(I'm also sharing this on Jeanie's Facebook page because she said her friends are interested in following our journey - and this way they can see if they really want to read my writing!)
As I've mentioned before, there are any number of Camino-related groups on Facebook, and it seems like everyone posts pictures of their pack before they leave, asking for suggestions or validation. And do they ever get "suggestions". I know most of them are meant to be helpful, but if some of those comments were directed at me I think I'd start crying. So I'm just posting my pictures on this little blog; feel free to comment as long as you aren't mean!
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| This contains everything I'll need for our trip. Hopefully. |
My fully loaded backpack right now weighs 13 pounds. The guidelines are that it's not to exceed 10% of your body weight, so yes, I weigh 130 pounds. HAHAHAHAHA!!! I crack myself up. I need to add water and snacks, which will bring it up to 15 pounds, which is a little bit less than the amount of weight I lost since Thanksgiving, knowing I'd be carrying a pack across northern Spain.
Here's what's inside. The first aid / toiletry bag:
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In the ziploc are my liquids that I'll need to take out for airport security: sunscreen, lip protection, the Monistat chafing gel I told you about last time, and contact solution. The strips on the upper right are Leukotape, which I ordered on Amazon. This is some sort of magic tape, similar to athletic tape but way stronger. The adhesive lasts for days even when it gets wet, so if I feel a hot spot, it's getting slapped with some of this tape and I'm wearing it until it falls off. The little sewing kit is for popping blisters, and if I need to do that, then I have alcohol wipes, sterile gauze, and Neosporin. I have some Benadryl, some pepto, Gas-Ex (you're welcome, Jeanie!), and an antibiotic for just-in-case that my doc prescribed for traveler's diarrhea. There is a smaller ziploc with two packs of travel Kleenex and some folded up bags that our newspaper comes in. Most people use them to clean up after their dogs on walks, but I bet you can guess what they may have to be used for... I need to add my daily prescription drugs (you can bet the Xanax is coming with me!), moisturizer, glasses, and daily contacts. I usually wear the two-week kind, but I thought dailies would be easier for this trip (in which case I'll leave the contact solution at home).
My Teva sandals (and the smoking' hot socks I wear with them), 3 shirts (all wicking fabric): one tank, one short-sleeve, one long-sleeve. Hiking shorts, leggings (capri-length), a black dress to change into after walking for the day - can double as a nightie. 3 pairs underwear, two sports bras, a real bra in case I don't want to sport a uni-boob all the time, two pairs wool hiking socks, a rain jacket for when it's not raining hard that will be coupled with the rain cover on my pack, and a poncho for when it IS raining hard (insert fingers-crossed emoji here) that I don't every have to take it out of it's giant orange stuff sack) that will cover me and my pack. A hiking hat, a baseball cap, a buff, the headlamp that Dwight gave me for Christmas, deodorant, dry shampoo, toothbrush/paste, razor, Lush bar shampoo, extra hair ties, notebook with pen and pencil, and then electronics: European plug adapter, battery pack, headphones, chargers for phone and Apple Watch. There are some clothespins for when we need to hang our clothes to dry at night in our room, and in the Altoids tin are diaper pins to hang our damp clothes from our packs to dry. I'm just picturing the fashion statement that we'll be making.
All of the above are organized into gallon ziplocs: one for tops, one for pants, one for undies/socks, one for toiletries, and one for miscellaneous. These are in the main compartment of my pack. We'll see how long they stay that way.
My sandals and poncho go into the bottom, separate compartment of my pack, and anything I'll need for the day will go into the top compartment, which I've learned is called the brain.
I'll be carrying a very small crossbody bag with everyday necessities, which I think are my phone, charging cord, pilgrim credencial, copy of my US passport, daily cash, and chapstick. The bag is actually pretty cool and not even that ugly: it's by Travelon, all the zippers lock, the body is slash-proof, the strap is slash-resistant, and there are RFID blocking slots and pockets. For valuables, I actually bought a money belt that I'll wear under my clothes. This will hold my stash of euros, actual US passport, drivers license, Global Entry card, credit card, and debit card. (More RFID blocking action happening here).
And last but not least is my outfit for the plane/next day. I'll be living in these from about noon on Monday the 17th until we get to our hotel room in Sarria the next evening. Everything is stretchy and hopefully comfy enough: hiking pants that the hem can be cinched up to make into capris, tech short-sleeve shirt, sports bra, wool socks, my hiking shoes, and a sarong that I'll use as a scarf, or maybe a blanket on the plane. [Edit: forgot to add my Old Navy stretchy running jacket.] So my basic palette will be gray and black, which pretty much mirrors my entire wardrobe.
I know I'll be adding and possibly subtracting to the above items, but for now, Buen Camino!
