Travel Tips for walking the French Camino

• Train going up hills and down in ankle boots that have flexible soles (very rocky terrain)
• At Airport wrap backpack in plastic (if you want to guard against straps fetting caught in baggage handling) First take out battery chargers!  I made this mistake!
• Have rubber stoppers on your walking poles it is very annoying for other walkers to put up with click-clacking of metal on the roads and stones!
• Hikers wool - help with pressure points on your feet and ankles - helps prevent blisters.
• Walking poles help take the pressure off your knees especially going downhill.
• Bring a massage ball - helps with all the aching parts of your body!
• "Stiff, Sore and Sorry" - roll-on for sore muscles - it works!
• If you are short statued - like me- be careful of having your pack too high and pushing against your head - can cause excruciating neck pain - believe me!
• Most sites or BNB's do not open before 4 pm so time your walk accordingly.
• Stretch before and after day's walk.
• Try and keep to around 20kms a day, lots of hills take their toll! Stop and have a look around the villages you pass through
• Check if there are places to buy lunch or bring some with you (sometimes the hotels can prepare a picnic for you but I can be just all carbs!)  we took fresh fruit and mixed nuts, some days.
• Getting your backpack sent ahead makes walking up hills more enjoyable!
• Walking sandals are good if your feet need a break from the boots.
• Other hikers provide very good tips! So have a chat!
• Bring a swimsuit you never know when there will be a day spa!
• If your knees are sore when walking down hills, walk across the path in a zig-zag pattern rather than straight down, takes some of the pressure off your knees, also your back rather than forward over your knees, bring tape/bandage.
• Vegans and vegetarians or gluten-free people would have trouble finding enough food to eat.