I did the camino in May!

[Chris Kendzierski]

hey i am on the camino now and there are many blister
horror stories but the pilgrims keep trucking along
seeing many of them with boots and shoes that may be
just a little too snug but who knows....and the crew i
have been walking with for several days at least half
have a stomach virus of somekind but finding enough
towns and stops to rest and keep going
prayers out to them all
christian
--- Susan de Veer <compostella04aYAHOO.COM> wrote:
> My husband and I returned from Santiago on June 26.
> We began the Camino in Piedrafita mid-June and had a
> similar experience with illness and foot problems.
> There must have been a virus going around the
> refugios as several pilgrims reported getting sick
> with spiking fever and stomach upsets.  Both my
> husband and myself experienced this, though
> gratefully, at the end of our trek.
>
> Regarding blisters and foot problems, I carefully
> read every message on the list for months before our
> departure about care of the feet in order to avoid
> blisters. We also prepared by walking with our packs
> and making sure that our shoes were well broken in.
> On day 3, I damaged my first toenail and on day 4 I
> seriously damaged my second large toenail (needing
> to have it surgically removed when I got home).  My
> husband experienced a significant number of blisters
> and, at one point, was treated at the Red Cross in
> Portomarin.
>
> To remedy such foot problems the next time, I would
> pay more attention to my feet the moment I feel any
> pain or burning; loosen my shoelaces or switch to
> sandals as my feet swell from heat and walking;
> grease the toes with vasoline on day 1--before
> blisters occur; and stock up with Compeeds of
> various sizes before taking one step on the Camino.
> I also think that the toebox of my shoes were not
> roomy enough to accommodate the swelling of my feet
> after walking up and down hill  for several hours.
> Blisters may not be avoided altogether (though I did
> not have any--only damaged toenails), but correctly
> fitting shoes for sustained walking on uneven
> terrain is essential.  We learned too late to be
> religious about our feet on the Camino.  All ended
> well, as of course, we made it to Santiago, but the
> Camino would have been more enjoyable without some
> of the unnecessary foot pain.
>
> I will also make sure that my medical pack has
> several needles that can be sterilized to pierce and
> drain blisters, or super-heated to pierce a bruised
> toenail to relieve the pressure of the blood-blister
> underneath.  This small piece of equipment may seem
> elemental, but I honestly didn't think of it because
> I was naive enough to think that we were  not going
> to get blisters!
>
> My husband and I still had a wonderful time on the
> Camino and met wonderful people. The crowds in
> mid-June were not too great that we were shut out of
> the refugios, and often we walked for long stretches
> alone in the countryside.  It was a great experience
> and a relief to see the twin spires of the
> Cathedral!  I can't wait to return to Santiago.
>
> Susan Long <slongyahaYAHOO.COM> wrote:
> I and two friends did the camino starting from
> Ponferrada (about 200 km)
> the last two weeks of May. I have plenty to report!
> The biggest thing
> that surprised us was the blisters - serious,
> serious blisters, although
> we did not get infections or blisters under the
> toenails like some
> people did! We had trained agressively beforehand
> with our boots and our
> packs, but we are flatlanders (we live in Houston),
> and our feet were
> not prepared for the hills, especially the descents.
> So I have plenty of
> advice about blisters.
>
> I also came down with some kind of virus for two
> days - throwing up,
> body aches - that took me out of commission for a
> while. I don't think
> it was the food or water, but some kind of bug.
>
> Also, it was getting very crowded on the camino
> especially the last week
> of May. We were having trouble finding places at the
> albergues.
> Eventually we made a practice of calling ahead every
> night to find a bed
> in a hostal or casa rural so that we would be
> assured of having a spot
> and wouldn't have to rush to get where we were going
> early. The army was
> going to start putting up tents at key locations so
> that they would be
> able to accommodate all the pilgrims, so perhaps now
> it's a different
> story.
>
> The camino was a joy - the Spanish people were so
> hospitable and
> friendly, and the pilgrims were wonderful as well.
> It is a testimony to
> the basic goodness of humanity that people who have
> painful feet,
> haven't had a good shower for days, perhaps sleeping
> on the floor, etc.,
> can be so friendly and generous among themselves.
> There were also
> spiritual lessons every step of the way.
>
> And the wine was cheap and delicious!
>
>
> Susan Long
> slongyahayahoo.com
>
>
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