Quick Dry Underwear

Quick Dry Underwear, Portuguese Camino (photo 6)

“Hiking is not escapism; it’s realism. The people who choose to spend time outdoors are not running away from anything; we are returning to where we belong” – Jennifer Pharr Davis

Hello, Hello, Hello!

Long time, no blog.

When I started this post the other day, I was in the middle of preparing for my next trip. Destination: Lisbon, Portugal to hike The Portuguese Camino. A 400-mile (650km) trek from Lisbon, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Which should take about 27-28 days unless I decided to hang out in a town or two along the way.

For those of you who are new to my blog, this will be my fourth Camino in Europe. I’ve hiked the original way, the Frances, from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, twice (2018, 2021) and the Norte (across the top of Spain) once, last year in 2022. So the Portuguese route is a new one for me.

I’m just nutty for the Camino. I absolutely love it. It’s a confidence builder. I love the freedom it provides to solo female travelers. I love walking in nature and through the cute villages and cities along the way. I love meeting people from all over the world. I love the pace of walking across a country because it provides an in-depth immersion into the true culture and essence of the people. I feel a sense of calm, peace and hope for humanity when I’m on the trail. And I can’t forget the food. Sampling different types of cuisines from each region is incredible for the tastebuds. It’s truly my favorite travel adventure. ❤️ And shouldn’t we all be doing more of the things we love?

So to kick off this new voyage, I figured I’d answer some frequently asked questions.

Here we go…

PACKING:

I get tons of questions about what I pack for such a long trek, so below are the items I’ve decided to throw in my backpack for this journey. Every hike is a little different. The terrain, time of year, distance, etc. makes a difference so no backpack is ever filled exactly the same.

I did not purchase all of these items at once. I’ve gathered many of these larger purchases over time. Some of these things I’ve used on several hikes, like my sleep sheet and poncho…and my favorite quick dry underwear. A few items I’ve picked up in Europe during my previous Caminos – stuff is usually a little cheaper over there. This will be the fourth Camino for my Osprey backpack (I absolutely love this bag!) and the second for the trekking poles (I bought these in Spain). Since I’m taking the sticks with me, which are considered weapons (eye roll), I have to check my bag at the airport which allowed me to take some things I normally wouldn’t bring along…like such a large bottle of toothpaste. I would typically bring the travel size but this tube is only half full so the weight is minimal and I don’t have to waste it…so I’m taking it.

Europe is much like the US and they have everything you could ever need so taking smaller toiletries is best and just restock along the way when you run out.

Clothes: I did buy new hiking clothes this time because I’ve worn the same hiking gear for all three of my previous Caminos. If you invest in the good stuff, it will last a long time – and save you money in the long run. Everyone’s budget is different but for me, I want to pay a little more so I can use this stuff for a long time to come – not just because it’s a name brand. My body has changed a bit so the clothes I had don’t fit well anymore and they carry a permanent “hiker smell” which also prompted the new purchase. I don’t usually bring many clothes, usually two outfits – one I’m wearing and the other is in my bag or the washing machine – but again, I did things a little different this trip. I sleep in my hiking clothes so when I wake up, I brush my teeth, put my shoes and backpack on and walk out the door. With that said, I decided to bring a lightweight linen dress this time which is not a usual item in my bag but I’ll be traveling afterward for a while and I wanted something a little nicer for later – but still lightweight for the lengthy trek. 

Normally, I wear hiking pants that unzip into shorts but I’m changing it up this time. I have one pair of hiking pants and two pairs of hiking shorts…with pockets. Ladies, you know what I’m talking about! So I’ll see how this combo works out. Usually, in the mornings it’s cool and I’ll unzip the bottoms along the way when it gets hot but hopefully, I can just pull these pants over my shorts and stop briefly to undress. These are the dumb little things hikers think about. Nerd alert.

Packing tip: pack your clothes in Jumbo size Ziplock or Hefty slider bags. They are lighter weight than packing cubes and will keep your clothes dry, and clean and make them easily accessible in your backpack.

Shoes: I usually wear Oboz low-top hiking shoes but from what I’ve read and been told, this route is very flat, and a good portion of it is on cobblestone and road walking so I’ve opted for Brooks running shoes.

A tip regarding footwear…get fitted at a shoe store or outdoor store like REI for your shoes. They need to fit YOUR feet – not what’s popular with everyone else. You are walking a really long way on these Caminos and what fits someone else might not be best for you. Also, buy them a size bigger than what you normally wear. Your feet will swell and tight shoes lead to blisters and lost toenails. Ouch!

In addition to the running shoes, I’m bringing one pair of flip-flops to wear in the shower and around town. Once I’m finished hiking, if I need to buy any clothes or shoes for the remainder of my trip, Santiago has a TON of great shopping.

Since I’ll be hiking in May/June and the weather will be a little warmer, I’m only traveling with a silk sleep sheet instead of a sleeping bag – I’ll sleep in my pants and coat if need be, ha. Either a poncho or a raincoat is a must – it sucks walking in the rain unless you are well-dressed for the weather. I prefer the poncho – it is the ugliest fashion piece I have, I call it the Blue Monster – but it keeps me and my bag/stuff completely dry which is more important than making a fashion statement at this point in my life. Once a nerd, always a nerd.

Packing is important since it’s all you have with you but don’t obsess over it. As I said, if you forget an item (or two) or run out of something, you can always buy it overseas.

Below is an itemized list with links to what I actually own and use. This is not for sponsorship either…I love the stuff I have and I’m happy to share it with you. Hopefully, it helps those of you who are considering a long distance hike but remember, buy what fits in your budget and what you feel most comfortable with. I learned a fantastic strategy for buying clothes from a former boyfriend. Whenever he tried on clothes, he never looked in the mirror until he was 100% certain it felt good on his body. He was hilarious at the clothing store. He’d put on the clothes, walk around the store, and even do stretches in the clothes before ever checking himself out in the mirror. If it didn’t feel good to him, he would take it off without looking and move on to the next item. No regrets. This is a good rule of thumb for buying any type of clothing but especially hiking gear, it needs to feel comfortable otherwise it can make for a very uncomfortable journey. He is also the same guy who said, “Cheap people pay twice, whether it’s in money, time, or in this case, discomfort.” He was a smarty which is why I liked him.

I weighed my bag at the airport…15 lbs (6.8 kilos). It’s usually closer to 20 lbs. So I’ve either gotten really efficient at packing and I’m off to a good start…or I’ve forgotten something. We are past the point of return so I’ll find out when I get there.

And as luck would have it I ran into a fellow Pilgrim from KC, Bonnie, at the Kansas City airport. We were on the same flight to JFK – unplanned. I met Bonnie about a year ago through our mutual friend Marilyn. We had coffee one morning and she picked my brain about how to hike her own Camino. She will be hiking the Frances while I’m on the Portuguese – another unplanned event.

Bonnie is “all-in” on her grand pilgrimage. Her kids are raised and on their own so she sold her house (and most of her possessions), quit her job and is off on a great big adventure around the globe! I’m so excited for her! ❤️

And then…another random moment happened on the airplane from KC to JFK. A woman walked down the aisle towards the restroom and stopped next to my seat. I looked up, tapped her on the arm and we both started laughing. It was Sue from my swim class at The Jewish Community Center. She is on her way to Lucca, Italy for vacation with her friend Mary. So of course we had to snap a photo in the international terminal at JFK during our four-hour layovers…cause if you don’t have proof, did it actually happen? 😂

It feels like the world is getting more and more connected every day. I love seeing all of these friendly faces traveling around the globe. ❤️✈️ Next stop for me is Lisbon, Bonnie is headed to Madrid and Sue & Mary are off to Milan. What a life!

That’s it for now, folks. Feel free to ask any questions…I’m happy to answer.

Goodnight and much love from JFK Airport Terminal 4…in route to Portugal! 🇵🇹

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Emily

P.S. Any typos are complimentary.