When I got up at 6:30 and both Achilles were tight and both knees stiff, I just hopped straight back in to bed to think through my options. Limiting walking seemed prudent so I was all set to find another albergue, given that you are only meant to stay one night in municipals. By the time I had hobbled down three flights of stairs I was certain this was the right decision. At the bottom, two guys were bundling their packs into a cupboard, so I got nosey. Yes, they were staying a second night because of injury…and they had been told they could leave their gear there while they vacated the building from 8-12. They suggested I do the same. So I did.
I didn’t venture far – just to the end of the red brick building across the street where there are some benches. But 4 degrees in the shade was too nippy for sitting too long.
Thanks to Organic Maps, I discovered there was a supermarket just 500m away, so off I trotted. By the time I arrived at it, my legs were all loosened up and I contemplated walking on…but it wasn’t too long until the antibiotics (somewhat predictably) made me start to feel nauseous, so I banished all thoughts of walking today.
Knowing I didn’t really feel good for wandering around (and maybe even a smidge grumpy that I should be in such a city and not be seeing anything), I snapped some pics on the supermarket walk.
The umbrella girl looked much better in 2014 with four kids balanced around the edge.
I plonked myself down on a bench in the sun to wait for opening time. The hospitalero came by and asked why I wasn’t walking. Turns out he’s the only one who can give permission to stay and use the cupboard so I offered profuse apologies. He kindly assured me I could stay. Later he would return and check on me, and by then I had a little speech prepared, asking if I would be able to stay next Monday and Tuesday or if I should find something else. He reckons I can stay. And I have checked the bus timetable, so I have the information I need to make an informed decision. Googling the diagnosis and treatment convinced me it’s worth fixing if I can.
Once most of the queue had checked in I joined the tail end and was welcomed back warmly.
There clearly wasn’t going to be much else to write about so after getting my washing hung up…
…I more-or-less scrambled (in a glass in a microwave) the remaining eggs I’ve been nervously carrying in my pack for a week.
After taking the next antibiotic instalment with this food, I decided a Panadol would make a good dessert. I had been reluctant to take any until now, because I use the pain in my Achilles to tell me how far to push or not – I don’t want to mask the pain and do more damage. But I knew I wasn’t walking anywhere else today, and so popping a pill was an attractive option (although I do know I can only have about half a dozen of them before they make me feel worse rather than better – lightweight stomach this one)
By 3:30 I was wrapped up in my sleeping bag, taking a nap and when I woke an hour later, there was no pain in my mouth! Ah, the bliss. A quick swig of cool water from my bottle changed that quickly and halted any thoughts of just putting up with it until I get home. It’s going to need to improve significantly if I am to avoid the prescribed endodontic treatment.
In the meantime I have taken the opportunity to set up a new blog. I have almost used up my media storage on the first one and there is no way it will last until the end. So after trying various solutions and being averse to paying a monthly subscription ad infinitum for more space, I’ve settled on the easiest (albeit unsatisfactory) option: start a completely new blog.
Tomorrow begins the “second stage” of the camino, and so at least it is an appropriate point for the switch.
Any further updates will come to you from the imaginatively titled
solowalk2024parttwo.wordpress.com
apologies for the inconvenience.
solowalk 2024 
Glad you are being sensible regarding your health. Take care.
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