Table of Contents:
Looking For Infinity: El Camino (Camino de Santiago Documentary)
Video taken from the channel: Looking For Infinity: El Camino
Camino de Santiago Documentary: A Journey of the Mind
Video taken from the channel: Drew Robinson
The Camino de Santiago in times of CIOVID, Porto to Santiago July 2020
Video taken from the channel: Ivar Rekve
10 Top Tips for Walking the Camino de Santiago
Video taken from the channel: Macs Adventure
Hacks, Tips, and Tricks For Walking The Camino
Video taken from the channel: Homemade Wanderlust
Camino de Santiago Routes Which One Should I Take?
Video taken from the channel: Macs Adventure
Will the Camino Reopen in 2020?
Video taken from the channel: Backcountry Pilgrim
Planning your Camino de Santiago One can just walk a part of the Camino de Santiago in Spain, maybe just 3 or 4 stages, if you don’t have much time. It doesn’t matter; the important thing is to start. You won’t regret it and for sure you will come back.Planning. The biggest problem when considering the Camino Frances to Santiago is the amount of time required to walked the whole way in the one go.
Most pilgrims should be able to walk the Camino Frances in about four weeks. Taking four weeks from work and family can provide some challenges.You want to start planning the Camino de Santiago with time to travel alone, as a couple, as a family or as a group, but you are not sure where to start. To help you organize the Camino de Santiago we have prepared some useful tips with which everything will go smoothly; To begin your planning, you should start by answering the following key question.
Walking The Camino de Santiago – The Inspiration and Planning. Posted on July 22, 2020 by Red O’Laughlin July 22, 2020. Five years ago, this week, my wife and I began walking in preparation to walk the Camino de Santiago.
Most people consider the Camino de Santiago a pilgrimage. It was a part pilgrimage of sorts, but more of a journey of.Planning Your Pilgrimage If you’re planning to walk the Camino, all or part, and intend to do it with a friend, make your choice a wise one. If you’re a fast walker, try to pair up with someone who walks at approximately the same pace you do. Most people are slow walkers and they believe [ ].
Stages: 4 Camino de Santiago Distance The main Camino de Santiago route has a length of 764km, starting at St Jean Pied de Port and ending in Santiago de Compostela. Choose to make your Camino to Santiago walking, hiking, by bike or horseback.This is an amazing interactive itinerary planner that indicates the distance between villages and towns along the camino route.
It lists almost every hamlet, village, town or city along The Way. You simply click on a starting point and a finishing point and it tells you exactly the distance that you will walk between those two towns.Walking the Camino de Santiago: Getting Ready (Photo: Fresco Tours/Flickr)There are a plethora of guidebooks and online resources to help you plan your pilgrimage, but I’m.Planning Your Camino Journey. These topics are intended to aid in your preparations before you head to the Camino.
For subjects focused on daily Camino logistics (sleeping, food, navigation, etc.), head to our On the Way section.Planning Your Camino de Santiago with the Camino de Santiago Map Whatever your reason, there is a Camino for you. There are so many trails to choose from that you’ll need to do your homework to choose the perfect trip. The routes all have something different to offer.You may be inspired to walk Camino de Santiago in Spain, perhaps by books and movies such as The Way.
Once you have the time to make the journey, you need to start planning. Decisions about routes, distances, training, accommodations, and more need to be made.The Camino de Santiago is a life-changing experience for most, we know many people that were planning this pilgrimage for years, preparing, reading, training.
To make sure you enjoy it, take the right gear, don’t overload your backpack, have comfortable shoes that you can walk in for days, etc.However, nothing can really prepare us for walking about 20+ km every day with a 6 to 8 kg backpack, (14 to 20 lbs). The first week is going to be tough, though it gets better very quickly – after about a week or so.
Once on the Camino de Santiago, there is one main point to remember DO NOT RUSH.Planning your Camino de Santiago. 3. min read.
A-A+. read. By Jackie May 22, 2019 Planning the trip. If you’re anything like me, from the first moment I heard about the Camino I knew I wanted to walk it.
Somehow the Camino calls you and gets into your heart, and it’s hard to forget. You can absolutely walk the Camino, no matter your age.The Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) is the name of any of the pilgrimage routes, known as pilgrim ways, to the shrine of the apostle St.
James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the saint are buried.
List of related literature:
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| from To the Field of Stars: A Pilgrim’s Journey to Santiago de Compostela |
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| from I’ll Push You: A Journey of 500 Miles, Two Best Friends, and One Wheelchair |
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| from Engineering Happiness: A New Approach for Building a Joyful Life |
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| from The New York Times: 36 Hours. 125 Weekends in Europe |
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| from I’m Off Then: Losing and Finding Myself on the Camino de Santiago |
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| from Bicycling The Pacific Coast: A Complete Route Guide, Canada to Mexico, 4th Edition |
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| from The Rough Guide to Thailand (Travel Guide eBook) |
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| from Discovering Griffith Park: A Local’s Guide |
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| from Tourism Theory: Concepts, Models and Systems |
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| from One Spirit Medicine |
191 comments
Not a fan of ear plugs either, partly because they never seem to stay in. I’ve found the wax type that you can mould for a better fit to be the most useful.
Stay with it, Doug. Thoroughly enjoy your posts. My scheduled departure was August 16th.
Late August 2022 will hopefully be my starting date!
So in the meantime keep the interesting videos coming.
Thank you!
France has stated that visitors from outside the EU, the Schengen Area and the UK will be subject to 14 days quarantine. Other countries like Spain may follow suit. This will deter most visitors from outside these areas until next year at least.
We had planned on walking the Camino in September and October 2020. Now we have the Coronavirus and I have a bad attack of sciatica.Things are not looking good.
Thanks for the vids Doug
We were supposed to start on the 2nd of June and have been very fortunate to get a full refund from the airline… I feel that the Camino isn’t going anywhere as time fleets quickly.
Spain is supposed to open back up completely to all tourism on July 1. We are planing on hiking the camino on Aug 1 believing that a month will be enough cushion and Aug is the month that most Europeans take their holidays… let’s see.:)
I am in the same predicament. I was going to finish my Camino series in May. Nevertheless, I’ll go back as soon as it opens. Good luck in your Camino. Ultreia…
Its doable with a tent, but wacht up for permits to set up camp site. ( where to shower, wc)?
Thank you Ivar. I am so glad that Trish volunteered to do this and you did a great job of including the questions we suggested on the Tuesday Zoom. Very inspiring to think it is not only possible to walk right now but also a very positive experience!
Very very well done! I’m planning on doing El Camino in the next month and this really inspired me.
I believe that one of the best things for the early risers is to pack up before you go to sleep. I carried earplugs to give to others because I’ve been told that I snore.
Unwatchable, or rather unlistenable with totally inappropriate music. Way to ruin what looked like a good video.
Horrible, i feel your pain. lots of very useful info! thanks so much for sharing!�� looking forward to tagging along! ��
Hey Doug, I feel your pain. I was booked to go in October for celebrate my 50th. Like you i have been preparing for years to do this. Oh well it definitely does suck..:(
I’ll start the camino on July 10th:) I talked with some people that are doing it right now and, even if there’s not a lot of people, hostels are open
Not giving up either, supposed to go to Spain in September, but…..?
Problem for us may be flights from Australia etc.
Always enjoy your videos, cheers from Australia
UPDATE 07.17.2020 As most of you probably know, Spain has “reopened” as have many Albergues. However, Spain is not yet open to citizens of the USA. Sadly, the Covid restrictions on Albergues are pretty fierce (fewer beds can be used, kitchens and other common areas are closed off, no indoor eating, social distancing even outside, masks, etc.). Further, because of space limits, albergues must be reserved in advance something that is not always an option for pilgrims who cannot simply hike any distance on any day. Finally, airline tickets and hotel fees are rising quickly due to increased demand for fewer resources (ECON 101). For all of these reasons, the Camino is a no go for me and my cousin this (and probably next) year.
This has been a costly endeavor (I am STILL fighting to get my airfare back from my miserable booking company!), and I doubt I’ll recover in time for 2021 (which is also a holy year meaning even more pilgrims competing for rooms). So to those who can make it, Buen camino! I hope it’s what you wanted. I know it would not be for me though so I’m giving up for now. I remain hopeful that someday the real Camino will return and that when it does I will be on it. Ultreia!
Thanks so much for sharing that! I really enjoyed watching it.
Thanks for the video..like you we have had to postpone but have decided to plan to go in 2021. I have changed nearly all the Albergues and their response to date has been good. yeah there’s the vaccine and the other risks but you have to try to give hope and let them know there is demand….if it goes to shit well we adapt to the situation….
great video,i would be on the via de la plata right now.i was able to change my 6 week vacation from april/mai to sept/october.if the camino is legally open i will walk it.with the tripe crown and 4 caminos allready behind me i think i can handle closed alberges for a while. it will be as different experience but with a gear setup like for the PCT or AT it will be doable.all i really need is a supermarket every few days.
Chalk it up for this year, Doug. Personally, I wouldn’t worry about 2020, I’d be more worried about 2021. Until there’s a worldwide vaccine what’s going to happen next winter with the virus, we could be back in this situation next year.
Also consider this, albergues are like cruise ships, just because they open, doesn’t mean people are going to feel safe using them. Then of course next year you have the “Holy Year” situation.
May the Fourth be with you!
So sorry for you �� I guess we all have had to do the same: put our plans and hopes for the camino on hold. You wondered if there are a bunch of pilgrims who could go there quickly well, obviously there is: the Spaniards. They are always the biggest group of pilgrims anyway. I believe they will start caminos as soon it is possible, they’ll open the way again. And God bless them, Spain has suffered from this so much. I wish they can heal on caminos before we, all others, come ��
The best documentary I have seen to date: good photography and intelligent comments by an apparently very likable person. Congratulations and thanks.
Beautiful movie Drew:) thank you for creating it. It was very inspiring! I am planning my Camino this Autumn and I feel a little more prepared, and inspired. Great music choices too!
This is so wrong… The Via De La Plata is like 1000 KM long!
I am planning to walk the Camino Ingles next year, and I appreciate your covering all the routes in this video and I found it very helpful. It has convinced me that my feelings were correct about my choice. Thanks for all you do.
Thank you, Ivar. Trish is a delightful lady. Wonderful interview.
Great overview presentation! The pictures add a lot as well. Well done. As a native well acquainted with this experience, I applaud your approach and accuracy. Thank you. Ana with
[email protected] adventureinlearning-spanish.com
I really like the free MAPS.ME app while hiking (and traveling in general). It lets you download maps of whole regions of countries, which you can then use without a data connection. The maps are based on OpenStreetMaps (open source maps) which show trails, water points, points of interest (waterfalls, ruins, mountains, viewpoints,…), public toilets, public transport stops, shops, hotels/hostels/mountain huts/shelters,… and much more. It has also the possibility to buy guides for routes (like the Camino). But I haven’t used those guides myself, as I didn’t get to hiking the Camino yet.
For hikes in my (new) home country Switzerland, I use the app SwitzerlandMobility, which is definitely recommended if one day you find yourself in Switzerland. It is a great guide to all the hiking/cycling/mountain biking/canoeing/snowshoeing/cross-country skiing trails in Switzerland and is freely available (it is maintained by the organization that creates and maintains the trails).
App for the Camino. Wise Pilgrim Guides. They have just about everything you need. You can get a headlamp that has a red light. If you’re an early riser, like me, have everything ready to go before you turn in. The only things you should have to put into your pack in the morning should be your nest and toothbrush. Those that rummage in plastic bags should all be taken out into a field……………..
Hi Dixie
Is it possible to sleep in your tent while hiking the Camino?
Thanks for the great content. I’m saving up to hike the Camino in 2022!
Guide book sections Technology has always failed me at the worst time on the trail or riding a bicycle (hundreds of miles). The night before, or over breakfast, I spend half an hour hand-scribing my next day’s hike/bike with highlights, and put it in a pint zip-loc, which works as a rain protector.
Get used to earplugs BEFORE walking. I had a buff that I used for an eye mask too that kept the plugs in place.
Oh, and yet another night-light / courtesy tip: if your light is too bright for use in a shared shelter (or you want to preserve your own night vision), just cover it with one or two layers of a t-shirt, bandana or sheet of toilet paper. Voila! a 50-lumen light just became a 5-lumen light and more diffuse / less glaring. A sheet of toilet paper and a rubber band can make it hands-free.
It probably doesn’t surprise you, Dixie, that I’m also an engineer.
For only $10 and 10 grams, I really like the NiteCore Tube USB-charge-able key-chain light. 50 hours of 1 lumen (great for reading, pooping, digging in your pack) and I find 1 lumen (barely) enough to hike a developed trail at night; or 1 hour of 45 lumens. For backpacking trips, it lets me use my main headlamp with no worries of draining the battery because I could, if needed, compete the trip/stage with the Tube. And since it’s USB-charge-able, you always start a trip with it full and are never seeking oddball button batteries on your travels.
Pro-tip, especially while backpacking: stitch a little loop of thin elastic on the shoulder of your sleep top. Then it will point, hands-free, at a paper book, map, tooth brush, mirror, etc, that you’re trying to use at night.
Beautiful. My Camino started in 2014. I do a week every year. I have reached Leon and in no hurry to finish it. I love the time I spend on it and feel it never leaves me. Buen Camino!
I completely agree with the no-weight approach of photographing the guidebook with your phone. An old-school way to reduce guide book weight is to copy it on a copy machine at 50%. 50% width x 50% height means 25% the size and 25% the weight and it still works if your eyes are young. Then you just toss pages as you go.
Conversely, sometimes I’d copy a city map from a guide book at 150% or 200% to make it easier to read and put notes onto. Then, I can do some navigation and orientation with just a slip of paper instead of waving my $800 iPhone around while obviously a tourist.
New sub, just wanted to say I think your videos are great. I’m putting my bug out bag together an found your videos. Been watching many and your ideas and knowledge has made impact on my decisions of what to do. Thank you for great fun videos, especially the how to stay clean on the trail. Best wishes shalom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP2lcEUkMY4 I don’t know the bloke who made this review, I just did a quick Google; BUT I know you can do a better job of hanging the clothes up than he did!
Perfection thank you!! Reflective tape on trekking poles is a great hack!! And the foot hammock for the WIN. Much appreciated!!
There is always 2021 or 2022 and it will be different, more hotels versus hostels as people will be leery to stay in packed rooms with bad air
Thanks for sharing! I am seriously thinking of doing it next year.
It has been two months since I came back from my camino to Santiago, Muxia e Fisterra. I am back but a piece of my soul will always be on the camino, an experience of faith and love.
Buen camino!
No. no….. you do not give up the ‘dog’. Your dog would be more tan happy living a simple life.. you were the dogs life..
06:45, Yes while in a hostel or such place i always attach colourfull ribbons to my gear…same i do when traveling in a group, especially in flights makes locating your, your groups stuff easily…in a crowd. Happy Holidays to you.
Get a headlight that has an option for red light. I’ve used this while camping or when in hostels where a bright white light will wake everyone else up. It’s also hands-free for packing up your gear and you get plenty of light to see. Mine also allows you to adjust the intensity of the red light as well, which is handy.
If you want to make your trekking poles identifiable and also have a handy way to store your cordage (paracord, zing-it, whatever you use), you can wrap a dozen or so yards under the handle and secure it with a hitch or constricting knot. It’s easy to take off when you need the cordage, and always easy to get to. Plus, if you opt for a high visibility color, like hunter orange or neon yellow, it will make your poles easy to spot in the pile, and make you more safely visible if you’re hiking in a hunting area.
Dixie, S hooks are fine, but check out soft shackles. You can make them yourself in literally any size and they are super light and take up no space. Also way more useful than s hooks. Think of them as a carabiner made out of rope. You can open and close it like a carbabiner, but it folds up into nothing when you pack it. If you make them out of zing-it or some other dyneema type line, they can hold a crazy amount of weight too. They’re something a lot of hammockers have been using for years. I carry one with me in my everday carry now, they are that useful, and there’s always at least two in my backpack loadout.
I carry a carabiner( to hang my pack on the bed frame, don’t know why but it kept the bed bugs from getting into my pack )
2) over the door hook (you can get very light ones for the shower )
3) Plastic bag for dry clothes to hang on the over the door hook
4) an EU plug with more than one USB socket; I found this on Amazon. https://aax-us-east.amazon-adsystem.com/x/c/Qqn0N-2PIL5prILTUg1IG1QAAAFvWi5tGgEAAAH2AWIM3rY/https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/7023DFE1-EF05-42B0-8DC4-FCEE3434E4D0?store_ref=SB_A1025258393YSZUW5B20F&pf_rd_p=591760d1-6468-480f-9b10-0ee9c85706fd&hsa_cr_id=1047940950101&lp_slot=auto-sparkle-hsa-tetris&lp_asins=B081GXSXR9,B0811RYSW4,B07YDF8GCT&lp_mat_key=eu%20adapter&lp_query=usb%20eu%20power%20adapter&sb-ci-n=headline&sb-ci-v=European%20travel%20adapter%20with%20USB
One place I stayed require cleaning before I would use the shower. I bought a bottle of toilet cleaner (the only thing I knew had bleach in it) and put it all over the woman’s shower walls, floor, and faucet handle. The mold was gross. Happy hiking
The OG Thru-hike vloggers, CB Disco and POD, did the TA a few years ago. They would be great to talk to.
If regular earplugs don’t work (too big, too uncomfortable) and the snoring keeps you awake, then custom-made earplugs can be a good investment. In the Netherlands they cost around €100. Hearing aid stores can make them. I am quite satisfied with mine!
What would be some good trails for beginners? I want to start backpacking/ long hikes, but I want to start small because I have knee and hip problems. Any advice?
No.1 Hack
Go when your chips are down. Go alone. Open your heart.
Thanks for your tips!
If there was enough space (and it was raining out), I’d put my hiking poles under the top flap of my backpack so they were sticking out either side and hang my drying laundry over the poles.
9:07 I thought I was the only one! but I still use earplugs because people chewing with their mouths open make me very crazy.
Yep, we postponed our 2020 hike. We were scheduled to fly out on August 23rd for a August 26 start… life happens… maybe 2021 or 22… thank you for this video… good info and thoughts
Silicone earplugs are soooo much more comfortable than foam and they block almost any kind of snores as well. You can find them in US drugstores dirt cheap, too, Mack’s or DVS brands
Excellent video and journey! Thank you for sharing! I’m doing my journey now!
Nice viedeo again!
We always carry a Sea to Summit clothesline. Small and lightweight and the length good enough for drying our dayly washed clothes.
See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=37&v=wSptAa2sst0&feature=emb_logo
and a review of more clotheslines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r1Zgg7I7e0
Thanks Dixie and keep your feet and videos going
1. use sewing clips instead of clothes pegs
2. if feet got wet, put on dry socks and thin plastic bags, it will keep them warm in wet shoes
3. multiple port charger is a must on camino
4. use Maps.me maps and download other people treks
If you still have an old phone, you can get it unlocked and take it with you, then buy a local SIM card for whatever country you’ll be in. I took my iPhone 4 when I went a few years ago and did that. Worked out great! And if you want to call home, just get an international phone card and use it with your phone.
Is there a possibility of sleeping in a tent? I think that is the best hack considering how much fuss it is to bunk next to other people.
She is so cute. If I was 15 years younger I would…well, I would do nothing but I would think about it..lol
These are designed specifically for sleep. 10 times more comfortable than regular foam plugs. Used them on the Camino.
Mack’s Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs, 50 Pair 32dB Highest NRR, Comfortable Ear Plugs for Sleeping, Snoring,
Work, Travel & Loud Events https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051U7W32/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_UjeyL6QTHcZqo
Want to turn pages into PDFs try using the “Adobe Scan” app on your phone.
Always nice to hear your voice, keep the cards and letters coming.
I walked the Camino from Switzerland to Pamplona and wish I had known about the hooks…☺️. An additional tip: I collect all the Silica-Gel bags over the year and carry them in a airtight bag. When I need a small item or even shoes to dry over night I use one or two of them. They also come in super-handy if your phone got wet in the rain.
I wish I could do what she’s doing. Unfortunately in 2020 government’s are making my own health and risk decisions for me, and treat me like a child.
Take those soft foam earplugs and cut them in half. Use the end that has the nice round shape and just gently roll between your fingers and place it in the outer part of your ear canal…don’t jam it down in there unless you brought a pair tweezers to pick it out….half of the earplugs gives a nice muffled quality to your hearing without hearing your heart pound but still be aware of your surroundings… really like the Walgreen store brand ones. They come in a big jar and are fleshy colored.i always wear them on an airplane. The half portion doesn’t render you completely deaf. Just returned from Borrego Springs and got to do some walks on the PCT AT scissors crossing and up there at Julian. Beautiful winter time desert fun. Really enjoyed the Camino hike. As always you really deliver. I think you and Montana should do the Cornish Coast Path in southwest England. Y’all could walk forever in Great Britain on all those public Footpaths that ave been established for so long and maintain right aways through perpetuity. ☮️❤️������
Excellent ideas. Rubber tips for hiking pole is a way to reduce noise while you hike.
1:20 (record scratch noise as preppers in the viewing audience realize Dixie hike the Camino and possibly the Triple Crown without cordage)
Camino office in St. Jean provided a handout of towns and albergues, updated (they change), very useful, and when I lost my Brierly guidebook, I really wished I had kept it, and photographed it to use as Dixie explained. 2020 hindsight.
If you’re a picnicer: a Sestema box with compartments. Nothing better than buying a fresh baguette every day attach this to rucksack. Then have some ham, cheese and pepper… available. Need good sharp knife. Shemagh is a great table cloth.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sistema-Bento-Lunch-Fruit-Yogurt/dp/B072MQC4SR/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp?keywords=sistema&pd_rd_i=B072MQC4SR&pd_rd_r=8a2f156c-ebcc-435f-845c-f95cf878c3d0&pd_rd_w=DT3V3&pd_rd_wg=jtiV5&pf_rd_p=7dc56c0d-8a5f-4d97-9143-7233b106859a&pf_rd_r=GVSWADH4QR5X190MFXFB&qid=1577649870&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE
Thank you for sharing this interview. I think it will be sometime before we from Australia will be able to do the Camino. But it was encouraging.
What a wonderful and inspirational video. Thank you for putting it together and sharing it with us.
As well as earplugs consider taking an eye mask especially if walking in summer as it’s light till after 11.00 pm! I used mine every night when I walked CF in June July. Also a good and cheap snack is to boil 6eggs (€1) and have them in your backpack. Lived off them ��
Another thought with the trekking poles and shoes: how about just connecting them so that if a person picks up yours by mistake they get both, which would que them that they aren’t theirs. For poles, use a stretchy hair band or mini-bungee. For shoes, just tie the laces together when you put them on the shelf.
Looking good there Miss D! Had your hair done? Love your stuff! Keeps me going. Happy new year? M ��
You sure do like Zpack products. They seem pretty expensive for what they are. The tent had holes in it, I remember.
The book you showed… there is a “dutch edition” same author. It is in English and available on Kindle for download. I have the physical/original book and I have the dutch edition on Kindle so I don’t have to carry the book. I also downloaded the Village to Village guide in Kindle. The only book I am going to carry is a camino map book, much smaller and I will rip out the pages when I no longer need them.
Having cordage for a clothesline can double as a curtain for privacy. In India, I always took the top tier berth on trains and hung my elastic clothesline from the dividing grill thru the hanging chains that held the berth and around to the opposite side of the grill. They were large mesh metal screening and I could just hook the clothesline to them easily. Then I hung my dark blue sari over the clothesline all the way around, giving me privacy, a little darkness, and offering some slight deterrent to night thieves. Very useful to carry a small pack of mini plastic clothes pins also. Safety pins will do in a pinch. Do not carry your passport and cheques in a bag with a cord around your neck. Its easy to cut the cord while you are sleeping and gently relieve you of all your worldly goods!
Earplugs are one of the top backpacker items. On the camino I slept merrily through someone’s diarrhea night, the toilet stall was directly adjacent to the dorm… but there was also one guy whose snoring was so criminally loud the plugs were useless!
I wonder if she has ever spent time in Bankhead National Forest… WAR EAGLE!
Fanny packs are finally becoming cool…LOL. There was certain amount of disrespect directed at my fanny pack during my PCT thru attempt in 2008. Wt. carried in a fanny pack is barely noticeable. In the desert, I used it for 2L of water. My fanny pack carried the first 4 days of food north of Kennedy Meadows (no bear canister req’d area) which made it possible to make it to VVR without resupply. GK
Shemagh scarf for warmth in the morning. To wet and put under hat for sun protection etc
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shemagh-Army-Scarf-Desert/dp/B07BZSZLRD
That was wonderful, Trish & Ivar. Thank you for the first-hand account and… Camino blessings, Trish! Stay well.
I wish I had commented on your prep videos. I knew so many of those things that happened to you. I could have saved you and Montana a ton of hassles, Dixie. But here are some hacks for those going on the Camino in the future REI sells a VERY Long replacement shoelace for hiking boots. It comes with the plastic ends ready to be attached if you need them. I bought them on my first Camino and never needed them BUT they were long enough to become that “clothes line” you suggested. So it’s a great double use item. Buy a paracord that can also sub in as your shoelace if necessary.
For the ladiescarry a sarong that is made of very light fabric. (Or buy some fabric for this purpose). You can use it for multiple purposes. Wrap around you as privacy when using the outside “facilities” (!) Use it as a towel. Use it to cover our arms loosely while hiking in the bright sun. Your left arm will burn pretty easily even if, like me, you don’t usually burn. Just tie together two corners on each end and it will stay on your arms while you hike. Tuck it into the bunk above yours to create a privacy curtain while you sleep. Going into a church that won’t allow shorts? TaDayou have a skirt ready to use.
Carry some large safety pins. You can pin damp socks off the back of your pack while you hike. When it’s windy, the pins are great clothespins because your items wont blow off the line. If a strap breaks, pin it. you get the picture. I also pinned my money pouch on the inside of my clothing so it couldn’t be grabbed by a pick pocket. Sterilized the pin can help with minor blisters.
Which reminds me….sleep with your money pouch ON you. You’ll get used to it. It’s only money and your passport. If you have to make a mad dash to the bathroom in the middle of the night, that “pilgrim” who is actually a thief (Sadly it does happen) wont be able to go into your sleep sack to pull it out of the foot end where you thought it was so secure.
Again for the ladiescarry a tinted lip balm. Sometimes you just want to feel a bit pretty at night. If you don’t care about that, use it to keep your lips from frying!
Carry a few packets of alcohol wipes in case you need to do some blister work. Do NOT do surgery on yourself though. Blisters are meant to protect you.
Again for the ladies Take a cardboard tampon tube (Remove the tampon) and roll in some emergency Euros. Then replace the tube in the paper wrapper to look like the real thing. The chances that someone will run off with your tampon is pretty much none!
Yes on the Fanny pack!!! This is not a fashion show!
Carry two pens. It’s surprising how hard it can be to find them in Spain. Also, keep a small journal with you and ask people for their contact information as you go along. You’d be surprised how much you will wish you had that info when you return home.
Carry only enough cash in your pocket for that day. If someone does pickpocket you or if it just happens to fall out, you are only out enough for one day.
My last tip As you get closer to Santiago (after Sarria somewhewre) there are a group of women who walk around saying they are Deaf and are collecting money for a group of Deaf kids. This is a complete scam. I’ve been a professional sign language interpreter for 31 years. They are not Deaf! I even had the chance to meet a Deaf local while I was in Santiago the last time. He confirmed that it’s a scam. Be kind to your fellow pilgrims and pass it on.
Long comment. I’m sorry. I hope it’s helpful to someone.
Delightful watch! I likewise made a short, story/interview-driven film called “STEPS: Why People Walk the Camino de Santiago” for anyone craving another insight
For lighting… get yourself a headlamp with a red light option, or a flashlight with a red filter (I have a Fenix UC35 + red filter cap).
I have scrapped mine this year. How realistic is it with Covid to stay in Albergues? Travel by aircraft? Train or bus? I wonder how long it will be b4 it is safe…
Thank you for your tips! Experience does make a difference and I appreciate your sharing your experience.
I like to use an app to scan the text for PDF-making, does a great job of converting text to a very low file size, and allows cloud connection to Google Drive, Dropbox, etc (Genius Scan). Can also tag pages, send pages, etc. Keeps for a paper-free journey, except for the paper map of course!
Awesome video!! More focused on hiking in the United States. Keep up the good work and cool videos!!
Videos very informative. Am considering doing the Camino in Italy next year.
Great video! Pootin… ������ such a nice way to say farting!
Good job I’ve watched this 3 times I leave Australia next year 15th April 2019 to walk the French way I will be 53 years young. What are you doing now after such an amazing start to your life.
I always carry some paracord and carabiners but I love the idea of the “S” hook with suction-cup. I’ve been in several campsites showers and often found there was nothing to hang my stuff
I too always worry that someone might walk away with my trekking poles and I think using something bright and very visible is a good idea to distinguish them. I’ll do that ����
As for lighting up without bothering others, I use the red light feature on my headlamp. This is very sufficient to find my stuff and my way around and it really doesn’t bother anybody
Ear plugs: I am the noisy one so perhaps I should carry some….for the others ��
Thank you, Dixie, I love all your videos
I always carry some zingit and Dutch wasps so I can run a clothesline when I need it. It’s also handy if I’m bringing a tarp so it’s easy to set a ridge line for a covered area for lunch or rain shelter. Also, all of my packs have shock cord on the outside just so I can dry socks or underwear while hiking. The “s” hooks are a great idea and I’ll be adding those to my international loadout for sure!!!
Very pertinent and useful tips that make me want to go back immediately.
I use a key chain type small flashlight on a string around my neck like a necklace. It points straight down and can hide under my shirt. I tie it with a poly string using a slip knot with a melted end to keep it from slipping unless a greater amount of force is used to keep it safely around my neck.
Kudos you’ve really captured the Camino! Great scenery and gives you the pilgrim feel! Buen Camino!!!
Gracias Ivar! Thank you Trish for these answers to our questions.:)
I’m hoping to travel with a group from Ireland to the French Way in October. Thank you for this video and information.
Hi Trish and Ivar. Congratulations on this interview, great job. About the non “buen Camino” from Portugal is just because Camino Santiago is quiet new for populars, focus until a few years now has been Fatima. Populars are still starting with the Camino. You will ear it more and more in the futur. But THANK YOU Trish for starting in Portugal. Thank you to anybody who vist Portugal, you are all most welcomme, any time and under any circunstances
Also, you just can tape a piece of red transparent paper on top of your smartphone light. And I never sleep without earplugs and sleeping mask in hostels. Another tip is to roll some amount of duct tape around your tracking poles. First, they’re marked then as yours and second, you have duct tape available for small repairs like a rip in your jacket, tent, sleeping bag etc.
I enjoy all of the interviews you are doing Ivar.thank you.J
The following things I wouldn’t have done without for my Camino Portuguese:
malleable silicone earplugs
sleeping mask
runners knee length compression socks
ultralight silnylon poncho check alibaba
small thin plastic cutting board and small knife for cutting bread, cheese tomatoes etc
TrailSmart map app with detailed offline Camino maps
a thin down sleeping bag I’d converted to a quilt by removing the zipper and hood
artificiel silk sleeping bag liner
small headlamp
Things I brought and never needed:
Compass
Rain jacket used poncho
down jacket hiked in October no need for a jacket
extra water bottles one was plenty
water filter unnecessary plenty of access to drinking water
large micro fiber bath towel the 2 small micro fiber towels I had were adequate
Things I’ll be taking with me for next years Camino:
trekking umbrella
titanium ethanol stove + titanium mug (I was often on the road at 5.30 or 6 in the morning and cafes didn’t open until around 8.30 nice to stop for some hot coffee and bread and cheese while enjoying the dawn).
When leaving early remember one’s fellow pilgrims, prepare and pack as much as possible for the next day the evening before Then in the morning quietly carry all your stuff into the kitchen to complete it.
Just as a matter of general interest I met an elderly man (early 70s and a little older than me, who walked Caminoes 11 months of the year. When he’d finished one he’d choose a new starting point. He’d even walked from Canterbury in the UK to Santiago. He’d walked the Camino Frances 9 times, can’t remember how many times he’d done the other popular routes.
“What stands in the way becomes the way” Emperor Marcus Aurelius
Bom Camino:)
Fine advice. But I mainly watched because you’re so very, very funny! Not naturally an early riser I understand? (sorry, I couldn’t resist).
Thanks Ivar for such a positive and interesting interview. Keep up the good work. Saludos de Belice.
Thank you both. I’m due to fly out to Oviedo on the 3rd August for the Camino Primitivo. That was very reassuring.
Thanks Ivar for this interview! Very encouraging as I consider whether to walk from Porto this fall.
Drew,
In 2014, you helped me get ready for my first ever Camino to SANTIAGO experience. I was nervous about doing the Roncesvalles pass…You encouraging me to go ahead and do it, which I did. I thought I would die because it was so difficult but I made it.
Eventually I made it to SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELLA and then to Muxia… then to Fistera(Finesterre).
Thank you for this video as it had been a while since I watched it. It is what inspired me to do the entire journey. I watch your blogs and I see that you are doing well and I am so proud of you and your family.
Take care of yourself and keep inspiring many around the world!
Buen Camino
Great video Drew! Very positive and sweet commentary and you captured the beauty of northern Spain, my country of birth! Hope you get to do again someday. Buen Camino amigo!
Absolutely loved your Camino video Drew. Inspirational. I hope to walk this year as I have turned 65 and your brilliant film has encouraged me greatly. Thank you so much
https://www.vakinha.com.br/vaquinha/caminho-de-santiago-demilson-gomes
HELLO! MY NAME AND DEMILSON I am 33 years old, I am Brazilian, from the state of Pernambuco and I always had the dream of making the path to Santiago de Compostela, one more I was able to make that dream come true. I worked for 10 years as a CASH OPERATOR, earning a minimum wage from Brazil, I added a reserve for some time but had to use it when I had to leave my job 3 years ago to take full care of my mother who had a stroke and needed my care 24 hours.
I HAVE HOPE BEFORE I DIE REALIZE THIS DREAM!
I ASK WITH ALL HEART THAT IF YOU CAN HELP ME I WILL BE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL.
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FOR BIGGEST DOUBTS + 55 81 985865114
I loved it! Thanks so much for making it and sharing it! I hope to walk the Camino for the first time when I am 64 years old. Buen Camino.
Hi Dixie. What happened to your left eyelid? Did you get a bug bite and it swelled up? Happy 2020 VISION year!
One of the good vlogging documentaries about Camino! In October 2017 I walked the Camino with the idea to make a documentary style film that I hadn’t seen before. The idea was to collect and show in an inspiring and culturally enriching way the essence of the journey of Camino! If anyone is interested how the result turned out, it was better than I imagined. It resulted in a film that gives an overview of all the aspects of the Camino and shows the spiritual and cultural essence of the whole journey. If you have grown curious to see it I currently share it free of charge on my channel! The film is called “Camino de Santiago a Spiritual Journey”. The only thing that I’d ask for is if you like it to subscribe in support of my work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayaMl6LNLTY&t=85s
Did you find what were looking for? God, peace in your mind and heart? how was your soul searching quest? I will do the camino this winter…you inspire me a lot…Buen Camino!!
Wow need to redo the volume on the music! Kinda spoils it! You’re a great photographer, intercutting stills with footage I decided I like the images that were HDR-edited, but I had to think about it first. Just like the music, the images could have used a lighter touch. But, overall, very well done!
Drew,
Insightful trip. Spiritual voyage. Congrats. Music was not fit.
I have a friend that did the Camino How are you liking it? Are you making your goal each day?
Your trip was very similar to mine. In fact, I traveled on July 15 also. After the Camino we went to France and Italy. But, San Fermin was to crowded for my taste. I will go back!
Great video man!
Good to see a fellow Cal Poly Pomona alumni make his way out into the world:)
Love your documentary ��. I’m heading to do the Francés very soon after half year of hell… need a reset and will walk it alone.
Wow, thanks a million for sharing your awesome experience. May the blessings of the Camino be always with you. ☺
Awesome Documentary. A friend who has walked the Camino showed me the movie “The Way”, and after watching it and videos like this i have decided to do it myself. if i can get the funds to go. if anyone would like to donate and or join me on this adventure feel free to contact me gofundme.com/f/r7w8n-camino-de-santiago
Drew, what a wonderful video you, the scenery, the music, the comments. From an 82 yr old, you make me feel young again! May you have a beautiful life ahead, pilgrim friend. Thanks.
This filled my heart with so much nostalgia. I did the Frances in 2016 and sometimes I feel homesick for the Camino.
Drew, you inspired me! Beautifully done. I am walking the last 70 miles of El Camino next May (2019). Thank you for this video.
Love your documentary! It brought tears to my eyes….almost all of the places you’ve been to bring back memories specially the cities where you passed by along the Camino…..it’s a pity that I did not take the “real camino” walking but bus in Porto from Portugal but still the feeling of being in the plaza de obradoiro in front of the cathedral of Santiago is enough for me to contemplate about life. Your music is also nicely done and your selection of songs are beautiful…..good work Drew, wherever you go, good luck and Buen Camino��
Good job, bro. Great vídeo documenting your personal experience and thanks for sharing it. Buen Camino throughout your life. ��
I like the song “heaven” by Brett Dennen perfect for the Camino…
That is lovely! WIsh I add this book with me. it will have helped me to get more of the Camino with my mind in my place! https://www.amazon.com/Ari-Joaquin-Torres/e/B075CFKWDS/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
Thank you, Drew, I really enjoyed your video. I appreciate you sharing your journey.
Thank You Drew Thank You. A Magnificent Documentary and I enjoyed it. BUEN CAMINO.
I feel your pain. On a positive note, I might get to meet you on the Camino next year!
Nice one! I just finished my Timelapse video of my Camino I walked may 2017. I hope you like it! 😉
I walked the Camino de Santiago and it was so cool, for some reason it was exactly like this documentary…
O.O lol. ��cxxxx(::::::::::::::::::::> CHARGE!!!!
Excellent information! Will definitely consider some of the options other than the French way. Thanks for the information!
Use a red light on your head lamp! Should be better then the white light.
ZipLock bags at breakfast and dinner equal snacks for later. I sometimes use doggy poop bags because they are tough and free.
Great video Drew. We loved watching your Camino journey. Buen Camino!
It is very true Drew, time does not matter on the Camino…great video.
For the last week, my spirit has guided me to a pilgrimage.
Now that i have seen this, I will follow my heart and walk the Camino de Santiago soon God willing. Thank you for this.
the documentary, you and the experiences are GORGEOUS but that music buddy…. that music makes this less enjoyable…. (in my opinion of course) welcome back to my land whenever you want to come back..!!: )))
Love it from the beggining til the end, great video Drew, i’m about to do camino soon and this video definitely encourage me to take the whole way starting from France.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful video. It serves as an inspiration to me as I am preparing for my own Camino de Santiago pilgrimage walk.
Great film my friend,really interesting and I’m truly inspired to do the Camino.Bravo.
So few Camino videos capture more than the hiking aspect of this journey. Good job, expanding beyond the typical!
Good video but bloody awful music and so loud too! Spoilt my appreciation and could not watch it all because of it!
Hey man! Your video just happened to show up for me! It’s really great!
I had the opportunity to walk the very same Camino that you did, and by the time I was recognizing most of the places I was shivering… and, why not, having tears coming down my face.
This experience is truly unique and definitely unforgettable.
Thanks for your video and Buen Camino!
Beautiful and inspires video o am preparing to do el camino in dic 2019 greeting from miami
My wife and I will do the same walk starting on 21 April this year. We’ve watched a few French Way videos to get a feel for the walk and to pick up as much information as possible, but this is without a doubt the best video we’ve watched so far. Beautiful film, great music and quite moving.
It’s not UL, but having tons of electronics never is. For group or family trips, I’ll pack one US to Euro adaptor plug plus an extension cord sold around Christmas for Christmas-tree lights. They’re always green, 6-9 feet long, light-gauge wire (like a lamp cord) and have 8-10 US outlets along its length. Then you 1) don’t need a ton of adaptors, 2) can charge multiple devices at once, 3) can share all those outlets with old or new friend), 4) keep your device close to / in your bed instead of across the room. It’s a far lighter set-up with far more outlets than other multi-outlet extension cords or a power strip.
It’s also handy when traveling domestically often the outlet in a hotel room isn’t where you want it and when airport outlets are all full, no one can refuse your request to insert your splitter cord between them and the wall since they’ll remain energized while 10 new outlets have been created.
Dear Doug, I am afraid that Spain will not be ready to receive pilgrims until next year. Currently (May 4) we are in phase 1 of the 4 planned by the Government to reactivate the economy and social relations. Since yesterday, small 1-hour walks have been authorized by age groups, according to the predisposition to be infected with serious damage, and as you deduce in your video, the “albergues” will be authorized to receive pilgrims, possibly at the end of July, but only with 50% of its capacity. This implies that many smallholders consider it economically unfeasible to open businesses this season. My best wishes. Greetings from Spain.
I loved watching this. I did the walk but only from Serria. Im so glad you were able to complete it. I didn’t get to enjoy the sights cause we only have 5 days and I was in a school group, but seeing this video and all of the photos reminds me of the things that I did quickly get to enjoy while walking.
Thank you. This helped immensely as I prepare to walk the Camino de Santiago this spring.
Beautiful!! I’ll be making my first Camino this October along the Ruta Primitivo.
WAtched this years ago. had to come back because it is the best documentation i’ve seen!
After a sudden change in life, I’ll be doing the Camino this spring. What was the percentage of people who spoke English? I know my Spanish basics but just inquiring. Thank you
Thank you Drew, your video was so moving that I am full of emotion whilst typing this. I can’t think of anything it lacked. Both the narrative and the vistas were equally beautiful. Thanks again.
Very good documentary, beautiful, bad musicalization, sorry.
Is there a route starting from far eastern Spain near Barcelona? What is the terrain?
Nice video! I just did the Camino this month and videos like yours helped me out. Here’s my experience if you’re interested: https://youtu.be/2SgDvKHjR94
Is this a Pilgrimage for spiritual reasons or is it a thru hike? Is there bible studies, a long the Way/Hodos? Prayer meets…or is it a hiking drinking party…If you go on a Christian Pilgrimage, but you never do spiritual things like witnessing, passing out gospel tracks and reading your bible, then why not just do a Thru hike of the AT/ PCT…But if you are wanting to get closer to God/Jesus and the Holy Ghost…then by all means…a Christian Pilgrimage could be a great thing…this is the biblical mandate for going on a Pilgrimage…Mark 16:15 Blessings!
Hi Doug, if you look it from the other side next year is holy year:)
Bonne vidéo mais c’est dommage que tu mettes autant de musique dans ton reportage!
beautiful and inspiring! thank you for sharing your experience. i love that you used Outro music! cheers and safe travels
When you first said ‘hacks’ I heard ‘hikes’ with that accent
An absolute brilliant documentary I’ve ever seen in youtube! Way to go Drew Robinson!:)
Great video brother, it was great inspiration and motivation until I left for the Camino last year. And now that I’m back I watch it again sometimes for nostalgia. Truly…Thank you!
Nice landscapes and precise scenery and mind moods descriptions.I am planning go walking this faith trtail for next year. Which month is better to start él camino”?
nice video, going with my mum this September. What camera did you use?
I love this womans accent… still trying figure out why YT reccomended her video…������
Great video and experience; I am planning to do the camino next year in July / August… Based on your experience, do you think is a good months choice to do it?.. I heard that the albergues and hostals are full and it is not easy to find space…
What a treasure to find this now. I had to postpone my trip 12 days ago, to June. This is touching & tugs at my heart, giving me renewed faith that I’ll be stepping on European soil in just a couple short months. It’s all amazing beginning to end! So great that you were able to take part in a ceremonial burn. I had the understanding it was frowned upon, so much so, that it’s no longer in practice. ¡Buen Camino!
I don’t see the Camino attraction, but hey, to each his own!
So many opportunities have now opened up to you to now, so let it go, stop whining, and GO American instead!
The PCT is right in your backyard, as are trails like the JMT, and the Rubicon, and Tahoe RIm Trail.
Visit Vikingsholm, and the Chinese Wall while you are in and around Lake Tahoe, and ponder the Donner Party’s demise, as you peer out over Donner Lake near Truckee!
Here’s an insider tip…head to Point Reyes National Seashore, and hike all the way out to Tomales Point, until you can almost see China!
You will undoubtedly find yourself surrounded by hundreds of Majestic Tule Elk, that are more afraid of you, than you are of them!
In January you can also watch Elephant Seals giving birth to their pups!
Hey, and nobody will ever use that silly word Pilgrim to describe you, except of course if you run into the Ghost of John Wayne!
You’ll get over it eventually!
Sometimes we have to use Tough Love!
No need to thank me.
This Camino video was one of the main inspirations for my pilgrimage in August 2017. Watching three years later, I still smile from beginning to end, drowning in nostalgia. It’s wonderful in every way. One of my all time favourite YouTube videos.
Absolutely wonderful. I need to do this as soon as I can. Thank you for this film.
I very much loved this film. I had hoped to begin my Camino journey this April, but that has not happened the way I thought it would. I especially liked the minimalist approach on the filming, the Camino, and the expectations. I am weary of those who race the Way, as if meditation is a competition. To each their own. Yet, my approach is still uncertain, can I begin it, walk it in pieces, or start nearer to the end? I may begin somewhere where nobody else begins, for each of us nuestro camino interior es como asi.
Oh! This was utterly beautiful! Thanks for sharing it! And thanks for sharing it today,I really needed it! I’ve never walked the Camino and missed this year’s opportunity,but I do like walking a lot alone…I know the experience on the Camino is in its own way unique,and this is why I want to do it,but your documentary shows the deepest aspects and the deepest beauty of all the human beings who are on a path of search,knowing the answers arrive in their own way… I loved the music,the words,the views,the people’s faces,everything had its right place in the video,well done! I found it very relaxing and meaningful also for the time we’re living: how we usually live looking for comfort when we need much less and how freedom scares us many times! I lived that sensation the guy speaks about at the end: my whole body shaking while sensing its freedom,it’s beautiful and scary at the same time! We’re bigger and wider than what we think and when we realize this our whole life gets a new perspective! Thank you!
A beautiful film. Ive walked both the Frances and the Norte and have watched many films and vlogs about the Camino. This is by far my favourite one. And can I say that the use of sound and music is exceptional. I often find music tracks to be distracting and prone to take you out of the experience but not here. It only added to the depth of this lovely document.
Beautiful Drew, Have you done other walks?? Going in April. Wasn’t going to start in St Jean de port but the view were so unbelievable gonna start there,
So THIS is the Camino. I have watched many vlogs,documentaries and films.Read countless books,too.But this is the first time I have felt what it is to be on the Camino. You’ve as-good-as captured the sense of distance of each section of the route.And caught the atmosphere ….a repressive space.( Repressive if by yourself,with the wrong company,or without a single thing to return to after the journey.).There are no uber-rich retirees here! no backpacks decorated with credit cards. No These pilgrims have the look of real pilgrims;and now those simply out to get drunk while on a long walk.Thank you for this ‘ cold water thrown in my face ‘ sensation. I now understand.Thank you.
Very Inspirational! I really Love watching this! THANK YOU for Sharing your Journey! Outstanding…
This is a wonderful documentary that captures the interior journey for many who walk the Camino, or something similar, at some time in their life.
Muchas gracias �� for sharing, a beautiful journey, a meditation, you have captured the essence of the Camino, a pilgrimage for the soul, the destination is the heart.
Truly amazing Documentary it was like you were telling my story of the camino and sharing my experience. Stunning presentation thank you guys