To Walk Far, Carry Less : Camino de Santiago (21 page)
Read To Walk Far, Carry Less : Camino de Santiago Online
Authors: Jean-Christie Ashmore
Tags: #Backing, #Camino
Multipurpose body soap, shampoo, and laundry soap (don’t worry, it’s mild!) in an all-in-one bar.
Feet Relief
Toe gel caps for blisters and other foot-care products. Click on “Products” to navigate your way to the toe gel caps.
Other Suppliers
The following may have limited shipping options outside of North America (or you can try REI, mentioned earlier, which often carries products from these companies):
ExOfficio
(
www.exofficio.com
) for hiking pants, shirts, and underwear, among other travel gear.
Crocs
(
www.crocs.com
) for lightweight alternate footwear.
Ray Jardine
(Also the author of
Trail Life: Ray Jardine’s Lightweight Backpacking
, described earlier under Suggested Reading.)
Ray Jardine’s website (and book) offer instructions and kits for making some lightweight backpacking gear—an option that might appeal to those with a limited budget. Jardine’s focus is on wilderness backpacking, but his philosophy and techniques can also be applied to Camino backpacking journeys.
Quest Outfitters
Outdoor-gear fabrics, patterns, fasteners, zippers, and more for those who want to make their own backpacking gear.
Amazon
A good place to find images and reviews of voltage converters and adapters for electronic devices.
Word Reference (translation)
A free online multilingual dictionary, with access to forums where you can ask language-usage questions.
Fabric Link
This site describes itself as the “Educational Resource for Fabrics, Apparel, Home Furnishings and Care.” Click on “Trademark” on the left side of the website’s home page to access the Alphabetical Trademark/Brand Name Index. There you can find a long list of human-made fabrics to see what they’re made of. That information might be helpful when you’re trying to decide between two rain jackets that use different waterproof fabrics—or between two different sleeping bag fills, for example.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Calls
These applications can be used to make free or inexpensive international phone calls using computers or mobile devices. This is a competitive technology, so Google “VoIP calls” to search for the best and most up-to-date options.
Skype
Truphone
Viber
International phones for sale or for rent, or to buy prepaid SIM phone cards before leaving home
Cellular Abroad
Planet Omni
Telestial
It was my lucky day when by chance I found Amy Scott at Nomad Editorial. Thank you, Amy, for your editing expertise, patience, and attention to the details—and for asking me great questions to clarify the text. I’m grateful for all your help and support throughout this journey.
Thank you to Henry Zoel for the wonderful book cover design, and for being such a delight to work with. I’d also like to thank Susan Zarate at Zarate Graphics for creating the backpack graphic and for fine-tuning some images—and for doing it so quickly! Thanks also to Jeffrey King at Mapping Specialists for designing the Camino map. And to Mary and Mike: that software really helped; thanks!
I’m also grateful to Marcela Calderón-Vodall, Spanish-language librarian at the Seattle Public Library, for finding Spanish and French translations for some technical terms for mobile phones. Thank goodness for public libraries and their expert researchers.
I must also send wishes for a
buen Camino en la vida también
to countless Camino pilgrims met along The Way who were the source for many of the ideas found in this book.
Thank you Charlie, Nancy, and Leah for your comments and suggestions—with extra gratitude to Leah for her patience and flexibility as I worked in the cave. Thank you to Bailey, too, for reading the manuscript so thoroughly! I also appreciate your squeezing that reading into your busy schedule.
And thanks to the memory of Bob Bent, a great pal, sorely missed.
Although not particularly athletic, Jean-Christie Ashmore has walked over 2400 kilometers (about 1500 miles) on Camino pilgrimage routes in France and Spain. She lives in Seattle with her partner and two sassy cats.
You can contact her through Twitter @JeanChristie1 or at
www.CaminoPackList.com
.
