BLUE – Diabetes

What to wear and pack for a practice walk:

• Each walker needs to wear comfortable active wear with a light-weight all-weather jacket for wet / windy / cold conditions.
• Your shoes need to be walked-in training shoes, with a sturdy sole to protect your feet against hard pebbles and shale. The training shoes should not be too tight, to accommodate sweat absorbent seamless socks. This prevents blisters from forming. Be aware that training/hiking shoes with mesh uppers tend to let sand in which creates friction between the shoe and sock. This can lead to irritation of the skin and blisters. It is recommended to wear gaiters around the ankles to prevent sand from getting into the shoe.
• Sun protection is essential, as the southern Cape weather can be very unpredictable, turning from early morning mist to sweltering hot sun in a matter of hours. Sun screen, a sun hat and re-applying the high factor sun screen throughout the walk is necessary to prevent sun burn and heat exhaustion.
• Each walker should carry a daypack, a comfortable size carry bag which can accommodate the following:
• 1 – 2 litres of drinking water (bottles or water bladder)
• Energy snacks and a light lunch
• A light sarong/ wrap to sit on during breaks
• First Aid essentials such as plasters, antiseptic cream, re-hydrate tablets and personal medication