Solo Travel Adventures: Safe Travel for Women, Preparing for a Trip, Overcoming Fear, Travel Tips
Equipping Women over 50 to Safely Travel in Confidence
Is fear holding you back from traveling because you don’t have anyone to go with? Are you concerned about being a woman traveling alone? Not sure how to prepare for a solo trip? Do family and friends think you are crazy for even considering solo travel in this day and age?
In this podcast, you will become equipped to travel safely by yourself. You’ll learn things like tactical travel tips and how to prepare for a trip, and how to overcome the fear so you can discover the transformation that travel can bring. My mission is to see more women over 50, empty-nesters, discover how travel can empower them. If you want to enjoy your next travel adventure solo, then start your journey here.
Hi Sister Travelers, I’m Cheryl, solo travel advocate and coach. I spent nearly 20 years putting my family/children first and felt guilty about even considering solo travel at the time. After my divorce and transitioning to an empty nest, I began to rediscover my passion for travel, built confidence in myself, and started to explore again. I have experienced life-changing adventures through travel and I want the same for you.
If you are ready to find freedom through travel and build your confidence while safely navigating new places, then this podcast is for you!
Pack your bags, grab your plane tickets and check one more time for that passport. It’s time to explore the world!
Email: adventuresredheadrambler@gmail.com
Solo Travel Adventures: Safe Travel for Women, Preparing for a Trip, Overcoming Fear, Travel Tips
Preparing for the Camino de Santiago: Essential Tips for a Successful Pilgrimage
Have you ever dreamed of embarking on a centuries-old pilgrimage? Join me as I take you through my rigorous preparations for walking the Camino de Santiago, beginning from the scenic city of Porto, Portugal, and taking the breathtaking coastal route. You'll discover the historical importance of this ancient journey and learn about the physical training and gear selection that are crucial for a successful trek. From rucking with a weighted pack to breaking in the perfect pair of trail running shoes and choosing high-quality Merino wool socks, I share all the insights you need to make your own adventure comfortable and blister-free.
Packing for such a pilgrimage involves more than just stuffing a backpack. I delve into the essential items that make the journey smoother, from obtaining a pilgrim credential to packing lightweight, quick-drying clothing. Learn about the must-haves like a headlamp, quick-dry towel, sleeping bag liner, and a money pouch for security. Plus, discover my strategy for carrying allergy-friendly snacks to fuel the way. Follow my real-time updates, videos, and photos on Instagram at solotraveladventures50, and get inspired to start your own journey of exploration. This episode is packed with practical advice and motivation to turn your travel dreams into reality.
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Hello, sister travelers. Well, have you ever heard of the Camino? Well, I finally get the opportunity to fulfill the dream of walking the Camino. I've had this dream for several years. Actually, probably about 2019 was when I first kind of discovered or heard about it and thought that is a grand idea. I think I want to do that instead of the Appalachian Trail, and so I am finally having the chance to do that. So I'm so excited. I can't believe it's here, and it's been a long time waiting.
Speaker 1:But you may be asking what is the Camino? So the Camino, also known as Camino de Santiago or the Way of St James, is actually an ancient pilgrimage that actually dates back to the 9th century. It's believed that the remains of St James the greater, the apostle of Jesus, was actually. His remains are there in this Camino de Santiago area, so pilgrims would make that trek every year to visit the sacred burial site of one of the apostles of Jesus. Over the years, this small church grew into an epic cathedral De Santiago de Compostela, and that is where all the trails so there's several different pathways that you can take to end up at this cathedral, and the original was coming over the French Pyrenees and going along the northern coast of Spain and then ending up in Santiago. And there are other trails and I will be taking the one actually going through Portugal and I will be starting in Porto. You can start in Lisbon. There's the coastal or there's the central route, so I'll be taking the coastal route. So I'm very thrilled about doing this. It's going to take me roughly two weeks. It can take 10 days, as little as 10 days, but I've also seen up to 15 days, depending on how fast you walk or how slow or how many. You know you want to spend some time in certain cities. You can do that. So what does one person do to prepare for the Camino? Well, I'm going to share with you in this episode how I have been preparing over the past several months for this Camino.
Speaker 1:So let's start with the physical Now the physical preparations. I will have to be completely honest, because I am doing the coastal route of Portugal. It is not as in what I've read. It's not as strenuous as, say, the one that comes over, or what they call the St James Way, and that one actually takes about 35 days or so, and there are quite a few mountains, of course, as I talked about coming over the French Pyrenees pretty could be pretty challenging, and so my route is on the coast, so it's a little more flat. There is a section I know, as I kind of make my way into Spain, that will be a little more hilly and might be a little more challenging. So I did prep physically but I wasn't overly like fanatical about it. I'm not too concerned, mainly because I do walk on my feet every day for several hours. So I do have that advantage and I do work out.
Speaker 1:But how did I prepare? I wanted to prepare more, so, obviously, walking. I started back in probably April or May I think it was closer to May that I started doing what's called rucking. So this is where I had a weighted pack and so I would put. I had a 20 pound a plate that I put into my backpack and I would just walk or hike with that pack on and over time I would just walk. I'm not, you know, doing anything too strenuous. Plus, in Dallas we don't have a whole lot of hills, unfortunately. So I found what I could. Sometimes I'd get on the trail and use my pack, but mostly just adding miles.
Speaker 1:As the time got closer I didn't feel like I needed to train as hard as say, for example, when I hiked the Machu Picchu, I did train fairly hard for that one I did. I was committed in doing what's called Orange Theory Fitness about three days a week leading up to my Machu Picchu, because that one was definitely. You definitely need some training for that one, or preparation physically for that one, and then on the still on the physical side, you want to make sure you find proper footwear. So for me I decided I have a wonderful pair of low hiking boots that are so comfortable, very broken in, but I felt they were a little too heavy. They are heavy and there was no need for something quite that heavy or rugged for my hike. So I chose a trail running shoe. So it still had sort of the nubbiness of sort of hiking boots but it was definitely more lightweight and I felt that was going to be sufficient and I found I finally found a pair. Of course I'm a big advocate of new balance because that's what fits my feet and I was so fortunate to find a new balance hike trail running shoe that fit wonderfully. It is so comfortable and I've been wearing them to sort of break them in, but there wasn't really much needed to break them in and then. So you make sure you do that. So don't just buy your shoes and then go on your hike the next week. So make sure you find a comfortable pair and you get them broken in. And that might take, you know, a couple tries going to some stores trying on some shoes to find what works best for you.
Speaker 1:Speaking of feet, the other thing you want to physically make sure you prepare or have is good socks. Now it is recommended that you get wool socks. Murano wool is the best because a couple of things they are very. They dry easily. So you know you're going to be wearing these off and on throughout your hike and they're also great, I think, good for you know, moisture wicking, they don't smell, they kind of absorb that. And there's also I bought a pair because I tend to get between two of my toes. I do tend to get blisters if I have long hiking days. So I bought Murano wool socks that have toes in them, so each toe is its separate little. You know, I put my foot in there, so I am set there. Make sure you got good socks.
Speaker 1:Next, make sure you have a backpack that fits right. Definitely you need one with a waist strap and a chest strap. Now I chose I originally. I have a 45 liter, but I feel like that was too big. I know some people have done this with maybe a 25 liter size backpack. I felt that was too small. So I actually did end up purchasing which I really didn't want to do, up purchasing which I really didn't want to do, but I ended up purchasing a 34 liter, which I just right. And then physically, I've also just making sure I'm eating right, I'm staying healthy beforehand. I don't want to get sick while I'm there and I don't want to already arrive feeling run down. So that part's been a little bit of a challenge this past week or so because I am allergic to ragweed and right now ragweed is rather high. So I am just dousing myself with all kinds of allergen stuff that I would take to kind of keep that at bay. So so far, so good.
Speaker 1:And then let's talk about packing next. All right. So they recommend, once you find the size backpack that you need and it gets fitted. So I did purchase mine at REI. It does have adjustable shoulder straps. That way, depending on how tall or short you are, you get that nice fit so that it's not just hanging on your shoulders, but it's um, you know it's supported also by that waist strap around your waist there. So get fitted, um, get a good pack, and as far as, how much do you take? And I get to packing in a minute. But they recommend that your backpack uh should be about 10% of your body weight, so for me that's going to be approximately 16 pounds, or it's 7.25 kilograms, and so that's what I'm keeping my backpack at. I haven't fully weighted. I have put all my stuff aside and trying to buy some things that are more lightweight, or packing some lightweight items, so that's what I'm aiming for. I'm just about done packing, though, and so we'll get a chance to weigh it soon, but that's kind of where I'm at.
Speaker 1:And then, how did I prepare financially? I did work on a budget and I did allocate. Some people have actually uh, recently I went to a Camino uh informational uh gathering that REI actually hosted, and the lady that was holding the, the question discussion, uh, as far as you know, preparing for the Camino she said she budgeted 35, uh US dollars per day and, um, I felt like that was a little low, but things are definitely uh cheaper over there, uh, euros and. But I did budget a little higher. I actually was able to. I just get a nice tax return and so that's kind of what I'm using mostly. But I budgeted $55 US dollars a day on the days that I'm on the Camino, and then I do have an extra five or six days that I'm not approximately, depending on how fast I walk, that I won't be on the Camino, and so I have budgeted 75 US dollars a day. Now do know that you know what that exchanges for your, whatever your country's, currency is. So, for example, us dollars 55 a day is actually less less than that in euros. Okay, so the dollar is not really strong right now over in Europe. So you kind of. That's why I took it in US dollars a little higher, because then it kind of brings it down a little lower in euros.
Speaker 1:Something else to consider that you really need I recommend that you get it before you go. I mean, you can get it once you get there, but you need credentials. So this is like a little almost like a passport that acknowledges that you are a pilgrim and you are walking the Camino, and the reason you need this is a will allow you to stay in the municipal albergues or hostels, and it also can give you discounts on what they call pilgrim meals that some restaurants do offer, and it's also just a nice. You'll be getting that stamped. You want to do every day, get it stamped. Some of the restaurants will stamp it. Places you stay will stamp it to acknowledge that you've actually walked, so that you didn't just kind of arrive at the cathedral and, you know, get this little certificate that you've finished the Camino, when you may have not. So this is just to acknowledge that you have done the pilgrimage. Now, your last 100K, you do actually have to get your passport, your credentials, stamped at least twice a day, that last portion, and then once you finish, you arrive at Santiago de Compostela Cathedral and it's phenomenal. I can't wait to get there and feel that excitement that people do once they accomplish that. So I got my credentials actually through a local chapter here in the US, and so if you're US based there are many of them you could request it. I would say, if you are going, request it at least six weeks before you go so they can get that mailed to you. And so I have that in my hands and I'm ready to go. So I'm super excited.
Speaker 1:Let me talk a little bit more about what is included in my backpack. What should you pack? How much should you pack? You pack Now, aside from the Camino, I will be doing some other more sightseeing types of activities, so I will have two additional outfits aside from what I plan to sort of use on the Camino. So here's a list of items that are suggested for packing for the Camino Two pairs of pants, two to three short sleeve shirts, one long sleeve shirt.
Speaker 1:I did add I get really warm. I'm, you know, menopausal. I get warm when I hike, so I did pack one sleeveless, lightweight, uh, columbia, uh shirt that I love to hike in, um, in case I do notice that there's going to be some days it's going to be high seventies while I'm there, um, so I did just throw one of those in, but the evenings will be in the fifties, higher fifties usually, usually. So that long sleeve shirt will be beneficial. It says two to three pairs of underwear. I recommend that you also buy Murano wool underwear. Again, those can be washed. They help, you know, with odor right. So they're good and they dry really fast. So I bought myself some Murano underwear. It was a little test run. I bought a couple different brands to find one that I liked.
Speaker 1:As I mentioned before, you need some good wool socks, so I have. It says two to four pairs of socks and then a waterproof jacket or a poncho. Now it is recommended that you do the poncho idea. Um, and they told me why me? Why the poncho can go over your backpack. Make sure your poncho also has a hood and because a lot of times, if you're just wearing a raincoat and then you have, like this, backpack cover right to protect your backpack from rain, often the water will go down your back, between your back and the backpack, and then things inside your pack are actually going to be wet. You will feel wet. So I recommend the poncho which I have.
Speaker 1:Um, a fleece jacket. I am taking a jacket. Um, depending what time of year you might need, like it says, some gloves or a hat. I am taking a regular, regular hat to if there's some sun or some rain. It's a waterproof one as well.
Speaker 1:I have lightweight sandals and those these are my Tevas. Again, you want to find a comfortable pair of sandals. I actually have hiked in my Tevas, so I like that, not only to let my feet air out from my tennis shoes, but it could be an alternative if my feet feel a little too hot or too cramped in the tennis shoes. So lightweight sandals, a bandana, a quick dry towel. So this is one again that's going to dry quickly, because when you stay in these albergues or hostels I mean, some of them will provide towels but there may be a charge and so I just bought one to have Highly recommend. It's called a sleeping bag liner or a body sheet, and this is great because a lot of us worry about bed bugs, and so this is one way to sort of protect yourself, protect your, uh, when you sleep, um, it can go over the mattress that you might be sleeping on.
Speaker 1:Okay, and guidebook. So I have a guidebook that I'll be taking it's specific to the Camino, the Portuguese Camino. A headlamp, a journal, water bottle I am taking my LifeStraw and also I will take my water bladder and see if there's times when I can get that filled up as well. Two large garbage bags or Ziploc bags, lip balm, close pins, safety pins for laundry. I've also heard I have an S-hook. They say that's good because then you can hang things on your S-hook, maybe off the edge of your bed, obviously your passport and maybe a money pouch for all that to stay safe. I have heard stories of people that stay in the hostels or albergues, you know, getting things stolen. So the money pouch I like, because then I can keep it on me at all times.
Speaker 1:Sunglasses for me. I have regular glasses as well, because I need them for distance, so I need two sets of glasses and my reading glasses. So that's actually three your toiletry bag, which has my toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, razor, etc. And then a first aid kit which I put in there besides your typical band-aids and waterproof tape and like some alcohol wipes there. Pain reliever I have also added some it's. You can buy them. They're for like calluses and they're just kind of like really soft things that you can either put on your callus or around your callus, so something like that. Just in case, I have additional things that I incorporated.
Speaker 1:Since I am going to be along the coast of Portugal, I've actually put in a bathing suit for me. I did a bikini because that way I could easily wear it under my clothing. If I decide I want to go swimming, then I don't have to or have to go to the bathroom. Right, I just have to take the bottoms off. So that's something I added and I mentioned. I added two extra outfits because I will be spending some time exploring some different areas. I'll be in Lisbon, porto, of course, and then I want to check out some other areas in Portugal, and I want to check out some other areas in Portugal.
Speaker 1:A few other things I packed that were not on that original list that someone gave me was I packed a day pack. So this is a very lightweight little backpack that I have that I can roll up so that when I do some, you know, some day sightseeing, I don't have to take my big 34 liter pack with me. And then some food. I pack some food. Some of that is along the trail. I'm not sure what I'm going to see, but I also have a lot of allergies. So things like some sort of trail mix. I also take turkey jerky with me, things like that. Oh, pistachios, almonds, things like that that are going to give me some protein and also sustain me. So that's what I've packed, that's what I'm doing.
Speaker 1:I can't wait to share with you, when I get back, what the experience was like. But if you want to watch while I'm doing this at the time of this airing, I am already going to be on the trail. So if you want to catch up and see what I'm doing on the trail, on the Camino, you can follow me in my Instagram, because that's where I'm going to be posting, you know, videos, reels and pictures from my experience. It is solotraveladventures5050 on Instagram and that's where you're going to catch up with me and you know I would like to bring you along on my journey. So I hope you will. You know, join and check it out, and I can't wait to share with you what it was like. I hope this help gets you inspired to do your own Camino, possibly, and as I always say, sisters, get out there and have an adventure.
