Living like a turtle for a week...

We've been living out of a back pack for a week now, so how is it going?

So cold he wore socks on his hands

Lex is still confused. Doesn't know where anything is. Has this new pack, a NZ design which has 2 waterproof front packs, which aim to distribute the weight between front and back, and in reality should give ample spaces for those things you need to get to as you walk. Reality is quite different in this case. He has great difficulty finding anything.

We were on our way out of Pamplona ( ie through the Pyrenees, and what we thought might be the coldest areas) before he found his buff (neck scarf). Really needed it today too - sooo cold. Lucky we found it yesterday. Good thing is, it hasn't worn out, and is still clean!

The main part of his pack only has one compartment, but he has various packing cells, and we also have a bag for using to take items to the shower. But it has all sorts of things in it... Things that otherwise don't have a home. So you can see - he obviously has too much stuff, and is totally confused. He'll get there before the end.... I hope.

I have less options for storing my stuff, so less is more.

When we arrive at an Albergue, we unpack sleeping bag and liner first .... claims the bed. Most places so far have a sheet and pillow, in clean pillow case. Sometimes it is disposable sheets, most times cotton, but pillow cases are very interesting. Pillow slips is a better term as they have no seam on either end, so when you put the pillow in and shake it down, it slips right through. Happened in Pamplona, where we were given a sheet and pillow slip when we registered. Laughed to myself when it happened to me, but couldn't resist watching it happen to Lex later.

Then we usually head for a shower - always a different experience, and just when you think you have it sorted out, I find something else which is even more difficult than getting everything wet - shared shower spaces, or just a trickle of water.

Most frustrating thing is small travel towels... Just so small, and get saturated so quickly. In warm weather back home it really wasn't an issue. Could have even used a face washer size towel. But here, where it is cold, a regular size, dry (even better .... warm) towel would feel like a luxury.

Keeping all your stuff together is a challenge too. Can't spread out, there are many people in a room. Good thing is, with 2 of us, one person can watch the valuables (documentos, ipad, money). Most places have seemed really good, but always need to be careful.

Washing needs to be done frequently - even better to do it each day. Routine. Haven't mastered that yet. Even worse when things don't dry overnight and we need to pin them to the outside of the pack to dry in the sun as you walk. Well that's the theory, but in the rain, that's a bit more difficult. Although today, it worked for Lex. His fingers were sooooooo cold today, as we came over Alto de Peredon,it was unbearable. He couldn't work the camera, couldn't do anything. Couldn't even get them into his pockets, cos the pack strap goes across the opening to pockets. So, we got his 'not yet dry' socks from the back of the pack, and put them on his hands. Improved gradually... Gloves might be worthwhile next time.

Packing cells seem to work quite well - keep clothes together. Soap in a small fabric bag, also works really well. Has a drawstring so you can hang it on the tap, which is so good as there is rarely anywhere to put things in the showers.

So all in all, we haven't got this back packing caper sorted yet. Living with less is one of the challenges we talked about in doing this camino, and we certainly have a lot less than we normally travel with. But today I struggled with the weight of my pack. In some places, there are donation boxes, where walkers shed some of their unwanted items, or pick up desired items. Haven't done either yet. Will be so much easier when the weather gets warmer. What can I send home.... Was considering this question the afternoon we walked into Pamplona in the sun (in t-shirts ). But we left Pamplona in the rain next day, and it just got colder. Looking at news on the tv in this bar, and it's showing snow somewhere in Spain. So not yet.

We are getting there....

Note, Lex's socks on the back of his pack, drying. Third day, more sun today, so maybe ok.

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