What’s Going with Me

I’m preparing to walk 1,000 miles in 88 days through France and Spain. Some of those with be touring or rest days. I’m whittling down my pack list to get to the core of what’s essential, while realizing it doesn’t have to be perfect, it can be adapted as I go.

Here’s what made the final cut in my 19 pound pack:

Basics for footwear

Clothes for the plane

Some essentials with nice and luxury items.

Essential:  (with weight in ounces in parenthesis if not wearing and * if wearing)

• Backpack (64)
• Boots*
• Socks*
• Pants*
• Shirt*
• Bra*
• Underwear*
• Jacket*
• Rain jacket (5.75)
• Sun hat (2.5)
• Canteen (7.5 empty, 25 full)
• Guidebook (11.25)
• Walking stick x 1 (7.5)
• Quick Dry Towel (3.25)
• Sleep sack (4.5)
• Passport, Cash, Credit Cards (2)
• Sunscreen (2)
• Soap – can be used for bathing, shampoo and washing clothes in the sink (5.25)
• Contacts, Contact solution (2)
• Glasses, case and clip on sunglasses (3.5)
• Toothbrush (0.5)
• Hairbrush (1.2)
• Nail clippers (1.5)

TOTAL: 124 ounces, approximately 8 pounds (9 pounds with full canteen)

My foot care kit

Purse with items that go inside it

“Nice to have” – Zip pants, tank, short sleeve shirt, dress and Flashdry long john top & pants.

Nice to have:

• Sandals (16.75)
• Bandana x 2 (2.25)
• Change of clothes (40)
• Dress (10)
• Gloves (1.5)
• Boot brush (1.25)
• Wine opener (0.6)
• Spork (0.25)
• Buff for warm hat, scarf, insect mask. (1.7)
• Hair conditioner (4)
• Tooth powder (2)
• Tongue scraper (0.5)
• Blinky mask & ear plugs (1)
• Deodorant (4.8)
• Coconut oil for feet and moisturizer (2.5)
• Hangnail trimmers (0.5)
• Tweezers (0.5)
• Day pack for touring or if ship backpack ahead (7)
• Diaper pins for hanging clothes to dry (0.3)
• Eagle Creek Packing Cubes (2.25)
• Purse (7.25)
• Lip balm (0.1)
• Hair ties (0.65)
• Shell (1.25)

TOTAL: 108 ounces, approximately 7 pounds

luxury items I am taking

Comfort / luxury Items:

• Journal (11.5)
• Second guide book and coconut oil I’m sending to halfway point.
• Pens (0.5)
• Keyboard (7)
• Gumby – for photos for my granddaughter. (1)
• iPhone (with charger, earbuds and adapter) (10.75)
• Essential oils, homeopathic meds for jet lag and injury (3.25)
• S hook to keep backpack off floor (1.25)
• Umbrella (8.2)    I’ll be curious to see if I use this. Wish one could count on no rain, but that is not the case. 

TOTAL: 42 ounces, approximately 3 pounds

Ways I cut weight:

• Cut a large quick dry towel in half.
• Left blanket, iPhone tripod, scarf, Leatherman, stuff sack, clothesline, food container and travel washcloth at home.
• Shipping 1 deodorant, 1 coconut oil jar and second guidebook to halfway point
• Put conditioner in a smaller container.
• Simplified essential oils.
• Removed the sleep sack and towel from sack they came in.

It’s amazing how even though I’ve simplified my life, this task had its challenges. I began with all items I possibly could want weighing in at 28 pounds, and then whittled away 9 pounds based on ideas shared through friends and much consideration. This time was harder than my 2013 Camino. Perhaps that is because I am much more aware of how weight can impact one’s journey. It’s important to remember, I’m not going to a third world country and it’s okay to release things along the way!

I did a backpack shakedown with John & Robin Pigott. This is the items we planned to remove. 

So it’s time to stop packing and get on with this journey. Today is T-0 as my flight leaves in about 6 hours. I am no longer accepting ideas for what to bring and leave behind. If you’ve got a better idea, just apply it to your own pack list.

I feel very blessed to get to go on this adventure and know I will learn and play along the way! If you want to follow me, I’ll be posting to my Facebook page.