About 9:30 pm last night I discovered a hot spot that I had been nursing since the beginning on the heel of my left foot had turned into a large blister. The fit of my new orthotics isn´t quite right. Now was not the time to discover this, nearing 10 pm. I searched out the cures of friends for their heel blisters. I had the needle and thread, I didn´t have a lighter to sterilize. No problem, I use hand signs for lighting a cigarette and my friend rummaged through his pack and handed me his lighter. Everyone has their own way of treating blisters. My young friend Tina needed to be seen by a Dr. So, I went to her for some advice. After discussing what I should do she gave me some paper tape and rolled it up small. I stuck my right pointer finger inside and finished talking. Soon my finger stuck. I couldn´t pull it out. I laughed. I then put my left pointer finger inside to pull the other free...oh no...chinese finger pull! I laughed so hard while trying to pull my fingers loose that I flopped backwards on the single bed. As I did my hat flew onto the floor. Now four of us were laughing very hard as I reached behind me and over my head with both hands in the chineses finer pull and tried to grab my hat! Luckily, there were no pilgrim´s sleeping in the room. When I finally sat up Tina unrolled the tape. We were still laughing. Soon I was headed back downstairs with my back pack, headlamp, bandages, tape, needle and thread, and betadine. Everyone was now tucked in their sleeping bags and fast asleep, while I was on the stairwell. I finished doctoring my blister and in bed to see a beautiful red orange sunset through our window when I rolled on my side @ 11:05 pm.
With all the caring advice I had no problems walking up another mountain range and down the other side today.
We started walking about 7:15 this morning. There were difficult climbs first thing this morning traveling with many pilgrim´s spread out and with one or two (10-15 min) breaks until we reached the summit. It was a long way down traveling from dirt path to asphalt then back to dirt paths mostly leading down.
I walked with Yvonnne until I came to a place where I had to zoom down the rocky dirt path once again as if skiing...only with backpack, boots & trekking poles and a big smile across my face with my ¨Happy Feet & Poles¨, dancing away!
Tonight we are in Triacastela, sunny when we arrived at 1pm...it´s now 7:50pm and dark clouds are forming above us, we are now in Galecia Province. From here to Santiage we will definitely encounter rain. We intednd to arrive in Santiago on Friday.
Tonight Pilgrim´s are heading to a bar to watch the European Football games (Soccer...Italy vs. Spain...Spain won.
It´s 9:18 pm, I´m ready for bed. Thanks to my roommmates for the night I didn´t have to handwash my very sweaty clothes.
Four days ago after leaving Rabanal Del Camino and leaving the Meseta (flat land) behind us, we are once again in the mountains. We stopped at La Cruz de Ferro. A simple iron cross stands atop its weathered pole has become and abiding symbopl of the Pilgrim way of St. James. Some Pilgrim´s bring a stone from their homeland or find a special one along the way to add to a great pile of stones from previous pirgrims´. The purpose is to reconnect with the purpose of your journey before placing your stone or other thoughts of love and blessings.
I placed a small white stone to represent the purity in all of us. May everyone touch upon this place of peace within and then reach out to another and pass it along.
Going through my notes of the past few days I of a troff (sp?) irrigation system. I watched the water run through this way and then another until reaching the tender young plants waiting for their nourishment, giving them life. What gives you life?
I need to get on my way. We are on our 28th day and will be stopping in Gonzar for the night. New pilgrims are entering the Camino, making less room for the pilgrims already walking. We had a little trouble last night, but easily found a bed at someone´s home who is trying to turn their space into an Albergue but don´t have a license yet.
Yvonne I´m sure is anxious to get back on the road, since she isn´t on the computer. I must run. I Love You All...AriZona on the road in Spain
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Arizona,
Congratulations on making it this far! It sounds like you are having a great camino experience, taking in all it has to offer. Everyone says hi, Holden is 16 pounds now and takes about a half hour to bathe (with all his loveable folds) Atticus says," see you in a couple weeks gramma Willy." Enjoy the rest of your journey, as a friend of mine says, pitter patter, let's get at'er. carry on.
Love,
J M A H
Post a Comment