Preparation and training

We are now well into the planning and training for later in the year. Our packs have been tweaked a few times to keep the load as light as possible without leaving out any essentials. The lists below are comfortable to pack and carry and we have been walking with that weight lately. Our new boots are being gradually broken in with our new walking socks. Distances walked are still in part dictated by the weather but we can walk hills locally by keeping to the roads. As the tracks dry out we will walk them and wear the new boots more.

Our stages are sorted out and we plan to walk from Ribadeo to Viveiro, then take the FEVE via Espasante to Ponte Mera to walk to San Andrés de Teixido. The guide recommends taking a taxi to Cedeira for accomodation, so we will do that and then bus to Ferrol to walk the full Camino Inglés. That gives us time to see places en route and to walk fairly short days.

We have our new credenciales starting in Ribadeo but will look for sellos as we make our way there; from home, the ferry port, Santander and Oviedo (Cámara Santa).

We do not intend to use the internet while walking so will keep our posts and photos until we return home, as we did previously. Meanwhile we have some time yet in which to continue with preparation and training as well as gathering more information about the route itself and places of interest.

The first Camino Inglés marker post in Ferrol.

Deciding the route

Our original plan was to walk the Camino del Mar (Ruta do Mar) through to Xubia and then join the Camino Inglés there. This year's planning has led us to decide to make our way to Ferrol and to start the Inglés from the harbour-side. We might even go to Covas - 9kms north-west of Ferrol - and start there, walking back into Ferrol itself. This could confuse some readers as we will also go to another Covas - 2kms from Viveiro - much earlier in the walk.

We expect to walk from Ribadeo to Viveiro and Covas, then take the FEVE to Ortegueira to avoid a long section with (for us) difficult terrain and little accomodation. From Ortegueira we will take the FEVE round to Ponte Mera and walk to San Andrés - again the decision is taken becasue of distance and accomodation. This should enable us to then go to Cedeira and take a bus to Ferrol. Timing, distance etc influences this as we need sufficient days to walk the Camino Inglés.

We should have about 18 walking days, plus stop overs in places of interest and time in Santiago itself. Meanwhile, with several months to go before departure, we need to keep walking and build up our distances while carrying our packs.

San Martin de Xubia where the pilgrimage route for San Andrés de Teixido joins the Camino Inglés

Packing list - 2

On a hot day Terry would be wearing:- s/s T-shirt; walking shirt; trunks; walking trousers; full set of socks; boots; hat.
So Terry's packing for 2015 is expected to be as follows:-

Rucksack - inc cover:- 1.670kgs
Poncho:- 0.340kgs
Waterproof trousers:- 0.350kgs
Walking shirt:- 0.240kgs
Tidy Shirt:- 0.125kgs
s/s T-shirt - (x1):- 0.135kgs
Walking trousers:- 0.300kgs
Pants (Trunks) 75g (x2):- 0.150kgs
Liner socks x2 0.050kgs
Socks 45g (x2); 80g (x1):- 0.170kgs
Crocs 300g (x2 pairs):- 0.600kgs
Sporks/charger-adaptor:- 0.100kgs
First Aid/medical:- 0.300kgs
Blue windproof fleece:- 0.400kgs
Longjohns:- 0.075kgs
L/s vest:- 0.075kgs
Towels 120g (x1) 180g (x1):- 0.300kgs
Daysac:- 0.068kgs
Camera:- 0.250kgs
Safety jacket:- 0.100kgs
Phone/charger/soap/torch:- 0.250kgs
Inhaler kit:- 0.220kgs
Boot kit inc Fungusol:- 0.150kgs
2 Water bottles (-water); extras:-

Total weight:- 6.783kgs

Full water bottles would add 2kgs to this total, but would only be needed some times. Most days half to three quarters full would be sufficient between stops.
Some of the apparent extras are carried for Valerie to help keep her pack smaller and lighter.
We want to be able to carry our packs and not have to use one of the bag transport systems. No sleeping bags (they weigh 75ogms each) helps to keep the load light but does mean that, this time, we will use all private accommodation where bedding is provided.

Packing list - 1

The first stage of practical preparation after deciding the route has to be the packing list (again) We are both keen to keep the weight we carry as low as possible, but there are some items we need to have with us and as usual a complete change of clothes, including cold weather gear.

Wearing (on a hot day):- Walking trousers, shirt, undies, socks, boots and hat.
So Valerie's list looks like this when the rucksack is fully packed for a hot day:-

Rucksack:- 1.067kgs
Poncho:- 0.340kgs
Waterproof trousers:- 0.155kgs
Walking shirt x1:- 0.170kgs
Blouse:- 0.130kgs
l/s vests 70g x2:- 0.140kgs
Walking trousers:- 0.335kgs
Bra x2:- 0.050kgs
Pants (Briefs) 35g x2; 20g x2:- 0.110kgs
Liner socks x4:- 0.100kgs
Walking socks 70g x1; 45g x2:- 0.160kgs
Longjohns/pyjamas 70gx2:- 0.140kgs
Dress/nightdress:- 0.180kgs
Scarf:- 0.025kgs
Gloves:- 0.015kgs
Vest x2:- 0.070kgs
Fleece windproof jacket:- 0.400kgs
Travel cardigan:- 0.165kgs
Towel:- 0.085kgs
W.bag/shampoo/soap/pegs/line:- 0.300kgs
Glasses case/torch/eye-mask/earplugs:- 0.100kgs
Daysac:- 0.068kgs
Safety vest:- 0.100kgs
E-coil:- 0.180kgs
Water bottles (-water); paper/paints; 'extras';

Total weight - 5.500kgs

Total with water 6.5kgs

Camino 2015

Happy New Year folk and fellow pilgrims.

As 2015 arrives we plan to make our final (yes we mean it) pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Starting in Ribadeo we will walk as much of the northern coast as possible as far as Viveiro, then FEVE to Ortegueira and walk to San Andrés de Teixido before going to Ferrol and walking the Camino Inglés. We have done our research on both the path and also the available accomodation etc. For example:- the section between Viveiro and Ortegueira is away from the FEVE and, it seems, over very rough terrain with long distances between accomodation so we feel it best to take the train and have a couple of days in Viveiro itself to see places of interest.

There will not be much to report between now and then so look for more posts, and photos, later in the year (late June/July).

Every cloud..........

Had things gone according to plan we would have arrived in Santiago today. However looking at the weather that Galicia has had for the past month we may well have had to abandon some of our plans anyway. We will have to give careful though to next year as May seems to have been cold and wet for a few years now.

Current thinking is to not only think carefully about when to walk but also maybe to make greater use of the FEVE along the Camino del Mar than originally planned. Then we will have more time to walk the Camino Inglés. There are some specific places that we want to visit along the coastal route, such as Viveiro, so we are back into planning mode.

Pilgrim Passports

As those who have followed our other 'Camino' blogs will know we need a 'Pilgrim Passport' or 'Credencial' in order to stay in the pilgrim hostels or to receive a certificate in Santiago. Our new 'credenciales' have just come with the start given as Oviedo, the nearest city to our ending at Covadonga last year. We had been thinking of walking in 2014 but it will now be 2015 before we start this Camino. Plenty of time for planning and to keep in practise.

We had debated whether to continue as from Covadonga, with the 2013 credenciales. Begining in Oviedo gives a sense of continuation and also a fresh start in a new year. So our first sello (stamp) will be from the Cámara Santa in Oviedo cathedral before we continue on our way to Ribadeo.

Meanwhile we need to keep walking and planning as we wait to walk again.