Samuel's Camino

The midway point of the Camino came and went yesterday, or was it the day before. It was remarkably without ceremony. We had calculated out the distance a day or two before, and then quietly swept past it. Even now I wouldn’t be able to tell you where it was. Sahagun maybe.

Wakking does seem to be second nature by now. It is not a test of strength or fortitude, but rather of time. We can’t walk much faster than about 5.4km/h whether we like it or not. Groaning about a long day no longer entails the distances involved, but rather the time it will take to cover them. 35k is no longer 35k, but rather roughly six and half hours that must be overcome. That being said, I’m not totally without pain. I do have a rather slow burn of a blister that has been stubbornly growing over the past week or so on my right heel. I would be upset, but it doesn’t actually hurt while walking, and it does seem rather pilgrimish to finally be sporting my own white badge of courage. My knee is actually doing much better, and even though I continue to walk with a brace, I have taken it of for one or two of the shorter stretches. Tomorrow is only 18k into Leon, so we’ll see whether I deem it necessary in the morning or not.

Well, I’m five days in now, and given the events that happened today, it seems fitting to begin writing in my blog, especially since the first category is, after all, feet and body. I am happy to report, first of all that I don’t have a single problem with my feet. They are slightly more damp than they should be, but after a quick drying at the end of the day, they are pretty much good to go. See, isn’t that great news. Upper body wise, I have a slight sunburn, and a little bit of soreness in the back and shoulders, but nothing that can’t be expected after a few days carrying a heaving backpack. Unfortunately, at this point we arrive at the legs, and that’s where the problem lies. I appear to have tendinitis in my right knee. I just had a cream of some sort applied, and I have a brace, and instructions on how to tape my leg and what creams, etc to get in the future. We’ll have to see how I feel tomorrow morning, whether I will take a rest day, continue on slowly, or try and forge ahead bravely.