Annette's September Camino 2008

I swor...

...on my earlier caminos that I would never do what I did yesterday.

Between Carrion de los Condes and Calzadilla de la Cueza there is 17 kilometres with NOTHING. No pueblo, No Fuente (water) no Bar... though now someone has put a shed up with some tables/chairs and a sign saying bar after 10 km. (it was closed when I passed) - I have sworn on earlier Caminos that I would NEVER do these 17 kilometres at "the end of the day". Yesterday I did.  I think 20 kilometres a day is not much... when you arrive at 12 or 13.00  what am I suppose to do with the rest of the day??  -  So Cleo ( a very smart belgian girl with only 21 years) and I had a good lunch, a few stretches and and we continued the next 17,5... because the name of the town already says... "Carry-On"  (Carrion) - We arrived at the albergue somewhat tired at 20pm in Calzadila de la Cueza - got our bed... went straight for dinner and a beer, then a shower... and then climbed up to our bunk.  - It was a good day though it started out with pouring rain, thunder and lightning... after a few hours the sun was out and it got quite hot. But 38km was done yesterday. So no wonder we were tired.

I LOVE walking alone (which I did today...)  I love the time I have to think and to be...  and just to explore what ever may be...  these times are VERY precious to me.   Today I stay in Sahagún... a day of "only" 23km.

After leaving Castrojeritz, where I had the oportunity to be a hospitalera for a few hours...  I passed Hospital San Nicolás where the "priest" was greeting passing pilgrims with nice hot coffee...  he was great fun... had a very good hunor... and I must say... knowing spanish really does make a difference when walking the camino.

Today I passed by Rebekah and Patrick in Moratino had a cup of coffee, got a stamp and a lot of love from Murphy (the kitten who had decided to move in with them... ) and also from Tim and Una (their dogs...)...

So far I have been lucky with pilgrims...  Most have stayed in their beds until 06:30 before tuning on lights... being noisy... and simply being ignorant. ...Well until today.  It makes me a timy bity upset when I see pilgrims get up at 5:30... they turn on the light... start doing their backpacks...  and talk loudly...  -  only to walk 15 kilometres to put the backpacks in a line of an albergue that opens at 16:00... - what is the point.  -  But not really my problem...  I have never yet had an "full albergue" experince neither of my Caminos...  I start my day at 07:30 and walk til my body tells me to stop...  I have ALWAYS gotten a bed... ALWAYS...!!

I believe that tomorrow will be another long day... but let's see how things go... 

And as for the bedbug alert...  I personally can report... no bedbugs in Hornillos... Castrojeritz... Fromista... Calzadilla de la Cueza... or at least, I have not been bitten...  People who have travelled the same distances as me... slept the same places seem to be fine too...  no bites...     However... the snores are almost worse... they steal your sleep....  allthough last night nothing could keep me awake.

I have so many things to tell, but yet my mind flies... and I cannot remember a thing... All I can inform right now... is that I really enjoy being out there with my backpack... - I love the feeling of the sore feet... tired legs at the end of the day.. and I get to repeat it day after day for a "Few" more days...  Sometimes after a break... when the musles are getting cold... I feel all stiff... and 80 years old...  however it helps me remind that I must stretch when I arrive at the end of the day.

Until next time...    Hasta Luego.