I’m not gonna lie, this is not a walk in the park. Ok. Sometimes it is…. (and sometimes it’s a walk through a witches forest, beside a river, next to a road etc etc etc) Which ever way you look at it, 20 k a day, every day, is some serious walking!
Mostly, I’m walking alone and eating with others. I start when I get up and walk until I’m done (or there is a town to stop at). Usually this looks like starting around 7 and finishing around 2. Despite the directional signs, I’ve still managed to get lost. It seems, on my first day, I followed a couple home from work.
I have blisters, despite the Vaseline and the dry sock precautions and my feet have their own pulse.
I have walked over mountains (Day 1 is 24k, 20 is uphill).
I have trudged in the pouring rain. But most days are sunny and hot, around 34°.
I have walked through cities, but am preferring the small towns. The kind with a church, a shop and a hostel.
Following the vegetarian, Hashimoto, sugar free, diary free diet is nearly impossible. At the moment I am concentrating on getting enough energy to walk every day. I’ll worry about the healthy eating later.
There are daily learnings, about myself and the world. For example, those cute ponies are not for riding, but for food. 😢 And, a familiar conversion in my brain “If I just do a little bit more….”
The highlights so far:
- How friendly everyone is
- The beautiful scenery
- The wine fountain
- The “give what you can” food stands
The lowlights:
- Leaving my medicine in San Sebastian and having to go back for it (although I was saved carrying it on day 1-3)
- Arriving into a Pamplona on full party mode, after 3 days of silence in the mountains
- The blisters
This first phase is known as where you battle your physical self. Later comes the metaphysical battles. I’m not sure if that will be more or less fun!
Buon camino
a 3rd culture adult 