What would you leave behind
We’re packing for a 500-700 mile long bike pilgrimage from San Sebastián to Santiago Spain, better known as The Camino del Norte. We will be traveling over a variety of conditions including dirt roads and mountainous terrain. We must keep our packs under 20 lbs. This means we need to make some decisions on what to take and what to leave behind. We have narrowed it down to this cut list, so I ask you; if it was you, which three items would you take and which three would you leave behind?
1. A portable battery recharger (that would need to be recharged occasionally itself)
2. A book (something between War and Peace and The Prophet)
3. Long pants (it will be June in Spain but we will be along the coast at times)
4. iPad (finding internet connection will be tricky but then we could ditch the book - damned Americans! They can’t go anywhere without technology)
5. Rain jacket (it will be June in Spain but it could rain at times)
6. Puffy jacket (it will be June in Spain but it could be chilly at times)
I’d leave behind a book (I can read on my iPhone), then iPad (again, use the phone), the 3rd one is more difficult. It may seem that the next thing to leave behind would be the charger but since I need my phone for gps and reading and because I’m sort of always safety first minded I will say the long pants can stay home.
ReplyDeleteI can’t go into churches and cathedrals with no pants!
ReplyDeleteLeave:
ReplyDeleteBook - You'll be in a new place every day! There will be so much to do, I doubt you'll need extra entertainment. And if you do, you can probably find one there (even if it is in Spanish).
iPad - This seems like something that will cause more worry (breaking, losing it, keeping it charged) than it's worth in entertainment (see note on book).
Take:
Puffy jacket - so much warmth for so little weight and it doubles as a pillow/padding
Portable charger - if you're running gps all day, your battery will drain faster
Long pants - hopefully a lightweight pair, but you'll want something for places where shorts aren't appropriate and if it gets chilly at night
The rain jacket - this one could go either way. If the weight of the ipad and book make up for the rain jacket, then maybe you can just take it. But if not, you probably won't need it. It could double as a windbreaker if there are chilly winds while you're riding. But you might not need that if you have your puffy. You can also probably survive the occasional rain without it (wait it out somewhere dry or just push through). If the forecast changes and you end up with multiple days of downpours, you could probably find one there.
I’m with Brendo & Sophia, except I might recommend a small Kindle that has been pre-loaded with info you will find helpful along the way. Why not take on Don Quixote while traveling the Camino? Then the book and IPad are not necessary, and the battery charger will come in handy. I have a myCharge battery and it is great, btw. Brendo - how could we travel without a guitar?? 😀
DeleteThank You Miguel,
DeleteI am all in on Cervantes along the Camino!
Many a windmill will tilt to my presence:)
I would leave the book and the iPad. I would take the rest. A pair of light weight pants and the puffer will compress down and add little weight. The puffer may provide warmth but not help with the wind protection provided by a light weight rain jacket.
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