Camino del Norte, 2014, Spain
From Bilbao to Santiago De Compostella. 710 km. 28 days.
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Post Trail Thoughts – or – what I learned the hard way.
Camino del Norte Spain
Learnings:
- Feet can hurt. Feet can hurt very very much
- Take care of your feet while hiking. Have some breaks and pull off your shoes and socks
- Air your feet. Sit down and throw your legs over your pack to elevate them a bid. Do this at least twice per day
- Your pack must be as light as possible
- Think before you pack and ponder over every single item whether it is a “need” or a “want”
- If it is a “want”, leave it at home
- Do not plan too much ahead. Be open. Everything will be just fine.
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What I would do exactly the same again:
- Start alone (you will meet plenty of great people out there on the trail).
- Start in May.
- Hike with hiking poles.
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What I would do differently now:
- Start in Irun, not Bilbao
- Hike in trail-runners, not in leather hiking boots (!). BIG MISTAKE!
- Take several breaks during the day
- Take at least one zero day (where you not hike at all)
- If I feel a blister developing in my shoe, I stop immediately and take care of it
- Learn a bit of Spanish before I go to Spain
- Take a better camera than just the phone (even though its heavier and contradicts what I said above).
- … and, very important, book a room prior to arrival in Santiago (!).