The Stick-ing Point – Walking Poles and Sticks
To pole or not to pole? How to pole? Do you pole? Pole to Pole? Staff. Hook. Crozier. Stave. Cane. Scepter. Caduceus.
I like my walking sticks. They’re made by Easton and telescope to different sizes. They have rock-lock on them which makes them simple to adjust. They’re my most cherished hiking accessory and if I were to lose them I would be very, very cranky.
On our first Camino, I had no problems with leaving shoes and poles with the rest of them in the albuergue area set aside for such things. But this time around I’m a little creeped out by all the people that will be on the trail as the possibilities of theft are increasing. Also, what if the airline loses them? Well… I have to just chill out.
I consulted with a local expert, Annie, who spends most of her time either walking the Camino or talking about it. She recommended buying some in Saint Jean if worse came to worse. According to Annie, I can buy a pair of poles at Boutique du Pelerin. It is immediately across the pathway from the pilgrim office in SJPdP. She loves Pierre the proprietor. You can email him and ask him to hold sticks or an ALTUS poncho, or whatnot, for you and pick it up when you arrive. There’s a spot on the website for just that purpose. Just let him know your name and arrival date. I’m tempted to leave the Easton’s behind but if they don’t have telescoping poles for cheap (Annie says 12€-15€ each so about 34€) I may just have to pack them and hope for the best.
One of the things we are planning to do is to get a mailing tube (as I did the last time) to put poles and non-carry-on items—such as our Opinel pocket knives—into it, then check that tube. We could just ship the tube up to Santiago to be held for us (at a price). That way I would have my post Camino things such as some cosmetics and a dress in Santiago all clean and waiting for me.
But…Honestly? I don’t actually want to check anything. I’m a little afraid we’ll miss the train which leaves in just over two hours after we arrive in Madrid. It’s a tight schedule once we land. Tube in hand, we’ll have to navigate the airport train station, find the right connections to get to Atocha, find our train to Pamplona, get on, and collapse.