Cloudy with a chance of blisters

It was a dark and stormy night. Or so I'm told. I slept like a log but I am told it rained all night. There were only six pilgrims in the albergue last night. The place is again arranged like a train car and only two of us were in our little cubbie. The one snorer was placed in a far-away room, so it was one of the best night's sleep I have gotten.

In the morning, there was no rush to leave, so three of us and the albergue worker had a nice conversation, which I filmed for my doc. I left under the threat of drizzle. It was actually nice to have the weather overcast. There was no constant battle to keep my body temperature regulated. It was another long stretch with no town. 16k through farmland was a lot. A lot of those annoying medium-size rocks my feet loathe so much.

When I got to the town of Reliegos, I asked a local where the restaurant is but my Spanish is apparently not coming along as well as I thought and I couldn't find it. I refused to walk back into town and in my exhaustion, threw my bag down on curb and plunked down.  My lunch consisted of crumbled chocolate muffins, the only food in my pack. I was spent and thought I would have to walk back to the albergue. However, when I saw on my map that there is a hill just before Leon tomorrow, I decided an extra 6k today was in order.

Last 6k 

Thankfully, this stretch was much easier on the feet and visually more interesting. I got to Mansilla de las Mulas around 2:30 pm. I reunited with my Camino friend from Columbus and two Americans from last night. After a shower and a rest, I had dinner with four other pilgrims - 2 of us from the US, one from Ireland, one from Russia and one from Croatia.

The plan now is to get an early start tomorrow and get into Leon around noon. That way we can see the city and relax and not have to take an entire day off. A friend who is ahead found an inexpensive hotel with a bathtub. That sounds like heaven and I have plans to stay there. I am having my laundry done as we speak, so this all feels like a bit of pampering.

I didn't have a lot of profound thoughts today really. If I did learn anything, it is that we hit a point where we have annoyances or pains, but you can push through more than you think you can. I have four blisters, a rock that, despite my best efforts, won't leave my left shoe, and flies love to hang out under the brim of my ball cap. But I keep walking. Flailing at flies and shaking my foot, but walking.

How I felt when i arrived today.

Yes, we need to listen to our bodies when they scream at us to stop, but sometimes when you think you've given all you can, you actually have a lot more to give. And that may just be when greatness will happen. We often walk into towns here in the ugliest parts. There are broken down vehicles, graffiti, etc. But once you push a little further, we often find ourselves in a charming little town.

So if you find yourself in an ugly little spot on life, just keep walking and you'll come across something charming soon enough.