Today was 20 miles. I am trying to make up for some short days early on. The morning was amazing. I took off at 5:30 AM and there was no one in front of me or behind me for about two hours. The skies were beautiful; full of stars.
This part of the walk was 17 km without any towns or water. My favorite little food truck was there and it has been updated. The family was there working; grandpa, mom, dad, and their little boy who looked about five years old. I stopped and had some breakfast. Their food truck is a very welcome sight.
I listen to the birds waking up this morning. The bushes were filled with small birds gathering to fly south I imagine.
Pilgrims are spreading out a bit. Most of the people I see I have never seen before. Young and fast doing 35-40k a day, or they joined the Camino at Burgos. In the afternoons I have run into some of the people that I started with at St. Jean, but not many.
About 11 o’clock I stopped to get a popsicle. as I was taking my gear off, I started getting text from Albergue’s telling me that there were no available beds in the next three stops that I had planned on making in the next three days. I knew that there would probably be a bed available if I just walked in . But the problem is that during that rainstorm, I had to carry my pack for such a long period of time that I have irritated my three discs in my upper neck that I had injured years ago. So I started sending a small bag out of my backpack so that I could walk without having a complete stiff neck at the end of the day. Without any reservations, I had nowhere to send the bag so that meant I had to carry my bag again I didn’t think that my neck was going to allow me to do it for the distances that I had to walk to meet up with my friends and family.
I went into the bar to get my popsicle and the young man behind the counter said, “Are you all right?” It really took me by surprise and I told him I was. I was sitting outside and he came out and he again asked me if I was OK because I looked so unhappy. And I said no I’m fine just a little confused about my reservations. The next thing I knew…he brought me a tapa.
I finished the rest of the twenty miles thinking about the kindness of a young man taking the time to read a person’s face and to help them.
Hello Candy. Liz here, (hairdresser ,never cut your hair). Back in England.
Lovely following your daily walking. Looks like very changeable weather. Think Cindy and Caroline are 2/3 days in front. They had bus because of flights. Great to follow someone I’ve met. Good luck Liz
I was just thinking about you today and how much I enjoyed our visits!