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<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=722503105-23012004>Hi
Duke,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=722503105-23012004></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=722503105-23012004>I
walked the Camino last August and September. One thing I would do different next
time is bring a lighter backpack. I carried about 37 pounds, and being a fairly
small woman (under 140 lbs), this was pretty heavy. I didn't need 4 pairs of
shoes, tons of cosmetics, and about 10 pounds of medication. In fact, I
walked in the same pair of boots the whole way and didn't get a chance to walk
in my lighter shoes. All this medication was useless too since I didn't get a
single blister. I just needed the ibuprofen for the pain in my shoulders from
carrying so much weight. </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2><SPAN class=722503105-23012004>Next time I would try to make it 20 - 25
pounds.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=722503105-23012004></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=722503105-23012004>The
thing that disappointed me about the Camino is that for most of August, there
was a lack of beds in the refugios. I couldn't believe that people would start
walking 2 or 3 hours before sunrise, and stop walking for the day frequently at
1 or 2 p.m. I just didn't want to participate in this crazy competition to
get the bed. I never left the refugios before sunrise, but the result was that
the first 2 weeks I ended up sleeping on the floor. This was the worst part of
the Camino for me. Second worst was being woken up by all those people who
started walking 2 -3 hours before sunrise.... :-)</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=722503105-23012004>Next
time, I would probably stay in a hotel once a week to catch up on my sleep. And
don't forget the earplugs!!</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=722503105-23012004></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=722503105-23012004>-Eva</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
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<P>-----Original Message-----</P>
<P>From: Duke [</FONT><A href="mailto:dklassenaMN.RR.COM"><U><FONT
color=#0000ff size=2>mailto:dklassenaMN.RR.COM</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2>]
</P>
<P>Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2004 7:37 PM</P>
<P>Subject: Suggestions and/or regrets</P>
<P> </P>
<P>I am leaving for St. Jean Pied de Port in late March to begin the Camino.
It occurs to me that those of you who have had the experience might be able to
help me. If you had one piece of advice to give (about gear, books,things not
to miss, weather etc.) or one regret of things you might have done diffently
(shrines visited, pace of walking, attitudes,etc.) or one thing you would do
differently if you walked the Camino again, I would love to hear about
them.</P>
<P>Duke</P></FONT></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>