Viloria del Rioja, Sunday May 4, 2008

Well, life is certainly interesting and sometimes it is so relaxing and then so intense.
After the long day and then the short day my mind had a discussion with my body. I decided that my body was not getting stronger but rather somewhat tired - I think the heavy load was too much for the whole trip - seems fine in the Rockies for a few days but this is more than a few days. I was trying to figure out what I could get rid of and how. Soon I was thinking about my yoga mat and knowing how much I enjoyed it every day but also how much it weighed. After another km or so I stopped and cut 2/3 off. It felt liberating. I left detergent and underwear behind, I decided only to carry one liter of water in my camel back instead of 2 (saves another 1kg) and then I mailed 1.8kg to the hotel in Santiago. So now my pack feels much more manageable. Heck I can take if off and on anywhere and I think that my left calf is happier. When that muscle was getting tired, I knew that I was carrying too much. Now the distances seem shorter and I am feeling good. I pop blisters every day and they are getting good calluses - the liquid pressure hurts for a few minutes and popping relieves them. Blisters are caused by heat and friction so when I stop now I take off my boots and air dry them and let the boots and socks get a little drier. A great American gal volunteering in a refugio gave me those tips as well as specific exercises for my calf - she is a massage therapist and yoga teacher from Salt Lake and the camino meant so much to her that she is volunteering now. Her tips were great and she was great.

Yesterday I walked with the Methodist minister for the day - a good pace we had. Then dinner with a small group. I really don´t want to be part of a group as I find it somewhat limiting and missing following your own way. So today I chose to do as usual and walk alone. Unfortunately I got a nip that tore the skin when I passed a farm with a dog. I carried on to the next town, had coffee and a sandwich then figured out a plan. I called a cab and went back to the clinic at the previous town. Though a vet walking behind me reassured me that I could not get rabies, I thought it best to get checked out. So I took a cab back, got a tetnus shot (don´t remember when my last one was so this can´t hurt) and though they didn´t seem to understand the term rabies they obviously knew what to look for. Just like the vet they said that it was a superficial wound and treated that. So I was relieved. The cab driver then took me back to where he picked me up. I even passed some of the people again that I had passed in the morning so it didn´t affect my speed. Tears came easily after I started to make plans to find a cab. When you get physically tired, you feel some vulnerability. Several people offered to come with me but I reassured them that I was fine in spite of the tears. Quite a caring attitude around here though the Spanish are sometimes quite curt. I don´t blame them - there are always once only patrons and they do so much with so little staff. The cab was a nice treat, the reasssurance from the doctor (as well as the vet) were all welcome. The people around that I had met were all concerned. I am grateful that all is well. I

I have walked a few more km and had planned to go another 7 or 8 but I have walked into a private refugio with peaceful music, a computer, and only 12 beds and dinner is shared here. So though it is only noon I have decided to stay here and enjoy - may have to try the yoga on that small piece of mat. It will be a change from a room with a bucket load of beds. Also no-one can get up here before 7 am. In some of the places people race out at 5 am. Not me! I am here for the journey. So I didn´t really want to be with the same english group tonight and guess what - I won´t - taking time. They said that they would look out for me - I will be glad to see them in a couple of days.

Hard to believe that this is day 11 of walking. More in a few days.