General Tips and Insights

[freedom13]

Just thought I'd make a thread for other pilgrims to post any tips they picked up before or along the way.
It could be about anything to do with travelling, walking, headgear, language ....anything really.

A friend of mine whom had done parts of the Camino for the last couple of year and who is an accomplished trekker told me to bring loads of Sudo Cream with me, I had been having a bit of trouble whilst long walking back home here as regards chafing between the legs, he swore by it and how right he was .... never had a bit of trouble on the Camino after.
Plus he said liberally rub onto the feet last thing at night and first thing in the morn to help prevent blisters [ he was proved right yet again]. So I suppose with experience comes knowledge.

[freedom13]

Oh and after the boots and rucksack the best thing I bought was a wide rimmed hat, 20 Euro seemed a lot at the time of buying, but boy was it worth its weight in gold ...... it was a Godsend :-]

[Precious1]

Ummm...luckily I did not need that tmi.lol
Anyway, popping a blister is the worst thing one can do...what an old husband's tale. :]
Wearing my beloved Timberline boots was the best thing I could have done..feet never hurt..., well, maybe once.
With some creative thinking, an old, small Jansport back pack can be improvised so it is belted around the waist and chest to take the weight off the shoulders as good as any hyped up Camino rucksack. lol Nothing, however, guaranties that one's left shoulder will never burn :] ....except maybe taking less cosmetics lol next time.
Your hat sounds super. Still wearing it? Love my wide brim straw hat too, Could not trek without it. Almost lost it in Finisterre but for a friend finding it on the bus. Lucky me!!!!!!! Wearing it bike riding all the time since I got back.

[cedarhollow03]

Freedom 13, what is the equivalent of Sudo Cream in North America. My husband and I are seriously thinking of walking the camino france in June 2012. I have the "camino" bug and he is kind enough to want to do it with me ;-), We live in Washington State, north of Seattle. We have walked at least 10 miles at a time, but I have the kind of legs that will rub together LOL. We are in the process of figuring out shoes, backpacks and clothing. Nothing full price, always on sale. Thanks, Jamie

[HuskyNerd]

Welcome to the Forum, CedarH. Are you aware of the local (Seattle) chapter of American Friends of the Camino?

[freedom13]

The hat hardly gets a wearing now Kate, its my Camino hat lol. It just sits there staring gloomingly at me, anticipating its next trip along the way, I might have to put it out of its misery sometime soon lol.

[John Hussey]

Freedom 13, what is the equivalent of Sudo Cream in North America. ... Thanks, Jamie

Bodyglyde http://www.bodyglide.com/

This is an outstanding product for inner thigh chaffing. Google it to order online or you will find it in any of the better running or hiking stores. Marathoners & long distance hikers, etc use it. It comes in a small push-up container and goes a long way so get the smallest you can find, plus its lighter to carry. It goes on thin, invisible, non-staining and is really slick. You can put it on each day or, wait until (and if) the problem begins to present itself. The drawback to waiting until it begins to chafe is that you must then liberally wash the affected area before applying the stick to wash away all those sharp & grinding salts- like potassium - that stayed on your thighs when the sweat from your hot exertion wicked away. The longer you exert, the more you sweat, the more salt you leave behind to grind away at those thighs. You can also apply it to your feet, too, to help eliminate hot spots then blisters when you cannot easily stop to attend to them.

Its a great product.

An alternative is to use underwear made of a wicking,synthetic material (never cotton) that stretches, has something like lycra built in so as to extend down your legs snugly at least 3 inches, maybe longer. Now when you walk, the underwear material rubs together and not hot, sweaty skin so, less likely to chafe. I prefer this method and it works for me.

[freedom13]

Good luck on your Camino next June Jamie .
Here is a link about Sudocrem Sudocrem - Other Conditions

[Lipka149]

Bodyglyde ... This is an outstanding product for inner thigh chaffing. You can also apply it to your feet, too, to help eliminate hot spots then blisters when you cannot easily stop to attend to them.

Its a great product.

An alternative is to use underwear made of a wicking,synthetic material (never cotton) that stretches, has something like lycra built in so as to extend down your legs snugly at least 3 inches, maybe longer. Now when you walk, the underwear material rubs together and not hot, sweaty skin so, less likely to chafe. I prefer this method and it works for me.

Agree with you completely John. I used the sports underwear and never had to use the Bodyglide at all. Chafing is one of those "injuries" that can be painful enough to stop one from walking. Prevention is the wiser course to take.

One further note on the sports underwear ... buy a dark colored fabric. White underwear tends to retain stains from body fluids no matter how hard one scrubs and makes it embarrassing to hang them up on a public clothes line.

[Lipka149]

... post any tips they picked up before or along the way.

Clothespins. Take clothespins. I didn't, thinking I could just drape my wets over the line and they would be fine. I was wrong. Wind and gravity make real mischief with clean, wet clothes !

Safety pins work well too, and take up less space/weight. If you want to be a real Camino Angel, take enough to share.

[cedarhollow03]

Thanks for the suggestion of the bodyglyde. Sounds like something that might work well and with the feet too! I have just bought a wide brimmed hat with a neck protector for a trip to Hawaii next week, but bought it with the camino in mind. I really have the bug bad.

Sandy, I have seen the website for the Puget Sound chapter and see that they have a monthly stroll, but my husband is a bit introverted and it will take some convincing for him to participate in a get-together.

I have been reading as much as I can and have looked at this site for a couple of months. Boy does everyone share such good information. My husband says that I will be bored before we even get there. I just don't think so ;-)

[Lipka149]

My husband says that I will be bored before we even get there. I just don't think so ;-)

Although I was not bored getting to the starting gate, I think boredom was one of the most difficult things I had to overcome on the trail. Without the mental stimulation of my normal life (books, music, spreadsheets, etc.), I had only the challenge of putting one foot in front of the other (and all of the aches and pains that implies) to think about. This resolved itself eventually, and if truth be told, made me ever so much more aware of the things happening around me.

BTW, good idea to get the hat with the neck protector ! Don't lose it in the wind ...

Looking forward to reading your story, cedarhollow. Buen Camino.

[cedarhollow03]

Alan ~ I hope that my story (and hubby's) is half as interesting as yours and your son's. I wait every day for another installment. I did think of the wind and the hat has a chin strap that you can tighten up. Also will help with hanging it around the neck

I don't get bored easily, I like my own company and my husbands. Though I will miss books, music and the internet, they are not so important that I will want to have the extra weight.

Jamie

[Gazza]

Cedarhollow

I know exactly where your coming from..... for months prior to our Camino, I did all the reading I could & this site became a bible for me. I tried to ensure this trek was as comfortable for my wife as I could. Even got the anti Bed Bug dipping stuff. Which worked a treat. I was consumed by the Camino

I was never bored whatsoever. There are enough people around you when you need & the countryside is spectacular. I think your husbands concerns are ill founded & probably showing a bit of nerves.

If somebody had told me 10 years ago I would be walking this sort of distance & living out of a back pack I would have laughed at them.

Enjoy the walk. We intend doing the Portugese next year from Golega.