500 kilometers on foot... ¡with hat!

[PabloElFlamenco]

Hi all,
I've been absent from the board for a long time, but now I think I have something relevant to relate. I recently walked from Salamanca to Santiago de Compostella (both in Spain), a total of about 500 kilometers which took me 22 days to do.
I'd long wondered ..which hat?.. and opted to take one which I thought was good enough to be seen in, but one I wouldn't miss if I lost it.
I opted for a Borsalino I bought new back in 1982 and hardly ever wore. I think it's wool felt: very soft. I recently had it fitted with a leather headband (in replacement of the original cloth one) and a new ribbon.
All in all, the hat survived surprisingly well, and mostly clean (except for a sweat stain in the ribbon). In fact, it now has the character it didn't have before (or is it all in my head?).
The weather was mostly hot; there was hardly any rain (during about 5 km of the walk only!), and even there I put the hat under my poncho when the rain was harder than a mere drizzle.

Upon departure from Salamanca:

and upon arrival in Santiago:

 

[Herzen]

What an incredible achievement! And to look so good doing it! Congrats, my friend!

 

[animator]

That is a great adventure! You and the hat both got quite a workout.

 

[RBH]

:eusa_clap Well done!!!:eusa_clap
Great to see you back, and hope to hear more about your adventure!!!

 

[Mr. Paladin]

Sir, it is great to have you posting again! I hope there are lots of photos from in-between the two points that you will relate to us as time goes by!

 

[billysmom]

In fact, it now has the character it didn't have before (or is it all in my head?).

Both you and the hat appear to have improved from the adventure.

Sue

 

[feltfan]

An enviable journey. I lived in Salamanca for most of a year
(a long time ago) and always wanted to head up North.
I'd love to do the more "standard" hike to Santiago de Compostela
across the top of Spain. I wonder if you cut through Portugal
or stayed in Spain?

If you write a more detailed description of the trip, let us know!

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

Thanks guys. I'm in fact quite pleased the walk went as well as it did, goes to show half a lifetime of marathon training weren't for nought, after all.

Feltfan, I took the "Via de la Plata" and, before it catches up with the "Camino Francés", went the "Camino Sanabrés (or Mozarabe)" way, which remains in Spain (it enters Galicia via Ourense). I left from Salamanca because I consider that to be "my" town in Spain: it's where I did some two-week Castilian language stints and I know the town quite well. The "Camino Portugués" (which I didn't take) is said to be very interesting, but the (lodging) infrastructure is reported to be sketchy. In comparison to the "Camino Francés" (the northern track), there are far fewer people (in September) on the route I took. I don't like great crowds of people, especially when lodging is limited... You can find lots of information Googling any of the above "routes". I tried to write a blog http://pabloelflamenco.blogspot.com/ but it turned out very sketchy because of the limitations of public internet access at a time when one is supposed to be ... walking.
Disclaimer: the hat on the blog picture is not mine. It belongs to the Museum of Popular Art in Mexico City.

 

[rrog]

Congrats on what appears to be a very nice adventure. I'll have to take some time to read your blod. Sounds interesting.

And the hat does indeed look good.

rrog

 

[Blackthorn]

Pablo, what a great adventure! I'm glad you shared this with us!

 

[indycop]

Very cool!:eusa_clap

 

[Erik]

An enviable adventure, for certain. As for your perception that the hat's character increased, I have no doubt that is the case. Thanks for sharing.

 

[jonbuilder]

An enviable adventure, for certain. As for your perception that the hat's character increased, I have no doubt that is the case. Thanks for sharing.

I with the above. I wager you keep that hat for every as a reminder of a great adventure. If only hats could talk

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

If only hats could talk

...Gosh Jon, how lucky they don't!...

 

[jwalls]

Sounds like an excellent adventure. It's alway great to see a hat wearer showing the flag so to speak.