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What are Albergues and how do they work?
Albergues are what you’ll most likely be sleeping in on the Camino de Santiago. There are other options, but the Albergues bring you the whole experience. Albergue or Albergues are the Spanish terms for hostel singular or hostels plural. There are two kinds of Albergues on the Camino de Santiago, Municipal and Private. Municipal are maintained by volunteers most of the time and are supported by the government. Privately owned Albergues are run for profit and, most of the time, a bit more expensive, but are known to offer more luxury than the Municipal ones. In this blog post, I share all the information and tips that I learned on…
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Can you hike the Camino solo?
The Camino de Santiago brings a lot to the table, you will feel highs and lows and everything in between. Often the question is asked if you can hike the Camino solo or alone, in this article I share my experiences with starting out solo on the Coastal Camino in Portugal and hiking the Camino Frances with 2 people. Quick jump guide Advantages of hiking the Camino Solo As with many things, there are both sides of an argument, below I list all the advantages that hiking the Camino solo or alone can bring. Hike your own pace Hiking your own pace is the number one advantage of hiking any…
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MAM Iberica S knife review
The Portuguese MAM brand makes traditional-styled knives that are very affordable, and often mentioned as an Opinel alternative, I had to test them out for myself. Here is my review of the MAM Iberica S. I was looking for a new lightweight knife without a locking mechanism for hiking the West Highland Way in Scotland. Since knife laws are a bit stricter in the UK, I was looking for a knife that fits the criteria and could be carried without issue. The MAM Iberica S is a short and small knife that can be used as an all-around camp knife for smaller tasks, and could mainly serve as a food…
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How to boil eggs while hiking
Eggs are great, and a good source of protein that is often badly needed for any long-distance hiker. The egg stands in front of many houses out in the country are often my favorite stop along different hiking trails. Here is how to cook fresh eggs while saving both Fuel and Water. Boiled eggs are a great no-mess way of cooking eggs out in the woods. As frying an egg is often impossible due to the need for fat and an ultralight frying pan. Both items are often not in a hiker’s backpack. But leaving your stove burning for longer results in more fuel loss. With this method, you still…
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Camino Frances route map
The Camino Frances is the most popular Way out of all the different Camino’s, as such, you have a lot of options for navigating it. In this post, I share the options that I personally used and had a great experience with. Let’s get started! During the actual walking of the Way, you will be guided by the many Yellow arrows and waymarkers along the trail. Look out for any shells and yellow arrows, and you will be okay for 99% of the time. The navigation apps or guidebooks are more for your day-to-day planning and getting a real feel of how long the rest of your day is gonna…
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MSR Pocket Rocket 2 review
The MSR Pocket Rocket is one of the titans in the gas canister stove world, with a solid reputation and beloved by many, it forms a solid choice for any hiker. In this review, I share my thoughts and experience with the stove. Gas canister stoves remain in my standard rotation for many of my different hiking and camping needs, the MSR Pocket Rocket 2 is an excellent option for anyone who wants to cook water for 1 to 2 persons and wants to do it fast. Primarily suitable for the hiker that likes to eat dehydrated meals, cook times are unbelievably quick and you can hear why they call…
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Camino de Santiago | Packing list
The Camino de Santiago is not one hiking trail, but rather a series of long-distance paths that all end up in the same place. Santiago de Compostella. Many aspiring pilgrims are unsure what to take on the Camino de Santiago, here is my take on that question after hiking the Portuguese coastal way, Camino Finisterre, and the French way, and what changed in between. Quick jump list Affiliate links may be mentioned in this article, by purchasing a product through those links I may receive a kickback. At no extra cost to you. What do you need to bring for the Camino de Santiago? Gear lists are very personal and…
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Trail Meal | Sauerkraut Potato Mash
Related to my earlier recipe for Dutch Instant Stamppot, Sauerkraut Potato mash or “Zuurkool” in Dutch is a winter staple. This recipe uses some ingredients that last a long time in a rucksack in any condition. Read on for the full recipe! Sauerkraut is a food preservation technique that goes back a long way. Famously it goes back to the exploration days on ships to combat scurvy. And as a staple for many militaries on a campaign, the same as the hardtack or sea biscuit is known for. With modern packaging and clever use, you can take Sauerkraut quite easily on hiking and camping trips. This recipe shows a classic…
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Hot drinks for Hiking
Hot drinks make you feel more human, just like a hot meal. When thru-hiking, section hiking, or just an afternoon stroll. Having a hot drink is a welcome addition to any situation. Let’s cover some of the drink choices for your next hike! Everybody has their favorite hot beverage of choice, there is little reason not to take your favorite drink out with you hiking. Almost all drinks require little preparation with modern drink mixes, the only downside is that they do require a bit more fuel on a daily basis. Since most often you will have to boil more water or boil twice a day. You can avoid having…
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Trail Meal | Semolina Pudding
A good breakfast option that is slightly different from your standard oats is a pudding with a cult following all over the Netherlands and Germany. The go-to dessert, or get well-soon dish from your mom, Griesmeelpap or Griessbrei is easy to make and tasty on the trail. Let’s get into the trail meal! Semolina is used for everything from Couscous to many different pasta types. And in the Netherlands and Germany for sweet pudding. In Germany, there are also the traditional soup dumplings made from Semolina, and even more delicious in my opinion, Griesschnitten. Which is basically the same recipe as today. Only with a bit more Semolina to make…
Finding Purpose in every Step
