Supplies, supplies everywhere!

Well yet another step has been taken on this wonderful Camino journey.

Sarah and I took a road trip down to REI in the cities. I brought my tax return with me, and I even brought some of it back home! I know shocking!

REI is a huge camping/outdoors store. Our first stop was the camping department to buy backpacks. A good backpack that fits you well is 1 of the 2 most essential items you can bring with you on the camino (the other is boots, but I'll get to that later.) Sarah and I were helped by a wonderful man named Christopher. He stayed with us for over an hour and a half, helping us try on packs, suggesting another if we didn't like that one, or if it didn't fit. He never got frustrated with us, and was super knowledgeable. I did not leave with a pack, as the one I wanted was not in stock, so I had to order it. I got a Gregory Jade 35 Litre pack. And of course because it is MY bag, it's a lovely shade of teal.

Then Christopher helped me find a pair of hiking poles (Leki Ultralite) and helped Sarah find an ultra light sleeping bag, cause girl would get cold on the Equator in July...and sleeping mats, though I told him which kind I had basically decided on (Big Agnes sleeping mat) and he agreed with my decision.

Now on to the second most important piece of equipment you have, your boots. Well I (for some god only knows reason) tried 2 different Women's shoes, and they were too small, and too narrow, so I went to the Men's department, where I should have taken my giant feet in the first place. I tried on 6 different pairs of boots until I actually found one my size, apparently I wear a Men's size 10.5 Wide (I normally wear a women's 11 wide) I finally settled on a pair of La Sportiva boots, that fit like a glove, and actually aren't hideous looking. Then I decided that I wanted a pair of hiking sandals as well, because well, I don't want to wear my boots ALL the time, plus on those really flat meseta days (the meseta is the plain in Spain, where if you believe Audrey Hepburn, it rains) it might be nice to wear some sandals instead of boots. I tried both Chaco and Teva sandals, and settled on the Chacos. Even though they're men's sandals, they're kind of cute, and they're even my color. Again even though I spent over an hour trying on shoe after shoe after shoe, the sales guy never got annoyed or snippy, he just kept helping me and giving me helpful suggestions.

Well by this point Sarah and I had been at REI for over 2.5 hours, and we were hungry! So as if happens, there was a Chipotle right across 494 from the REI store. I was in heaven. Steak Burrito YUM!

Then it was back to REI to check out their clothing selection, which wasn't great because they are just starting to get their summer stuff in, so we will be making another REI trip sometime in May.

I can't wait until we leave only 90 days and 19 hours until our flight leaves.

Well if you actually made it to the end of this long boring post, I'm sorry. This was more informative than witty. I can't be witty all the time! Geez!

Buen Camino!
Carrie

PS I tried to include links so they you guys could see all the stuff I was refering to, but for some reason blogger won't show my links, stupid blogger.
PPS So it wasn't stupid blogger, it was stupid Carrie. I figured out what I was doing wrong, and it's better now, with links to all my stuff!