The Things I Carry (Wendy)

 

I carried my full backpack today for the first time in over a week. Knees were no more sore than usual, so I take this as a great sign that they are finally healing.

On the days I ship my big pack ahead, I carry a small daypack I brought with me. On the downside, it has no waist belt, so all the weight rests on my shoulders. On the plus side, it folds into itself as a small little pouch, so it’s easy to carry along.

On days when I send my big pack ahead, I carry just the essentials with me in my small pack (the little red pack in the photo next to my big pack):

• Bag of medicines and first aid supplies, including a roll of KT tape and travel scissors, as well as various rubs and ointments to stave off pain in various body parts, asthma medicine, and Lactaid.
• Emergency food rations for on-the-road snacks and lunches (yellow bag in the photo). This always includes chorizo, hard cheese, almonds, an orange, either gf bread or rice cakes, and some smooched energy bars from home. It almost always also has some kind of sugary treat. The most recent addition in that category was a dark chocolate candy bar with orange and almonds.
• Sunglasses and sun hat 
• Fleece ear warmer headband and thin silk gloves 
• Headlight
• Battery pack and cord
• Hand sanitizer
• Phone, AirPods, wallet
• Passport and pilgrim credentials
• Appropriate outwear for the day, either raincoat or down jacket, both of which pack into one of their own pockets.

I know that sounds like a lot, but to be honest, the food and medicines take up most of the space and weight.

Of my full set of gear, here’s my assessment thus far.

Best Last-Minute Switches

• Lightweight hiking tights, purchased at Costco for around $15. These were a last-minute switch from the wool long underwear I was going to bring. They are so much more versatile! I can sleep in them, walk in them, and they are my go-to for after-walk bum around clothes.
• Fleece headband. Last-minute switch from the wool beanie I was going to bring. I e ear it almost every morning and can even wear it under my sun hat on sunny but cold days. Again, much more versatile than my first choice.
• Merino wool toe socks. I was only going to bring one pair, but loved my practice walks in them so much I bought a second pair and left one of my regular wool socks at home. These super-soft socks are part of the reason, I believe, that I have had zero serious problems with my feet so far.
• Kindle Paperwhite. I was going to bring the paperback book I’ve been reading. But my aesthetician told me how much she loved her Paperwhite, so I bought one less than a week before we left. I love it and use it every night. Key difference from Bob’s older kindle, which I also hate: it has an adjustable backlight. I also bought the audio book version of the book I’m reading at night, so I can keep going with the story during the walk if I want. It’s been great on some of the longer afternoons when not much is happening to help the kilometers roll by.

Misfires

My list of what I should and should not have brought is much like Bob’s. We need clothespins, not a money belt. I need rain pants, but not the little pouch that lets you carry a water bottle on the front of your backpack. I’ve only used my scarf twice, but it’s lightweight, so I don’t resent it too much. 

Camino MVP

This has got to go to my Altra trail runners with the elasticized shoelaces that I added afterward. Zero problems with my feet. These shoes just work!