Greetings to all past, present and future Camino travelers


After lurking and learning from all of you during the past few months I am
coming out of hiding to describe a little of my experience in hopes that it may
be helpful to others.

 Last year my wife and I started walking from St. Jean Pied de Port in daily
stretches of up to 18 or so miles. We had prepared by building up over a couple
of months of walking in sturdy boots to distances of 10 to 15 miles two or three
times a week. Fortunately neither of us had any blisters or other problems on
the camino except for muscle and joint aches and pains particularly at first
("Dear, was this a 2 Advil or a 3 Advil day?"). I am 72 years old; my wife a few
years younger. She had never been a walker or hiker before.

We started toward the end of April and walked through most of May. It was colder
than we had expected and sometimes rainy.We ran out of time in Fromista and
returned home. We intend to complete the pilgrimage this year.

We took a diffeerent route to St. Jean Pied de Port that may be of interest.
Because we wanted to see the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao we flew there on Sabena
(no longer exists), spent a night or two and then took a train up to Bayonne and
caught another back down to SJPP. Neither of us speak French but we had no
problems on that score. We do know Spanish; that helped all along.


I would be grateful for anyone's comments on rain issues -  especially body
covering and boots. We weren't very happy with the hump-backed ponchos we used
to cover back packs in the rain mainly because they blew around a lot. Does
anyone have experience with chubasqueros - the hump-backed rain jackets within
which back packs also fit?


And thanks also for any ideas or advice on preventing wet boots when walking in
the rain - rain pants, gaiters, or just forget it and get wet?


Many thanks.

Mil gracias


Jack Lyons