Last few days have been hot and hard. Walking in the searing 30+ degree afternoon sun with little shade takes it toll.
I'm grateful everyday for my body and what it provides. You become very aware of every inch, niggle and knot, learning what you can push through and what needs time to rest.
Torres del Rio was quant and full of fellows we have passed and conversed with over the last week. There was a real sense of camaraderie at the albergue, along with a puppy and a foot soaking pool!!
Lucy and I splashed out and got a private room! Great Spanish food and conversation set us up for a 4.30 wake up and 5am start or so we thought... After getting locked in we waited an hour for the owner to wake up and let us out. No problem ! it's all part of the journey and off we trotted.
After another long hot day (32k) full of Camino magic which included meeting some monks on the side of the road. These guys were amazing giving their time to help mums out of prostitution. They cracked me up as when I asked for a pic they asked where my selfie stick was! We gave them a donation and took a cup of wheat coffee they made, quite something! My brothers from another mother indeed.
Pulled up for the night in Narette.
The next day was short just 18k, passing many Camino pop ups like a lone man playing guitar next to a vineyard and cold drink caravan, where Lucy and I stopped for a drink and quick dance with Diago the owner. These are the normalities of Camino, you just don't know what's round the corner, or wheat field or vineyard.
The sky is bluest of blues, the vista never ending and I've not seen any ocean since I flew into London.
Najera for a night, a little village next to the river in an albergue that is FULL, including our Mexican friend Alturo and 5 random senior spaniards he has collected along "the way". We shared our dorm with 2 lovely South Korean women who, oddly, slept with plastic bags on their feet...or perhaps not odd at all in South Korea?
You start to learn how early it is by natures clocks, e.g we are often walking before the poppies wake up (early) however this morning we were walking before the swallows woke up (really fucking early) which caught the coolest and most stunning part of the day with sunrise.
Tonight's albergue is huge, one room about 60 people times 3 levels. This isn't great if you have a snorer. We have a snorer, as this afternoons siesta revealed. Trying to move rooms is not an option because It works on a pretty basic system, you arrive and are issued a bed. Lucy likens it to what she imagines bunk bed prison would be like.
So, after the bunk bed prison had been cleared during siesta by "the snorer" I thought I should look after the team and make mention to the albergue owners. Turns out someone else had made mention also! Great I thought, as it was being explained to me there is a special dorm set aside for snorers. No, not so great as I was then advised the snorer has to request the move themselves. Taking matters into my little Kiwi hands I said "fine, no problem I will deal with said snorer!"
So Lucy and I being the upfront girls we are, wrote a note and secretly left it on his bed. Walked away quivering and hey presto problem solved.
Being a humble duo we haven't made a song and dance about this, however we are also quietly confident the others are planning some form of celebration later including a couple of medals, piñata and "champions of the albergue" parade.
Will keep you posted, imagine we may also pull in recognition in the form of a national day in Spain. Watch this space....
You crack me up!
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