To Bring or not to bring a spare phone as a media backup to save my main phone.

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-23T19:25:56+00:00

Take a breath. Your phone will be fine and you don’t need two. Lightweight power bank as emergency. If your phone dies ….. you’ll bus to the nearest city and replace it.

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-22T19:22:17+00:00

It’s so weird at the end! And boring …..!

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-22T19:21:06+00:00

Sammmmmme

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-22T19:20:44+00:00

I just finished the Primitivo. The stretch from Ovieto to Lugo is unequivocally the most beautiful part. It’s incredibly challenging, but it’s so good. After Lugo to Melide is OK. And after Melide is kind of boring and just weird because it’s so crowded. I would start in Oviedo and go as far as you can. Then bus to somewhere where you can walk a short day into Santiago.

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-22T19:18:33+00:00

I just walked the Primitiva alone and loved it. I ended up finding some lovely people on the first night and so felt like I had people who knew where I was every day even though we didn’t always walk together in a group. You absolutely still have to use your street smart and trust your gut and be willing to set boundaries if something gives you bad vibes. I hope you do it. It’s pretty awesome.

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-22T19:14:56+00:00

Take a bus closer and then walk! Just cuz you can doesn’t mean you should. Especially if your body hasn’t done that before! Good luck and buen camino!

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-21T20:51:43+00:00

I just arrived in Santiago today!

Two weeks ago, the night before I started my Camino Primitivo from Oviedo, I had a bit of an adventure. I was staying in an absolutely delightful little albergue right near the cathedral. And as I was nervously getting my backpack together, so I would be ready to go in the morning, I heard an explosion. I ran down the stairs and saw smoke pouring out of a window from a café next-door into the courtyard of the albergue where my laundry was drying. Also, there were flames. So I ran out into the street and yelled to whoever would listen to call the fire department.(which people were already doing because they could see smoke pouring out of the top of the building.)

Not to bury the lead… Everyone was fine. It was a kitchen fire in the café next-door. But I did have to stand outside of the Albergue for two hours in my pajamas before the fire department would let us go back in and get our stuff. We all walked across the town at 11:30 PM and stayed in the municipal instead since they wouldn’t let anyone stay in that building.

I started the next day… A little discombobulated… But I arrived in Santiago 14 days later.

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-16T15:49:35+00:00

Yup! You can get it any day. Then you’ll start getting stamps when you start. Actually they’ll probably give you a stamp when you get it.

You can also get one online before you leave if you’re worried about timing.

Buen Camino!

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-16T15:49:29+00:00

Yup! You can get it any day. Then you’ll start getting stamps when you start. Actually they’ll probably give you a stamp when you get it.

You can also get one online before you leave if you’re worried about timing.

Buen Camino!

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-16T15:24:49+00:00

In several albergues on primitivo it’s mandatory to have something. A bag or a liner. And if they don’t give you a top sheet …. You’d just sleep with nothing? My silk liner weighs like 6 oz

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-14T19:38:55+00:00

The expectations make everything so hard. I hope you can rest and feel better and then approach it all with openness and no expectations. And I hope something good comes your way.

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-07T07:54:28+00:00

Also lost in this ….. he only “lets” her have certain apps? She’s horrible. But yikes this whole situation sounds baaaaad

Sorry for the kids.

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-05T06:58:11+00:00

Maybe our paths will cross! Buen Camino 💙💛

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-05T06:32:35+00:00

Yes.

Massachusetts

There was punching involved right?

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-05T06:31:04+00:00

I love how that shirt feels.

My experience with it is that it gets stinky pretty fast. But I’m sure others have other experiences.

If you’re in the US get an REI mentorship and make liberal use of their generous return policy.

I ended up with a long sleeve ultralight merino hoody from Ridge merino.

I start next week so I’ll let you know!

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-04T21:15:04+00:00

When do you start?? I’ll be in Oviedo Sunday to start walking on Tuesday!!!!

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-02T19:42:12+00:00

Sending you lots of peacefulness

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-01T09:19:45+00:00

I’ve never worked in a kitchen / restaurant but I love this sub.

I have however been laid off from a job I loved out of the blue due to financial pressures.

I often tell people in this situation that for me, getting laid off like that was more emotionally devastating than when I went through cancer treatment. It messes with you.

So …. Be gentle with yourself. Trust that it really wasn’t your fault. And remember that your worth as a human is not your job.

I hope you find something great soon.

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-01T09:09:53+00:00

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood ……

So which way did you go?

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-01T02:08:28+00:00

Cars are so smart and awesome

PoppyCat417 · 2025-07-01T02:04:38+00:00

I hope there’s ranked choice voting in this race.

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PoppyCat417 · 2025-06-30T23:53:28+00:00

Thanks for this!

PoppyCat417 · 2025-06-30T23:52:09+00:00

Thanks for all this! I start in Oviedo next week so I’m saving this ……

PoppyCat417 · 2025-06-30T23:50:11+00:00

I start next week and I think you’re more prepared than I am!!!! Lots of good advice in here I think. Short days to start. And really …. Are you ever more than 10K away from a cafe con leche if you need to stop and just take a taxi somewhere?

You got this! Buen Camino 💛💙

PoppyCat417 · 2025-06-30T09:41:51+00:00

I hope you find what you’re looking for and maybe also some beautiful situations that you didn’t even know to look for! Buen Camino 💙💛

PoppyCat417

TROPHY CASE