[Gocamino] hiking sticks/poles

[norasls1@aol.com]

I use electrical tape and tape mine to a backpack or suitcase (usually soft-sided) depending on the situation.  I used to carry by son's Little Leage bag which was long enough for the collapsed poles but just like him, the bag got too old.  It is frayed now.  (Glad to report that he's in better condition.)
 
I make it a point to wrap many layers of tape around the tips so no one handling the bag gets hurt.  The rubber tips were lost long ago.  The poles usually extend beyond the pack or suitcase but manage to arrive safely.  I use LOTS of tape.  I think most of the time they look at the bag for security reasons but manage to get the poles back on and everything arrives just fine.
For what it is worth, i have fewer problems w/ my knees now than a dozen years ago.  I love my poles.
 
Who knew a question about poles would stoke so many messages?
 
I walked the camino in 2004.  I am THRILLED to say that my husband, son, granddaughter and I are walking the Portuguese route this June/July.  I am so blessed.
 
Nora Everlove,
Florida
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Patricia Rush <PatRush1 at verizon.net>
To: cek954 at aol.com; Gocamino at oakapple.net
Sent: Thu, 30 Mar 2006 16:53:40 -0500
Subject: Re: [Gocamino] hiking sticks/poles


Dear All--I will weigh in on walking sticks.  I use two collapsible hiking 
sticks; they've saved my knees going up, and especially, coming down 
mountains, over slippery rocks, and in propelling me forward.  I use them as 
one would use cross-country ski poles; they are especially useful when 
carrying a pack because they help balance.  They take some getting used to, 
but now I won't walk without them.

Before 9/11 I simply stuck them (collapsed) on either side of my pack and 
put my pack in the overhead.  Now, I either have my pack wrapped and sent 
through as checked luggage, or put my sticks in a separate mailing tube and 
sent through as checked luggage.  The airport in Santiago has a wrapping 
machine for 4 euro, I think, and other airports have them as well.

Patricia
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <cek954 at aol.com>
To: <Gocamino at oakapple.net>
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 3:33 PM
Subject: [Gocamino] hiking sticks/poles


>
> I bought my baston in SJPP - it has carved flowers on it and I love it- 
> the flowers seem to give it a little personality and on hard days looking 
> at them cheered me up. Like the others who have written, I relied on it 
> with great results.
>
> Flying from Santiago through London/Stansted to Norway on RyanAir, I 
> checked mine unwrapped, with the luggage tag taped directly to the stick 
> and it made it just fine. But to get it back to the States I took it to 
> the post office and used a mailing tube. It now leans against the wall in 
> my bedroom, where I see it every morning when I  wake up.
>
> A woman I had walked with found a "Mail Boxes, Etc." store in Santiago and 
> had them ship hers back. As far as I know it also made it to the States 
> without any problem although I don't think it was a cheap service. I 
> believe the Tourist Information Office in Santiago gave her directions to 
> find the store. (There are several Tourist Info locations as I recall - I 
> think one is just down a bit and on the other side of the street from the 
> Compostela office. They also helped us find a hotel)
>
> When I walk again this coming fall I plan to get a different stick along 
> the way - I just don't want to have to check anything on the way, since 
> again, I'll be going to Spain rather indirectly through Norway and it 
> would have to make too many plane changes. I don't think the first stick 
> will mind!
>
> Carol
> for the time being from Florida, too!
>
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