (decided to leave it: heavy)

9.     Pack Towel

10. Long hiking pants that can convert into shorts

11. Hiking shorts x 2

12. Fast dry underwear x 4

13. Socks and sock liners x 4

14. 3 shirts, two long-sleeve with roll-up button and one short

15. Fast dry T-shirts x 2

16. Marmot Gore-Tex waterproof parka (decided to leave the pants)

17. Energy Zip Loc collection: Lance Armstrong Stingers, Hammar Gel, etc. (on second thought, leaving all this; heavy, bulky; will rely on ice cream stops)

18. Light fleece (in spring or fall, this would be important, but I'm not taking it on this trip)

19. An idiot passport / money / credit card holder (you hang it around your neck: for airport travel; otherwise, bottom of backpack)

20. One wallet that has belt loops (for in between the airports)

21. Sandals (hostel showers / walking around without boots; these are pretty heavy, actually; don’t know if this is wise.

22. Merrell hiking boots (over the ankle) with Herb Bauer fitted inserts (bad knee)

23. Black Diamond headlamp, in case we wind up walking after dark (unlikely)

24. Small flashlight

25. Bath / Toilet Bag in Zip Loc for airport security:

a.      Trek and Travel Body Wash

b.      Trek and Travel Laundry Wash

c.      Sport #50 sunscreen

d.     Body Glide Anti-Chafe

e.     Toothpaste

f.       Toothbrush

g.      Lip Balm

h.     TP

20 First Aid Stuff

a.      Standard small REI First Aid Kit

b.      Prescription drugs

c.       Ear plugs

d.      Aleve

e.      Advil

f.      Imodium

g.     Insect repellant (internet says that Spain does have mosquitos)

h.      An amazing assortment of blister stuff including moleskin, second skin, and lots more I don’t know much about

26. Money and Documents (All to be carried in wallet that attaches to belt)

a.      Passport

b.      One credit card

c.       One debit card

d.      Euros to be acquired in Spain and whatever I can scrape together from last year's trip to Lyon.

e.       As many dollars as needed for a long layover in the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport

f.     Photocopy of credit cards, passport, driver’s license, one for me, one for Gail, at home; itinerary and copy for Gail.

27.  Personal Stuff

a.      Small binoculars (Cathedral watching)

b.      Point and shoot camera with extra battery

c.       Moleskin journal and pen

d.      iPhone and cord and international calling program to avoid bankruptcy

e.      Adapter for Spanish outlets (Radio Shack)
f.    Very small King James Bible

Weight of backpack without full water bottles: 20 lbs.

Weight of person carrying backpack: 230 lbs., unfortunately.

This guy's got a great list. I don't know how he got it all into a 40 liter back pack: List of Things to Pack for Camino

WikiHow has some good ideas: 

How to Pack for El Camino De Santiago

What Not to Bring (Do I need that sleeping mat?)
Camino de Santiago: What Not to Bring

Bjorn Granberg--now here's a guy who seems to know what he's talking about:
Walking Camino: What you should pack and not

Ready to Go: