Shoes /refugios/just returned

[Delphia Dirks]

Thanks for the interesting message Karen..glad yo had a good time.  Can you
give an idea of the cost range of the hostel/hotels.   Did you find that
they were also full of 'pilgrims'.. sounds like you were'nt 'alone' on the
trip, even though you didn't have the 'refugio' experience.

thanks again... delphia

> From: Karen Swanson <MCCAVITaAOL.COM>
> Reply-To: Road to Santiago Pilgrimage <GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu>
> Date: Wed, 30 May 2001 15:48:38 EDT
> To: GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu
> Subject: Re: Shoes /refugios/just returned
>
> Greetings!  I have just returned from the Camino, Pamplona to Santiago.  Just
> thought I'd check in on the shoe issue.  For anyone who has done any hiking,
> you will  find this terrain extremely easy-it is essentially a dirt road.
> You do NOT need hiking boots.  I wore all terrain running shoes, and wish I
> had worn an even lighter running shoe with more cushion.  It is very hard (
> ie  it has no give-very compacted in many places- so cushioning is the
> thing!!).  I had no foot problems except for some soreness on the balls of my
> feet from the hard surface-a common complaint, and I did many 25 mile days.
> The weight of a hiking shoe is totally unnecessary.  I wish someone had told
> me how easy the footing is-much of it is actually road or a very well trod
> wide path.
> Also-Don't count on refugios!!  Many were full and people routinely lined up
> by noon to get a space!!  I stayed exclusively in hotels/hostals.
> Finally-It was GREAT!!  A truly international experience, lots of camraderie,
> great scenery and architecture, wonderful people, something very special.
> Karen