Pain in Puente la Reina

who knows what day it is, that´s a rhetorical question...I´m finding the only numbers that mean anything are kilometers (but even they are a bit dodgey as no two sources of the number of km to the next town are the same) and Euros (nothing ambiguous about those!)

Pamplona seems like a long way away, but I only left this morning, feels like the Camino proper has begun. Climbed to the top of Alto something or other and saw all the wind turbines, they´re so beautiful and the pelegrino sculptures, lots of photos opps there.

The race out of Pamplona to Puenta la Reina began just before 7am and ended for me today at 3.30pm - something between 24-28km depending on who you trust. My mental state was better this morning, I was singing, swinging my walking poles like some pilgrim marching girl...now there´s a thought. But by the time I´d scaled Alto? (can´t bend to pick up my guide book, sorry) - my feet were so sore I was hobbling and grimmacing. I didn´t think it could get any worse. I´ve discovered 2 small blisters on my little toes, they tuck under the next toe, but they´re not nearly as bad as the internal bruising (or is that compound fractures) on the balls of my feet...and to make matters worse i have to stand up to type this!

Still, its a great experience, even better if you can limit the number of Germans you hang out with, I have made some very nice German friends but it does seem like half the people on the camino are German!

But here I am, it must be cerveza time.

adios...I need to sit down
Megan

Waiting for the great leap forward

There’s been a lot of waiting going on...no jet-lag, there was no need to factor in a few rest days before I start...cooling my heels in StJPdP waiting for the first step up the very steep looking Pyrenees!

The journey so far has been good, people have been helpful, only one mishap - a spilt bottle of water (stupid European bottle lids!) in my backpack, I was forced to sip a cafe au lait in the sun and dry out my guide book.

Tomorrow is d-day, only 3 hours walk to get to 780m and my first real day on the Camino. Tonight will be my first experience of an albergue, from the looks of my bunk mates I think there will be some snoring.

I’ve been contemplating, waiting, eating, walking, preparing...ok ready now…