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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Dear Leonie</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I plan on starting from St. Jean on 26 April. If the
weather is bad I will simply take the Val Carlos route rather than the more
scenic Route Neopolean.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I have Vasque Sundowners. (I insisted on the Vasque
Sundowner MX because it is Italian leather, Italian made.) They fit well and
being broken-in are comfortable. However, I am taking trail runners, New Balance
804's, because they are about 2 lbs. lighter than the Sundowners, they were on
sale, and they make a wide shoe. (I have broad feet). Since the 804's are not
waterproof, I will wear a Goretex sock (Seirus Stormsock) when it is wet. I
will also carry lightweight gaiters for when I anticipate mud. The
804's are not as warm as the Sundowners so I don't expect my feet to sweat
as much, especially when I get to the meseta and it becomes warmer. Also the
804's will dry out more quickly; and finally I want to travel as light as
possible. I am also taking 3 pairs of Smartwool socks. Oh, yeah, I'm also taking
a pair of sandals for evening wear and in the shower.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>BTW, I am not recommending New Balance shoes. I am merely
saying that trail runners may be O.K. This from someone who has never hiked the
Camino. However, I am an avid hiker in the Pacific Northwest where it rains
abundantly the better part of the year. I expect you will get a lot of
conflicting advice in regard to shoes, but please wear what you feel comfortable
with.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Unfortunately, May seems to be a fairly unpredicatible
time of year. D<FONT face=Arial>ata for the last 3 years shows a wide
variation in daily temperature for May. After mid-May the temperature begins to
get warmer, more or less day by day. <FONT face=Arial>Precipitation is more
erratic. For weather graphs for all the major cities (Pamplona, Lagrono, Burgos,
Leon and Santiago de Compstela, I suggest you go to the following website and
follow the directions: </FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT face=Arial><FONT
face=Arial></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT face=Arial><FONT face=Arial><A
href="http://web.pdx.edu/~hgdj/g210_climdata.html">http://web.pdx.edu/~hgdj/g210_climdata.html</A></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT face=Arial><FONT
face=Arial></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT face=Arial><FONT face=Arial>The above is part of a
course called "Travel Spain" taught by Dan Johnson, a geography professor at
Portland State University. Dan's special area of interest is Spain. He cycled
the Camino Frances about 3 years ago from mid-May to June.
</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT face=Arial><FONT
face=Arial></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT face=Arial><FONT face=Arial>Caveat: I have not done
the Camino yet; and I may regret my decision re. shoes. However, given what data
I have, I think it will be a good compromise. </FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT face=Arial><FONT
face=Arial></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT face=Arial><FONT face=Arial>Good
luck</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT face=Arial><FONT
face=Arial></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT face=Arial><FONT
face=Arial>Joe<BR></DIV></FONT></FONT></FONT>
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style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A href="mailto:LgalilaAOL.COM" title=LgalilaAOL.COM>Leonie Galil</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
href="mailto:GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU"
title=GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, February 04, 2002 9:55
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: (no subject)</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT color=#0000ff face=Eurostile
lang=0 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF">Thanks Howard,<BR>I have well broken in full
leather Vasque Sundowners and low but sturdy Rockports. I was especially
wondering about the stretch on the Meseta which could be quite hot at this
time of the year, but then again what about the mountains.<BR>Leonie</FONT>
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