If you enjoy this post you may like Zizur Mayor to Punta la Reina – Day 4 of my Camino
Awake at 5:30 but didn't get out of bed until 6:30. I did some stretching before I was ready to get up. Other pilgrims had their headlights that allowed them to get ready in the dark. The alberge lights did not come on until 7:00.
Decided to have a tortilla and cafe con leche in the hotel bar as I felt I needed a hot breakfast this morning. Very busy place with everyone trying to get out early
The plan, totally dependent on my knees, is to pass through Maneru, Cirauqui, Lorca, Villatuerta, Estella and maybe get as far as Ayegui today.
There are large puddles and the sky is grey. My knees are still sore and it is quite hot. I focus on being grateful that I am able to do this walk, then take breaks when I need to, loosen my boots and then re-lace and start again.
Decided to stop using my poles and surprisingly my knees felt better. I guess using them consistently creates an unatural gait.
Today felt like a very long day because of the pain. I walked in solitude for most of the time trying to use mind over matter. It worked some of the time... Then I would come to a long downhill section.
Stopped in Cirauqui for a chocolatine and peach juice. Walked a little further and then at 11:00 am changed my socks and my feet felt so much better. My knees bothered me off and on for most of the day so I was walking very slowly. It was really windy and I did not realize how hot the sun was and although I wore sunscreen, the left side of my face burned. This not an easy walk.
When I got to Estella, my knees told me to stop. So many people have blisters or sore knees. Peter from yesterday has blisters on the soles of his feet but he let them get really bad before he did anything about it. At the end of the day he basically sits with his feet up and that is it! Not much fun. Best part of this evening was gettimg the last bed in the municipal alberge for 6€, then having a shower and putting my feet up!
As I was lying here writing this the fellow (probably early 60s) in the bottom bunk gave me a bunch of purple grapes, very sweet of him. Not sure where he is from. He speaks a bit of broken English but the guys he is with do not. Tonight there are more guys than women in the room. I got the last bed... Top bunk with no ladder. Interesting but I am thankful I did not have to search for a room.
I pulled my large pack towel over my legs and when the guy in the bottom bunk came back, he accused me of stealing his towel at the alberge the night before. Makes me want to throw the grapes at him! Does he think he is the only person in the world with this particular towel? They say everything on the Camino is a metaphor for your life. I guess no matter how much work you do on yourself there will always be stupid people who show up. The question is "Do you give them space in your head?" That being said, I think my towel is going to dinner with me. He would probably take it if I left it in my pack!
Actually I hate confrontation so I decided to break the cycle. I told him he better not try to take my towel and he pretended not to hear. Guess he doesn't like confrontation either. I finally showed him an instagram photo from my Camino shopping trip and he finally apologized.
Now I am splurging on dinner... Can't read the menu so I am not sure what I be eating. A little gastronomic adventure!
I was so hungry I forgot to take a picture of the main course. It was all delicious!
If you enjoy this post you may like Estella to Los Arcos – Day 6 of My Camino
Your Pink Friend
