From Boente to Salceda; A Physical Challenge

Of our original fifteen only one has needed to stop walking.  Tally Ho experienced some major swelling and redness in her lower legs. They were hot to the touch and it was wisest to quit rather than risk permanent damage.  Chica#2woke up vomiting and had to take a day off. (I've numbered the Chicas. One is the nurse, 2 is the one who got sick, 3 is the golfer and 4 is gluten free).

Although I am a strong believer in the power of the mind, these two incidents reminded me of the reality of human frailty. I had awoken in the night with a deep ache in my hips and I thought "please, not now that I am do close to home."

Heading West

I know that Windy City 1 has had some ankle problems and is also tending to blisters while his wife is still nursing a bad knee.  Most of our group thankfully are injury free. 

I was very much aware of my aching feet and calves throughout this leg of the journey. Each uphill and downhill was painful. 

If the Camino was a metaphor for life , then this life was definitely bipolar. The ups were steep and long. The downs seemed even steeper and longer. I needed to adjust the use of my crutches many times. 


The route was mainly under the canopy of trees which was great because the temperatures got into the high 70s and the sun was taking its toll on me.  I welcomed the eucalyptus  groves.

The heat and hills was broken up by the ever present livestock.  The smells sometimes were overpowering, especially in the heat of the day.  

One of the things I noted was that toward the end of my day, I was just about the only pilgrim on the road.  Most other sane pilgrims had completed their stages by around three o'clock and had checked into albergues to get out of the hot sun.  I, however, was on the road for a little over nine hours and had to make it to Salceda.  Near the end, I ended up taken off my shirt which was covered with sweat.

I was truly glad when this stage was over.  Tomorrow would be about the same distance, but it would be the truly last stage before we hit Santiago.  It seemed strange that this would soon be over.