Thanks for the video! I am starting May 9th on the Camino del Norte and might then switch to the Primitivo. There is very mixed information out there about the need for a sleeping bag. Can I rely on the blankets at the Auberges? I will bring a very minimal liner (sheet of nylon), merino leggings, a good puffy and a closed cell foam pad that I could wrap around my legs. What's your opinion? Should I bring a sleeping bag as well?
@@wio2189 It's a very 'personal' thing. Some sleep hot, others sleep cold. Personally I'd take a very lightweight sleeping bag. But if you don't use it, don't shoot me! 🙂
@@wio2189 I did the Norte and managed to get away without one....on most nights 😂 but I did take a liner and did have to use it On my second camino on the Frances, I did take a light sleeping bad and it was worth it. Got a 500 gram down one, it was enough and didn't take too much space or weight
Rob, that day pack you use on airplane, laundry and packing, do you know where can buy one? Also are you taking your pocket knife as cabin baggage? Are we allowed to? ( From Australia?) Thanks for ALL you info.
The whole of life is better without expectations and without comparing one's life to other people's lives. Lift your head up, look around and live in the moment. Exactly as you say - "let it unfold".
Have been loving your videos! You have put my mind to ease about a lot of things and have given me more confidence to walk my first Camino in a couple weeks. Thank you!
More great advice Rob, thanks. I walked with a Philippine guy for a day or so leaving Azofra. God love him he was so badly prepared but he kept on and made the best of it. I steered him to Decathlon in Burgos and he picked up everything he needed there. Their hiking shoes and boots are incredibly comfortable, ugly but comfortable. It's like they design the boot from the inside out , however, he was delighted.
Once again thanks Rob for your very well presented videos. You are so down to earth and I listen to every word. I’m doing my first Camino in May this year, the Frances. I’m 70 years old and worry if I’m taking on too much . I’ve prepared myself for the last couple of years and am ok for my age, but there’s still that niggling doubt I me . Wish me well, thanks
70 years Young huh? Don't stress about it. I've met Pilgrims well into their 80s. It's not a contest and not a race. Take it at your own pace...... The Frances is a great route as their are loads of places to stay and the distances between villages is often just a few kms. I'll let you into a Secret. I'm 'only' 65 and this is my 4th Camino this year, and I have niggling doubts. We all do 🙂
I work in a retirement community, and a couple of residents have done it, and I think one was in her 70's at the time. I figure that if I realize, early on, that I cannot walk the whole thing; I can take the bus to Sarria (or a little before), and walk that last 100km at whatever snail's pace I can manage. I don't know your life circumstances. But for me, even starting it feels like a huge accomplishment. :D If you see a purple-haired American (whose clothes all seem to be pastel shades of blue/green/lavender), say hi!
The nice thing about doing lots and lots of walking before your Camino, is that it helps you figure out which shoes etc. will or won't work for you. I walk four miles four days a week (my commute to and from work is two miles each way), and on my weekend I do a walk of 8 or 9 miles, which includes going around a local gorgeous hilly park, and walking up and down the steepest trail in the park once or twice. (I do need to try doing said hike two days in a row.) Re: gear: I do know that I tend to err on "comfort" in the "comfort vs. weight" debate BUT when I weighed my pack a week ago with all the things I'm planning to bring (and a few equivalent substitutions for the few things I don't have yet) it was a little over 12lbs (just under 6kg). HALLELUJAH. Re: languages: I've been doing Spanish on duolingo and a couple of other things. I know I'm not going to be fluent or even great at it, but I figure every little bit helps. I think as an American I have a complex about these things--I don't want to be "that" kind of American, who assumes everyone on earth speaks English. The irony is that a few years ago I took a stab at Korean, and gave up in part because it *is* excruciatingly difficult if you're an English speaker--and there's so many S. Koreans on the Camino these days that if I'd kept it up, I would have people to practice it with! Re: expectations: I actually think doing bicycle touring years ago helps with this. I know there are going to be days I'm just grumpy and sore and tired. I know there's going to be days that are spectacular. (I know sometimes those are the same day!) I know I will meet both lovely people and deeply irritating people. I know a lot of the meaning-making happens after you get home.
Oh 'perfect footwear'? Is there such a thing? For my first 3 Caminos I loved my Salomon gortex lightweight boots. But bad knees have forced me to go to lighter footwear. Here are a couple of videos that might help you choose. Trial: ruclips.net/video/48j3XIB6NH0/видео.html Final pick: ruclips.net/video/TympVTOKEuM/видео.html
Yes footwear is very important. As you say everyone is different. I had tried hoka stinsons but found them bulky. Ypuare right the stack height in the lone peaks is not great. I went for the Olympus 4s Max stack height for altras. They were greatformeo the Norte. Darn tough socks with infinite liners were the best for me as had a blister with socks by themselves. Would recommend vicks on your feet before putting socks on for the day. As for thirty I used a technical and a merino which was God. However, I have just seen there is a 70/30 merino/silk one I will probably get instead of my Icebreakers. Have a great time in Spain,again.
Altra Lone Peaks have minimal padding & even though a heap of people love them, they weren’t for me. I used Hoka Speedgoats on the Camino & they were fantastic. I’m now using Altra Olympus as they have a lot more padding & they are great. Don’t wear hiking boots unless you’ve walked hundreds of kilometres in them with a light pack. We saw a lot of people shred their feet in boots because they’re made for carrying a heavy load, far more than what anyone would carry on Camino. Buen Camino!
Such a personal thing isn't it? I loved my boots and walked 2,000 Camino kms in them. But they are just too heavy for my knees now. But I'm looking forward to walking my next one in trail runners.
Hello Rob, I did 6 times the Portuguese way of Caminho, and I want to thank you for your videos because I want do the French Caminho, starting in Saint Jean, and your advices and see what I have to do it is great. All the best for you and Bom Caminho as we say in Portuguese.
About socks, I'm planning to do my first camino this summer, and when I asked my uncle (who's a doctor and does marathons and stuff) what I could use to prevent blisters and rubbing, he told me socks with toes is a great option, as they give you that extra protection in between toes so they don't rub against each other. I haven't bought them yet so I can't give my opinion, but just so you know, the brand he recommended was injinji, they have an online store. Hope it helps someone!!
first I apply some anti friction cream on a few strategic areas of my foot then I go with the 2 sock approach , my first sock is a compression one covered by a merino running sock ,, after 4 camino's I've never had a blister . this system works well for me.
I legit tried 20 odd pairs of shoes before my first Camino. Once I put on a pair of Merrill Moab shoes I knew I found the right pair - 3 caminos and 3 pairs of Moabs I’ve just bought my 4th pair of exactly the same shoe . ( I should buy shares !) Rob is right - nothing more important. Boots really are a no go -‘they’re not required and will cause problems
For us and our planning for May. We try to get ourselves fitter. And walk as much as we can during the week. Not concerned about matching the Km we will do on the Camino. For us it’s about getting fitter and getting our feet boot ready . Other than that our planning is no different than any other trip. Clothes baggage etc Cheers Mick
Yes, I take a similar approach. I call it 'conditioning' rather than 'training'. I'm doing a 5km trail walk each morning and a couple of kms each evening. It's really about getting all the joints working again and getting the muscles used to a bit of hard work. I'll add a light pack soon. I used to go off on 15-20 km training hikes, but don't do that anymore. All the road walking just damaged my feet.
So true about having/not having expectations. It can completely turn your day(s) upside down. I used zero drop shoes for the first time on a Camino last year, and haven’t allowed for the weight of the backpack shifting my centre of gravity backwards on a downhill stretch, as a result, it caused a very painful knee ligament problem on the second day. Luckily, managed to continue and finish the trip.
Hmm, I hear the "no expectations" advice all the time. I think the idea of "no expectations" can be interpreted as letting go of certain preconceived notions and being open to new perspectives, rather than having no expectations at all which seems impossible. I believe everyone goes on Camino with a set of personal expectations, as much as they try not to. Those expectations are part of why a Camino is such a personal experience. On Camino your expectations are going to be challenged, and in my view that is often what makes the Camino a transformational, perspective-changing experience. As I process my recent first Camino (I prepared watching all of your videos and many others'), I'm beginning to think about what were my "good," not necessarily correct expectations and what were my "bad" expectations. I don't yet know how to define a "bad expectation." Sometimes I dealt with my expectations poorly, but mostly I took the opportunity to reflect and unravel many illusions I had about life, until I hit a point where as we walked, it seemed like I was just "living" life and not striving so much. One thing I did come back with is that the Camino for me is truly be a metaphor for life. Now I'm learning how to continue "Caminando" at home. I went on Camino to contemplate what to do with the last third of my life, I came back not knowing so much what I want to do, but a little better how I want to live it. Thanks for considering my comment and I hope it adds to a positive dialogue about this Camino-thing that obsesses us. 🙂
A great perspective Lance. I think this is a powerful message "I went on Camino to contemplate what to do with the last third of my life, I came back not knowing so much what I want to do, but a little better how I want to live it". I certainly gained that view on my first.
Great video Rob, and good luck with this year’s preparations! My wife and I probably cannot return to the Camino for a very, very long time, but your videos bring back lots of memories. - Footwear: spot on - I’d recommend my basic Quechuas, as I could walk endlessly in them without pain, but that's just me and my feet. But it's important to be told beforehand to consider proper footwear, as part of me originally felt like my cheap runners would do the trick (!) - we were frequently negotiating muddy Galician tracks and overflowing creeks, and the waterproofing and firmly-gripping soles saved us a lot of grief! - Fitness: completely agree with everything you said (especially as someone who also had to lose a lot of weight at one time). - Gear: I’m glad we got this right first time around - in wet weather (ie. Galicia in December), waterproof pants and plastic pants roll up well, and are super light, but those were the bulkiest items in my backpack. - Language: my wife and I walked the Invierno, and *very* few people spoke English on the way - if it wasn't for my intermediate Spanish, things would have gone wrong as we needed luggage moved from place to place every day. For those who travel lightly, things are much more straightforward, but my wife did wish she could have connected with the locals more. Depends on your needs and expectations, I suppose. - Expectations: again, agreed. I like to think I’m pretty grounded and sensible, but my arrival in Santiago was much more understated than I'd expected. Nothing wrong with that, and I don’t want to say it was 'anticlimactic’, but it didn't match what I assumed would happen, or how I would feel. On the other hand, the unexpected emotional highs earlier on in our journey will stay with me for a lifetime. 😊 Keep up the great work Rob, and Buen Camino!
Great to hear of your experiences Robert. Yes, the finish can be an anti climax! So it's important to enjoy the journey. I share some thoughts about the finish here: ruclips.net/video/rLOs5MuFflQ/видео.html First timers might want to watch it.
Thank you for your info, I have watched many if not all of your videos. I doing the coming this fall and i have looked at accommodations and a lot of them are full. I wasn’t going to pre-book locations but am getting a bit worried I will have a hard time finding something in certain towns. Any advise for me?
Don't stress too much. If you are trying to book months ahead on sites like booking.com very often accommodation places do not 'release' beds/rooms until 2-3 weeks before the booking date. They would rather sell the beds/rooms at full price, instead of paying commissions to sites like booking.com If you really want to book so far in advance, try contacting the places directly. Or wait till closer to your required booking dates. But there are natural 'choke' points on the Camino to be aware of. Popular places that may fill up quickly. On the Camino Frances in popular periods, Zubiri is one of these. Another option is to stay at least popular places, and places that are not at the end of stages in the guidebooks.
Hello Rob, My wife and I love your videos and have been very helpful in our planning stages (going in Sep 2023). Sorry for rambling a bit and any advise you can give us would be helpful. Footwear is a big one as we typically were boots for our hikes in Michigan, Tennessee and Ontario. So we have already started. For those in the US we swear by REI and have been going there for years - great return policy is something is not right. We now have Hoka's and love them. Also bought Chacos (sandals). We plan on walking 100kms for training in these shoes - don't want to wear them out, lol!. Fitness - I firmly believe the better fit you are the more enjoyable the Camino will be - like most things... and dropping a few lbs doesn't hurt. We have a gradual routine (walking, strength, cycling, etc. with and without pack). Gear - we are ready, we think and maxing out at 11-13 lbs for each of us. We have done this now 2 times. We keep debating about light fleece or light weight puffy coat . Language - my wife is French so learning Spanish is a little easier than for me. We will be ready with the most used and needed phrases. Accommodations - this is the most stressful for us - do we book ahead or just wing it? Sep/Oct is the most busiest time. I have found so far when looking for availability that alot of places are already booked. So we decided to book ahead everything now. We have stopping every 4 to 5 days for a rest day to explore the sites.
Sounds like a plan. Though booking everything would stress me out! Trying to maintain a schedule and all that. If booking on booking.com, be aware that many places don't release rooms to booking.com till about 4 weeks ahead. They try to sell direct first. So they might just 'look' full.
Thanks Rob, wise content as always, helps keep my head grounded. I look forward to your take on shoes and socks, my first coming up this year and getting excited
@@robscamino I leave SJPDP on 21 April, all being well should be around Ponferrada about 4 weeks later...I am in no rush and who knows what the journey will bring 🙂, would be great to bump into you along the way
Thank you for your fabulous advice .. I really love your channel .. I’m so inspired however as a senior lady and pensioner with a bit of osteo arthritis here in Australia I’d love some more budget friendly advice .. especially regarding gear .. sadly I can’t afford to check out a couple of pairs of lovely Hoka shoes or orthotics to see whats best for me .. let alone backpacks .. now wondering if I should I even think about a Camino ??
@@robscamino thanks for your reply Rob. Very sorry for my negative comments. Think I’m a bit overwhelmed and quite nervous to even consider walking a Camino at my age of 73. But I am hooked on your fabulous videos. I’m thinking of walking the Portuguese coastal. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Best wishes and well done to everyone taking on this very personal adventure. Cheers
@@karensmith4915 Don't let your age deter you. You can ship your bag ahead to make walking easier in many places. Walking shorter days is fine. You will find people who walk at your speed whenever you go. You don't even have to walk the entire Camino. It's your journey so if you want to go, please do so. Life is meant to be enjoyed, not stressed over. Blessings.
Hi Rob. For the shoes that are just a tad bit loose, you might like to try insoles which might be enough to fill the gap. If you have problems with your feet or Planter facitus you may want to try aftermarket arch support insoles in them. All the shoes that I've bought with arch support, when I've taken the insole out they are only cardboard which will not last long. I always replace the standard insoles with proper arch support for myself as I do have Planter fascitus. Also if you gain or lose weight this may also affect the shoes you buy because weight loss or gain may alter the way that the foot splays in the shoe. Hope you find the right pair soon. Thank you for another great and thought provoking video.
I think the shoe issue is fixed now. I have always used custom orthotics and I have my podiatrist making up some new ones for me. Gotta look after those feet!
Great advice! Thanks! My husband and I thoroughly enjoy your videos. We're planning our 1st Camino when our youngest is out of college in 2 years. 😊 I believe it's never too early to plan.
@@robscamino I’m planning to go on my own, have done a solo hiking trip round home, 10 days,…leaving my family for 40 days is a lot. I’m learning to cut the cord so to speak. Lol
Hello Rob Enjoying your videos. Thank you for the information. I am going on my first Camino at age 68 with my 2 grown children. We expect to stay in private rooms. Could you do a video on bed bugs. What do you do to avoid them. Or a video on taking the train from Madrid. Thank you. Drew
If I find some bed bugs next time out, I'll make a video 🙂 My routine is to check the bed on arrival, around the mattress seams. Never found any yet. The train system is very simple, like any other country. I use the renfe website to check schedules and book my ticket. It has an English option. www.renfe.com/es/en
Footwear and socks should be considered as the same thing in two parts, in that you should get the right socks that the right shoes/sandals/boots will mandate, as you suggest. Contrary to your own experience BTW, my own knees and ankles problems are why I wear my army boots, on and off the Camino, for the ankle support. Their durability and waterproof-ness are good reasons too, it takes the heaviest rain for my socks to get even damp, and the pair I used this last time lasted for the entire 5,000K ; though I'd only recommend army boots or similar ankle-high leather hiking boots to other pilgrims for a Winter Camino or for a very long one, more than 1,500K. But yeah, the most important prep is footwear ; though getting the right backpack is probably in third place, after the physical prep. The three do blend into each other. As to gear, my hiking kit per se is just backpack, sleeping bag, inflatable mattress. Clothing is just my normal clothes, and it's all cotton. Some people are very anti-cotton, but I've found it dries quickly enough. The only difficulty is jeans, but if you can pop them in a washing machine on a day that's not too wet and humid, they're fine. Though to be fair, my body does radiate more body heat than usual, so if my clothes get wet in the rain, they dry quickly anyway. And my skin has bad reactions to and with synthetic clothing, so that's no go for me personally. My pilgrim cape is now just part of my ordinary clothing, and I use it at home just as my coat for cold or rainy weather. It wicks better than you'd think, and it takes some very heavy rain, like the Galicia variety, or several days of rain in a row for that not to happen. Usually, the inside of it stays dry, and the natural woolllen fabric breathes, so it means I don't get sweaty. Best prep for a Camino that you've not mentioned is to have done another Camino or a different long-distance hike previously. Some people suggest doing a short 3 to 5 day hike near home as Camino prep, though that may not be practical for all. As to physical prep, it doesn't just vary person to person, it varies from one Camino to the next. I've needed as little as a week to ten days, and as much as a whole year. However long it takes to get "in training" is a variable. Love your number five !!
Hi Rob another excellent video. I also found my heel could lift as I walked; now I always lace my shoes with a runners knot ruclips.net/video/jG_XzEjD9Ls/видео.html It's a very simple lacing technique but transformational! It stops your feet sliding forwards in your shoes when going downhill too.
I do, But it's a personal thing. Your budget, your responsibilities to others etc etc. I would not want to be a burden on family finances if I got sick or something. But such insurance is getting expensive. This time I'm using the complimentary insurance offered by my credit card. The cover seems quite good. The only condition was that I spend more than $500 on travel expenses, on that card, before departure. Easy when flying from 'The Far Side of the World'.......
Hi Rob. Once again another excellent video and as a complete 80yr.old novice I have found all of great help in understanding what is needed to prepare for a Camino. I am planning a 5 week time on part of the VDLP starting in 6 weeks from Zafra and I shall see how far I can achieve in my available time. The one thing that is causing me some concern are sections of the route between Caceres and Salamanca which has 3 or 4 days consecutive days in excess of 25 to 30 kms between overnight stops. Although I have never done a long distance 'walk' I think that up to 20 km per day will be a sensible target for me to achieve. From your personal situation and experience have you given any thought on this particular section of the VDLP which you are planning this year?
Yes I have. I looked at the route on the Gronze website and have managed to plan stages under 25 kms except for 3 stages. I have a plan B for those. Between Caceres and Salamanca I have all days under 25 kms, in fact most are 20 or less. Have you used the Gronze site?
@@GeoffSimmons-fw6tf I find it the best site for planning. It's in Spanish, but a Chrome browser (and some others) will auto translate the pages for you. www.gronze.com/
I think people often overlook rest days on long trips. Having a schedule that allows you to stop here and there to enjoy a lovely village or town is important. It allows your body to rest. If you finish early, you can sightsee. IMO, better to err on the side of too many days then not enough. Enjoy.
@@thisorthat7626 100%. On a longish Camino, you will probably require rest days, or at least some 'short' days. The tricky thing, is that they are hard to plan. You might 'plan' a rest day in Burgos for example, but you might 'need' one prior to that. One of the reasons not to plan and BOOK your whole Camino up front. I have a 'plan' of stages that I expect to walk, but I rarely stick to it. It's more to provide an estimate of how many days my Camino is likely to take. Then I might add in extra days for rest or short days. Maybe 1 in 10. It's almost impossible to know how far you'll want to walk, or are able to walk, more than a few days in advance. My last Camino, I was surprised that some days I could walk further than I had planned to. Others were much shorter. This whole planning thing is essential to grasp I think. Hold your plan loosely........
Good day, My question is do I need to download a app version of the Camino to my phone to avoid carrying a book? *how far in advance do you recommend to book a bed for the Camino? It sure takes the spontaneity out of it and makes it rather difficult. I’ll be traveling the first of may on the frances. P.S. the more youtube videos ( not yours) I watch, the more unprepared I feel. Thank you, Linda🇺🇸
Don't feel unprepared. We can all tend to 'over think' it a bit! You don't 'need' a guidebook, but it's a 'nice to have'. Personally I use an app to save weight, others like a hard copy...... Booking ahead is a very personal thing and it can indeed impact the spontaneity of it all. At one extreme I would not book the whole thing prior to starting! and at the other end of the scale I would book the first couple of nights. But what after that? Depends when you are starting and the time of year. May is busy on the CF. And if starting in St Jean, the villages as far as Pamplona can become 'choke points'. Particularly Zubiri. You'll work it out. What best works for you. Once I'm underway, I tend to book one night ahead only. And I only book ahead because I'm a very slow walker, often one of the last to arrive around 4-6 pm. I like to take my time and not participate in a 'bed race'. See what it's like when you get there 🙂
For guidebooks, I like John Brierley. I think he has finally given in and produced Kindle versions. Prior to that I used to scan the book and carry the pdf on my phone. Gronze.com is my 'go to' website for accommodation. On my next Camino I'm trying a few apps. 1. Wise Pilgrim. 2. Buen Camino. I use the apps more to read about the stages and sights. I use Gronze to work out my next stops / accommodation.
No. But I tend to book one night ahead. If people can't get a bed, it tends to me more that they couldn't get their 'choice' of bed. 1. Budget, 2. Type of accommodation, 3. Location they wanted. It could occur in a busy period, that you might need to taxi/bus to a different location. But I have only seen this happen once. (Zubiri, which is a choke point)
@@robscamino Thanks so much, I'm Leaving the U.S.A on Aug 17 for my first Camino and returning Sept 25. I think I have watched almost all of your videos and they are answering so many questions for me. I just watched your passport video and you recommended that I purchase it online. It is very important to me to get my certificate at the end. If I purchase it online do I need to stop in the pilgrims Office in St Jean De port to let them know I'm starting or register with them before I start? Thanks again for the info. Greg T USA Ohio, Cleveland
Do you have particular concerns about your first Camino? Do ask..... Or maybe if you have walked a Camino you havev your own thoughts on Priorities?
Thanks for the video! I am starting May 9th on the Camino del Norte and might then switch to the Primitivo. There is very mixed information out there about the need for a sleeping bag. Can I rely on the blankets at the Auberges? I will bring a very minimal liner (sheet of nylon), merino leggings, a good puffy and a closed cell foam pad that I could wrap around my legs. What's your opinion? Should I bring a sleeping bag as well?
@@wio2189 It's a very 'personal' thing. Some sleep hot, others sleep cold. Personally I'd take a very lightweight sleeping bag. But if you don't use it, don't shoot me! 🙂
@@robscamino Thanks for your reply!
@@wio2189 I did the Norte and managed to get away without one....on most nights 😂 but I did take a liner and did have to use it
On my second camino on the Frances, I did take a light sleeping bad and it was worth it. Got a 500 gram down one, it was enough and didn't take too much space or weight
Rob, that day pack you use on airplane, laundry and packing, do you know where can buy one?
Also are you taking your pocket knife as cabin baggage? Are we allowed to? ( From Australia?)
Thanks for ALL you info.
The whole of life is better without expectations and without comparing one's life to other people's lives. Lift your head up, look around and live in the moment. Exactly as you say - "let it unfold".
100% ! 😊
So many of these are spot on, namely #1 and #5.
What others would you add? 🙂
Have been loving your videos! You have put my mind to ease about a lot of things and have given me more confidence to walk my first Camino in a couple weeks. Thank you!
That's great. Buen Camino 🙂
The via de la plata will be fantastic you will enjoy it buen camino your videos are great thank you
Appreciate the feedback Anton
Brilliant channel offering wonderful measured advice. Wish you were there before I walked my first Camiño
Thanks. Appreciation, is always appreciated.
Great point on shoes,...my body thrives on zero drop,...I can’t have a heel at all. It has to work for you
Glad to hear they work for you.
More great advice Rob, thanks. I walked with a Philippine guy for a day or so leaving Azofra. God love him he was so badly prepared but he kept on and made the best of it. I steered him to Decathlon in Burgos and he picked up everything he needed there. Their hiking shoes and boots are incredibly comfortable, ugly but comfortable. It's like they design the boot from the inside out , however, he was delighted.
Good that it turned out well.
Once again thanks Rob for your very well presented videos. You are so down to earth and I listen to every word. I’m doing my first Camino in May this year, the Frances. I’m 70 years old and worry if I’m taking on too much . I’ve prepared myself for the last couple of years and am ok for my age, but there’s still that niggling doubt I me . Wish me well, thanks
70 years Young huh? Don't stress about it. I've met Pilgrims well into their 80s. It's not a contest and not a race. Take it at your own pace...... The Frances is a great route as their are loads of places to stay and the distances between villages is often just a few kms. I'll let you into a Secret. I'm 'only' 65 and this is my 4th Camino this year, and I have niggling doubts. We all do 🙂
I work in a retirement community, and a couple of residents have done it, and I think one was in her 70's at the time.
I figure that if I realize, early on, that I cannot walk the whole thing; I can take the bus to Sarria (or a little before), and walk that last 100km at whatever snail's pace I can manage.
I don't know your life circumstances. But for me, even starting it feels like a huge accomplishment. :D
If you see a purple-haired American (whose clothes all seem to be pastel shades of blue/green/lavender), say hi!
@@aprilstarchild79 Buen Camino. You might surprise yourself at how well it goes! 🙂
The nice thing about doing lots and lots of walking before your Camino, is that it helps you figure out which shoes etc. will or won't work for you. I walk four miles four days a week (my commute to and from work is two miles each way), and on my weekend I do a walk of 8 or 9 miles, which includes going around a local gorgeous hilly park, and walking up and down the steepest trail in the park once or twice. (I do need to try doing said hike two days in a row.)
Re: gear: I do know that I tend to err on "comfort" in the "comfort vs. weight" debate BUT when I weighed my pack a week ago with all the things I'm planning to bring (and a few equivalent substitutions for the few things I don't have yet) it was a little over 12lbs (just under 6kg). HALLELUJAH.
Re: languages: I've been doing Spanish on duolingo and a couple of other things. I know I'm not going to be fluent or even great at it, but I figure every little bit helps. I think as an American I have a complex about these things--I don't want to be "that" kind of American, who assumes everyone on earth speaks English. The irony is that a few years ago I took a stab at Korean, and gave up in part because it *is* excruciatingly difficult if you're an English speaker--and there's so many S. Koreans on the Camino these days that if I'd kept it up, I would have people to practice it with!
Re: expectations: I actually think doing bicycle touring years ago helps with this. I know there are going to be days I'm just grumpy and sore and tired. I know there's going to be days that are spectacular. (I know sometimes those are the same day!) I know I will meet both lovely people and deeply irritating people. I know a lot of the meaning-making happens after you get home.
You sound very well prepared in mind and body 🙂
I love this video Rob. I am doing my first camino in May. I am still looking for my perfect footwear. 😬
Oh 'perfect footwear'? Is there such a thing? For my first 3 Caminos I loved my Salomon gortex lightweight boots. But bad knees have forced me to go to lighter footwear. Here are a couple of videos that might help you choose. Trial: ruclips.net/video/48j3XIB6NH0/видео.html Final pick: ruclips.net/video/TympVTOKEuM/видео.html
Thanks for all the tips, they are so valuable !!
Glad you like them!
Yes footwear is very important. As you say everyone is different. I had tried hoka stinsons but found them bulky. Ypuare right the stack height in the lone peaks is not great. I went for the Olympus 4s Max stack height for altras. They were greatformeo the Norte.
Darn tough socks with infinite liners were the best for me as had a blister with socks by themselves. Would recommend vicks on your feet before putting socks on for the day.
As for thirty I used a technical and a merino which was God. However, I have just seen there is a 70/30 merino/silk one I will probably get instead of my Icebreakers.
Have a great time in Spain,again.
I use vaseline on my feet 🙂
yes Injinji toe socks make a world of diference! I heard that Vicks is good as a lubricant and helps with breathing along the way.
Altra Lone Peaks have minimal padding & even though a heap of people love them, they weren’t for me. I used Hoka Speedgoats on the Camino & they were fantastic. I’m now using Altra Olympus as they have a lot more padding & they are great. Don’t wear hiking boots unless you’ve walked hundreds of kilometres in them with a light pack. We saw a lot of people shred their feet in boots because they’re made for carrying a heavy load, far more than what anyone would carry on Camino. Buen Camino!
Such a personal thing isn't it? I loved my boots and walked 2,000 Camino kms in them. But they are just too heavy for my knees now. But I'm looking forward to walking my next one in trail runners.
I’m planning to walk the Camino Frances mid-Aug thru Sep. I’m really excited about it. Thanks for you videos. They’re very helpful.
Glad they're useful. Buen Camino
Same. Mid August thru late September. Videos have been great. Thank You
Hello Rob, I did 6 times the Portuguese way of Caminho, and I want to thank you for your videos because I want do the French Caminho, starting in Saint Jean, and your advices and see what I have to do it is great. All the best for you and Bom Caminho as we say in Portuguese.
Buen Camino for the Frances.
About socks, I'm planning to do my first camino this summer, and when I asked my uncle (who's a doctor and does marathons and stuff) what I could use to prevent blisters and rubbing, he told me socks with toes is a great option, as they give you that extra protection in between toes so they don't rub against each other. I haven't bought them yet so I can't give my opinion, but just so you know, the brand he recommended was injinji, they have an online store. Hope it helps someone!!
first I apply some anti friction cream on a few strategic areas of my foot then I go with the 2 sock approach , my first sock is a compression one covered by a merino running sock ,, after 4 camino's I've never had a blister . this system works well for me.
We all have our approaches to this. This is mine. 2,000 kms and no blisters yet. ruclips.net/video/z42sdp7G38E/видео.html
I legit tried 20 odd pairs of shoes before my first Camino. Once I put on a pair of Merrill Moab shoes I knew I found the right pair - 3 caminos and 3 pairs of Moabs I’ve just bought my 4th pair of exactly the same shoe . ( I should buy shares !)
Rob is right - nothing more important. Boots really are a no go -‘they’re not required and will cause problems
Shoes are a no-go for me, and for my own reasons. Some pilgrims need to use shoes ; some boots ; others sandals. Whatever's needed and best.
@@julianlord5366 Very true. We are all different in every respect. Footwear, packs, poles, rainwear ............. 🙂
Shaun. And I thought I was fussy! 🙂 Boots are not right for 'me'. Others love them. I used to !
For us and our planning for May. We try to get ourselves fitter. And walk as much as we can during the week. Not concerned about matching the Km we will do on the Camino. For us it’s about getting fitter and getting our feet boot ready . Other than that our planning is no different than any other trip. Clothes baggage etc
Cheers Mick
Yes, I take a similar approach. I call it 'conditioning' rather than 'training'. I'm doing a 5km trail walk each morning and a couple of kms each evening. It's really about getting all the joints working again and getting the muscles used to a bit of hard work. I'll add a light pack soon. I used to go off on 15-20 km training hikes, but don't do that anymore. All the road walking just damaged my feet.
So true about having/not having expectations. It can completely turn your day(s) upside down.
I used zero drop shoes for the first time on a Camino last year, and haven’t allowed for the weight of the backpack shifting my centre of gravity backwards on a downhill stretch, as a result, it caused a very painful knee ligament problem on the second day. Luckily, managed to continue and finish the trip.
Well done for making it.
Very good! thanks. Excellent advice, all of them.
Glad it was helpful
I am planning my first Camino late April, I have found a pair of Salomon boots that are very light weight that I think will do just fine.
Sounds great!
Hmm, I hear the "no expectations" advice all the time. I think the idea of "no expectations" can be interpreted as letting go of certain preconceived notions and being open to new perspectives, rather than having no expectations at all which seems impossible. I believe everyone goes on Camino with a set of personal expectations, as much as they try not to. Those expectations are part of why a Camino is such a personal experience. On Camino your expectations are going to be challenged, and in my view that is often what makes the Camino a transformational, perspective-changing experience. As I process my recent first Camino (I prepared watching all of your videos and many others'), I'm beginning to think about what were my "good," not necessarily correct expectations and what were my "bad" expectations. I don't yet know how to define a "bad expectation." Sometimes I dealt with my expectations poorly, but mostly I took the opportunity to reflect and unravel many illusions I had about life, until I hit a point where as we walked, it seemed like I was just "living" life and not striving so much. One thing I did come back with is that the Camino for me is truly be a metaphor for life. Now I'm learning how to continue "Caminando" at home. I went on Camino to contemplate what to do with the last third of my life, I came back not knowing so much what I want to do, but a little better how I want to live it. Thanks for considering my comment and I hope it adds to a positive dialogue about this Camino-thing that obsesses us. 🙂
A great perspective Lance. I think this is a powerful message "I went on Camino to contemplate what to do with the last third of my life, I came back not knowing so much what I want to do, but a little better how I want to live it". I certainly gained that view on my first.
Great video Rob, and good luck with this year’s preparations! My wife and I probably cannot return to the Camino for a very, very long time, but your videos bring back lots of memories.
- Footwear: spot on - I’d recommend my basic Quechuas, as I could walk endlessly in them without pain, but that's just me and my feet. But it's important to be told beforehand to consider proper footwear, as part of me originally felt like my cheap runners would do the trick (!) - we were frequently negotiating muddy Galician tracks and overflowing creeks, and the waterproofing and firmly-gripping soles saved us a lot of grief!
- Fitness: completely agree with everything you said (especially as someone who also had to lose a lot of weight at one time).
- Gear: I’m glad we got this right first time around - in wet weather (ie. Galicia in December), waterproof pants and plastic pants roll up well, and are super light, but those were the bulkiest items in my backpack.
- Language: my wife and I walked the Invierno, and *very* few people spoke English on the way - if it wasn't for my intermediate Spanish, things would have gone wrong as we needed luggage moved from place to place every day. For those who travel lightly, things are much more straightforward, but my wife did wish she could have connected with the locals more. Depends on your needs and expectations, I suppose.
- Expectations: again, agreed. I like to think I’m pretty grounded and sensible, but my arrival in Santiago was much more understated than I'd expected. Nothing wrong with that, and I don’t want to say it was 'anticlimactic’, but it didn't match what I assumed would happen, or how I would feel. On the other hand, the unexpected emotional highs earlier on in our journey will stay with me for a lifetime. 😊
Keep up the great work Rob, and Buen Camino!
Great to hear of your experiences Robert. Yes, the finish can be an anti climax! So it's important to enjoy the journey. I share some thoughts about the finish here: ruclips.net/video/rLOs5MuFflQ/видео.html First timers might want to watch it.
Thank you for your info, I have watched many if not all of your videos. I doing the coming this fall and i have looked at accommodations and a lot of them are full. I wasn’t going to pre-book locations but am getting a bit worried I will have a hard time finding something in certain towns. Any advise for me?
Don't stress too much. If you are trying to book months ahead on sites like booking.com very often accommodation places do not 'release' beds/rooms until 2-3 weeks before the booking date. They would rather sell the beds/rooms at full price, instead of paying commissions to sites like booking.com If you really want to book so far in advance, try contacting the places directly. Or wait till closer to your required booking dates. But there are natural 'choke' points on the Camino to be aware of. Popular places that may fill up quickly. On the Camino Frances in popular periods, Zubiri is one of these. Another option is to stay at least popular places, and places that are not at the end of stages in the guidebooks.
Excellent advice as always, thank you Rob.
Glad it helped. Just one person's perspective of course.
Hello Rob, My wife and I love your videos and have been very helpful in our planning stages (going in Sep 2023). Sorry for rambling a bit and any advise you can give us would be helpful. Footwear is a big one as we typically were boots for our hikes in Michigan, Tennessee and Ontario. So we have already started. For those in the US we swear by REI and have been going there for years - great return policy is something is not right. We now have Hoka's and love them. Also bought Chacos (sandals). We plan on walking 100kms for training in these shoes - don't want to wear them out, lol!. Fitness - I firmly believe the better fit you are the more enjoyable the Camino will be - like most things... and dropping a few lbs doesn't hurt. We have a gradual routine (walking, strength, cycling, etc. with and without pack). Gear - we are ready, we think and maxing out at 11-13 lbs for each of us. We have done this now 2 times. We keep debating about light fleece or light weight puffy coat . Language - my wife is French so learning Spanish is a little easier than for me. We will be ready with the most used and needed phrases. Accommodations - this is the most stressful for us - do we book ahead or just wing it? Sep/Oct is the most busiest time. I have found so far when looking for availability that alot of places are already booked. So we decided to book ahead everything now. We have stopping every 4 to 5 days for a rest day to explore the sites.
Sounds like a plan. Though booking everything would stress me out! Trying to maintain a schedule and all that. If booking on booking.com, be aware that many places don't release rooms to booking.com till about 4 weeks ahead. They try to sell direct first. So they might just 'look' full.
Thanks Rob, wise content as always, helps keep my head grounded. I look forward to your take on shoes and socks, my first coming up this year and getting excited
Which Camino route are you planning to walk?
@@robscamino the Frances with the possibility of a diversion to the Invierno after Ponferrada
Nice. What time of year? I might be on the Invierno in a few months.
@@robscamino I leave SJPDP on 21 April, all being well should be around Ponferrada about 4 weeks later...I am in no rush and who knows what the journey will bring 🙂, would be great to bump into you along the way
Who knows, we might. Buen Camino.
Thank you for your fabulous advice .. I really love your channel .. I’m so inspired however as a senior lady and pensioner with a bit of osteo arthritis here in Australia I’d love some more budget friendly advice .. especially regarding gear .. sadly I can’t afford to check out a couple of pairs of lovely Hoka shoes or orthotics to see whats best for me .. let alone backpacks .. now wondering if I should I even think about a Camino ??
You don't need any fancy gear Karen. Footwear and a pack that are comfortable, that's all.
@@robscamino thanks for your reply Rob. Very sorry for my negative comments. Think I’m a bit overwhelmed and quite nervous to even consider walking a Camino at my age of 73. But I am hooked on your fabulous videos. I’m thinking of walking the Portuguese coastal. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Best wishes and well done to everyone taking on this very personal adventure. Cheers
@@karensmith4915 Don't let your age deter you. You can ship your bag ahead to make walking easier in many places. Walking shorter days is fine. You will find people who walk at your speed whenever you go. You don't even have to walk the entire Camino. It's your journey so if you want to go, please do so. Life is meant to be enjoyed, not stressed over. Blessings.
Nice one Rob! Thanks for useful info :)
My pleasure. Just my own views, others will vary 🙂
Hi Rob. For the shoes that are just a tad bit loose, you might like to try insoles which might be enough to fill the gap. If you have problems with your feet or Planter facitus you may want to try aftermarket arch support insoles in them. All the shoes that I've bought with arch support, when I've taken the insole out they are only cardboard which will not last long. I always replace the standard insoles with proper arch support for myself as I do have Planter fascitus. Also if you gain or lose weight this may also affect the shoes you buy because weight loss or gain may alter the way that the foot splays in the shoe.
Hope you find the right pair soon. Thank you for another great and thought provoking video.
I think the shoe issue is fixed now. I have always used custom orthotics and I have my podiatrist making up some new ones for me. Gotta look after those feet!
Great advice! Thanks!
My husband and I thoroughly enjoy your videos. We're planning our 1st Camino when our youngest is out of college in 2 years. 😊 I believe it's never too early to plan.
Indeed! I've been planning my next one for 4 years! 🙂
I’m planning my first when bth my kids are out of high school
@@somehappenings246 Why not do a short one on your own before that!
@@robscamino I’m planning to go on my own, have done a solo hiking trip round home, 10 days,…leaving my family for 40 days is a lot. I’m learning to cut the cord so to speak. Lol
@@somehappenings246 Doesn't need to be as much as 40 days of course.
Hello Rob
Enjoying your videos. Thank you for the information. I am going on my first Camino at age 68 with my 2 grown children. We expect to stay in private rooms. Could you do a video on bed bugs. What do you do to avoid them. Or a video on taking the train from Madrid. Thank you. Drew
If I find some bed bugs next time out, I'll make a video 🙂 My routine is to check the bed on arrival, around the mattress seams. Never found any yet. The train system is very simple, like any other country. I use the renfe website to check schedules and book my ticket. It has an English option. www.renfe.com/es/en
Footwear and socks should be considered as the same thing in two parts, in that you should get the right socks that the right shoes/sandals/boots will mandate, as you suggest. Contrary to your own experience BTW, my own knees and ankles problems are why I wear my army boots, on and off the Camino, for the ankle support. Their durability and waterproof-ness are good reasons too, it takes the heaviest rain for my socks to get even damp, and the pair I used this last time lasted for the entire 5,000K ; though I'd only recommend army boots or similar ankle-high leather hiking boots to other pilgrims for a Winter Camino or for a very long one, more than 1,500K.
But yeah, the most important prep is footwear ; though getting the right backpack is probably in third place, after the physical prep. The three do blend into each other.
As to gear, my hiking kit per se is just backpack, sleeping bag, inflatable mattress. Clothing is just my normal clothes, and it's all cotton. Some people are very anti-cotton, but I've found it dries quickly enough. The only difficulty is jeans, but if you can pop them in a washing machine on a day that's not too wet and humid, they're fine. Though to be fair, my body does radiate more body heat than usual, so if my clothes get wet in the rain, they dry quickly anyway. And my skin has bad reactions to and with synthetic clothing, so that's no go for me personally. My pilgrim cape is now just part of my ordinary clothing, and I use it at home just as my coat for cold or rainy weather. It wicks better than you'd think, and it takes some very heavy rain, like the Galicia variety, or several days of rain in a row for that not to happen. Usually, the inside of it stays dry, and the natural woolllen fabric breathes, so it means I don't get sweaty.
Best prep for a Camino that you've not mentioned is to have done another Camino or a different long-distance hike previously. Some people suggest doing a short 3 to 5 day hike near home as Camino prep, though that may not be practical for all.
As to physical prep, it doesn't just vary person to person, it varies from one Camino to the next. I've needed as little as a week to ten days, and as much as a whole year. However long it takes to get "in training" is a variable.
Love your number five !!
Great insights and perspectives Julian. And reinforces that all these things are very personal choices.
Hi Rob another excellent video. I also found my heel could lift as I walked; now I always lace my shoes with a runners knot ruclips.net/video/jG_XzEjD9Ls/видео.html It's a very simple lacing technique but transformational! It stops your feet sliding forwards in your shoes when going downhill too.
Yes, I use that heel locking technique.
Do you recommend a travel insurance , something with healthcare?
I do, But it's a personal thing. Your budget, your responsibilities to others etc etc. I would not want to be a burden on family finances if I got sick or something. But such insurance is getting expensive. This time I'm using the complimentary insurance offered by my credit card. The cover seems quite good. The only condition was that I spend more than $500 on travel expenses, on that card, before departure. Easy when flying from 'The Far Side of the World'.......
Hi Rob. Once again another excellent video and as a complete 80yr.old novice I have found all of great help in understanding what is needed to prepare for a Camino. I am planning a 5 week time on part of the VDLP starting in 6 weeks from Zafra and I shall see how far I can achieve in my available time. The one thing that is causing me some concern are sections of the route between Caceres and Salamanca which has 3 or 4 days consecutive days in excess of 25 to 30 kms between overnight stops. Although I have never done a long distance 'walk' I think that up to 20 km per day will be a sensible target for me to achieve.
From your personal situation and experience have you given any thought on this particular section of the VDLP which you are planning this year?
Yes I have. I looked at the route on the Gronze website and have managed to plan stages under 25 kms except for 3 stages. I have a plan B for those. Between Caceres and Salamanca I have all days under 25 kms, in fact most are 20 or less. Have you used the Gronze site?
@@robscamino Thanks for your reply. No I haven't used the Gronze site - I will be on it today.
@@GeoffSimmons-fw6tf I find it the best site for planning. It's in Spanish, but a Chrome browser (and some others) will auto translate the pages for you. www.gronze.com/
@@robscamino Thanks for the link. I've now got it running with an english translation.
We are planning the Camino. Going to take 45 days, do you think that is too long? From SJPD. And we are starting 3rd or 4th of May.
😊
I generally take 40 days, and am quite a slow walker (short days). It all depends on how far you plan to walk each day, your age, fitness, health etc.
I think people often overlook rest days on long trips. Having a schedule that allows you to stop here and there to enjoy a lovely village or town is important. It allows your body to rest. If you finish early, you can sightsee. IMO, better to err on the side of too many days then not enough. Enjoy.
@@thisorthat7626 100%. On a longish Camino, you will probably require rest days, or at least some 'short' days. The tricky thing, is that they are hard to plan. You might 'plan' a rest day in Burgos for example, but you might 'need' one prior to that. One of the reasons not to plan and BOOK your whole Camino up front. I have a 'plan' of stages that I expect to walk, but I rarely stick to it. It's more to provide an estimate of how many days my Camino is likely to take. Then I might add in extra days for rest or short days. Maybe 1 in 10. It's almost impossible to know how far you'll want to walk, or are able to walk, more than a few days in advance. My last Camino, I was surprised that some days I could walk further than I had planned to. Others were much shorter. This whole planning thing is essential to grasp I think. Hold your plan loosely........
Good day,
My question is do I need to download a app version of the Camino to my phone to avoid carrying a book?
*how far in advance do you recommend to book a bed for the Camino?
It sure takes the spontaneity out of it and makes it rather difficult.
I’ll be traveling the first of may on the frances.
P.S. the more youtube videos ( not yours) I watch, the more unprepared I feel.
Thank you,
Linda🇺🇸
Don't feel unprepared. We can all tend to 'over think' it a bit! You don't 'need' a guidebook, but it's a 'nice to have'. Personally I use an app to save weight, others like a hard copy...... Booking ahead is a very personal thing and it can indeed impact the spontaneity of it all. At one extreme I would not book the whole thing prior to starting! and at the other end of the scale I would book the first couple of nights. But what after that? Depends when you are starting and the time of year. May is busy on the CF. And if starting in St Jean, the villages as far as Pamplona can become 'choke points'. Particularly Zubiri. You'll work it out. What best works for you. Once I'm underway, I tend to book one night ahead only. And I only book ahead because I'm a very slow walker, often one of the last to arrive around 4-6 pm. I like to take my time and not participate in a 'bed race'. See what it's like when you get there 🙂
Thank you for your encouragement and tips. It helps to get back to my equilibrium and peace.
Which app do you use?
Thank you,
Linda🇺🇸
For guidebooks, I like John Brierley. I think he has finally given in and produced Kindle versions. Prior to that I used to scan the book and carry the pdf on my phone. Gronze.com is my 'go to' website for accommodation. On my next Camino I'm trying a few apps. 1. Wise Pilgrim. 2. Buen Camino. I use the apps more to read about the stages and sights. I use Gronze to work out my next stops / accommodation.
Hello,
I am looking for the walking poles booties that look like little feet. Do you know where I can find those.
Thank you,
Linda🇺🇸
No idea, sorry. But I'm sure a google search will turn them up. Look for 'pole tips'.....
Did you ever have a night that you couldnt get a bed??
No. But I tend to book one night ahead. If people can't get a bed, it tends to me more that they couldn't get their 'choice' of bed. 1. Budget, 2. Type of accommodation, 3. Location they wanted. It could occur in a busy period, that you might need to taxi/bus to a different location. But I have only seen this happen once. (Zubiri, which is a choke point)
@@robscamino Thanks so much, I'm Leaving the U.S.A on Aug 17 for my first Camino and returning Sept 25. I think I have watched almost all of your videos and they are answering so many questions for me. I just watched your passport video and you recommended that I purchase it online. It is very important to me to get my certificate at the end. If I purchase it online do I need to stop in the pilgrims Office in St Jean De port to let them know I'm starting or register with them before I start? Thanks again for the info. Greg T USA Ohio, Cleveland
@@GregTinnirello if starting in St Jean, I would get your passport at the Pilgrims Office there. They are nicer...