Saturday, October 01, 2016

Day 7: Villamayor de Montjardìn to Viana

I woke to non-achey feet. A miracle considering their state last night.  I had experienced sore soles, a tender tendon and hip pain that wouldn't quit, deep into the night.  Just when I found a position that allowed me to sleep, one of the Spanish guys had started snoring.  Aarrgghhhh.

But today was a new day.  Pierre and I left, like usual, before sunrise.  The walk was pleasantly downhill and before long the sun was peeking above the horizon. My one kinda-blister was doing OK and my tendon pain had disappeared completely.


We reached Los Archos and stopped for breakfast.  This cute town also provided me some much appreciated "animal time" and I stopped to visit with goats, chickens, geese and more, enroute.


Then there was the world's biggest haystack... good for a picture or two.


And just before Sansol, a chance encounter with a shepherd, his 4 dogs and the flock of goats and sheep he was minding.  The shepherd was Morrocan and delighted for the opportunity to speak French with Pierre.








Pierre's feet were really bothering him today and he chose to stay in Sansol while I continued on another 11km to Viana, with Luca. Luca, having just turned 18, had sprung herself from Winnipeg right after high school and was solo Caminoing, too. I took a few minutes to get her up to date with my blister situation. Only to find that compared to my one, she had about 10 and was sucking it up and hiking with a smile, anyway. Well crap! There goes any sympathy I thought I deserved!

The road to Viana was long, hot and undulating. <sigh>  More than once I wished I had my feet in the cold pool where Pierre was. Dear Lord, my feet hurt!!!






It was now every 2km that Luca and I found ourselves collapsed under an olive tree, questioning whether we'd make it. She seemed to think that with Canada's generous socialist system and the coverage she bought, her country would send a helicopter to save her. I disagreed. I think maybe she'd have needed a broken neck for a helicopter ride. More likely that blisters are only worth sending a donkey!

Needless to say we made it. 4:30pm. 31km according to the Camino book. 21 miles according to the pedometer. That's 45,500 steps! Energy one of them left a mark on my face today.  I gave it everything... and then some. This is me on my bunk @ 6 pm!


1 comment:

tc said...

You're rocking it! Wish i was with you, painful feet and all. Thanks for taking us along on your journey!