Camino Day 20 August 11 Belorado to
Villafranca Montes de Oca 7.5 miles total to date 170.5 miles
Decided to do 7.5 today because the next part has three steep climbs and three steep downhills in the next 7.5 miles. It was either do 15 miles today with the steep climbs and downhills in the second half of the walk, or divide it, give my knee an easier day and do the steep climbs and downhills at the start of a day. It seemed like a sensible solution, which is why I can't believe I made it.
Yesterday I met a couple from Holland who are doing the Camino on bicycles with their nine year old daughter. Today a family arrived at the Albergue with two or three children one about Gia's age. The have some kind of carriage for two kids that they are pushing. I've also seen a mother with a young son. I just have memories of Jeno carrying on about forced marches and scorching sun when I made him do a one mile loop around the stream in the Compound. lol
Just met three young girls from Australia who are currently living in London. They say lots of Australian youth drive in London because it's easy to get a visa and it gives them the ability to travel around Europe. They arrived and hour or so ago and have been relaxing with beer and wine and cigarettes. Go figure.
I left my theatre albergue late this morning, about 7:30 am, since I was going a short distance. It's the first day since before Logroño that I have enjoyed walking. My knee didn't hurt at all until the last half mile and then only mildly. My blister was just a minor distraction and it didn't form any new blister on top of it over the last two days. They have a doctor here for free too, so I'm going to have it looked at this evening. The guy at reception insisted. He just can't seem to do enough. This Albergue is behind a nice hotel. The fellow who owns the hotel walked the Camino and wanted to give something back, so he built this very nice Albergue.
Maybe it's because my knee didn't hurt today, but these last few days I'm really starting to feel differently about this whole adventure. I'm less focused on it being the experience of others I read about in the books, than just being whatever it is. Since I stayed in Logroño and got behind the group I had started with I've met lots of people, but haven't become part of a group. The language barrier is significant. There are not many English speaking people out here, not even as a second language. There was no one who spoke English in the Albergue I stayed in last night. They weren't even speaking romance languages which I can sort of understand. They were from the northern places, Holland, Germany, etc. It's all ok and I believe it is all exactly as it is supposed to be. It's making it possible for me to spend a lot of quiet time.
The thing that I thought I would find hardest about this adventure, sharing a room with a dozen or two people in bunk beds, is actually my favorite part. I love the albergues. They other thing I thought would be hard, is not having all my junk. Again, I'm kind of enjoying the adventure of making do with what I have. I'm also enjoying the decision making about what I want and what I want to carry. Hehehe
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