We left out alberque about 6:30. It was still very dark and much cooler. It did not start to get light until we reached our first town Belorado 5 kilometers away. It is a great little town with a large square with shops and restaurants around it. We stopped for coffee and a pastry. There we met a man from Canada who was waiting for a bus. He has a bad case of tendinitis in one of his legs. The doctor has recommended he stay off of it for a few days. His wife is walking on and they plan on meeting up in Burgos in a couple days.
Leaving Belorado an Australian joined us and walked with us the rest of the day. His brother had caught a bus to Madrid that morning to go home. His brother had walked the entire Camino last year. His parents walked it this summer. The entire family has become interested in this journey. He told us that he attends the parish of St. James in Melbourne. He carries a staff with the pilgrims she'll on it and intends to donate it to the church when he returns. He was a very interesting young bloke. He told us about his home and country and the many places he has traveled to.
Tonight at our alberque which is attached to a hotel and quit nice we met a woman from Boise, Idaho. She is traveling with her husband and other family members. He is a retired opthmalogist. They just spent a couple if weeks hiking in the alps before coming to Spain. They are covering a lot of ground each day but they are all suffering with blisters and various forms of tendinitis. Never the less they were heading to bed, taking a couple of sleeping pills and getting up at 3 in the morning to make it to Burgos tomorrow. That will be a 1.5 day for us.
Angie is really stuffed up and we are concerned she is coming down with a cold. Storm clouds have come on and we got some rain this afternoon. I am worried that my clothes will not dry. I washed my jacket and it is my biggest concern. Now I am thinking I should have waited until I had access to a dryer before washing it. Tomorrow morning is going to be cold if it is still wet!
Our feet, ankles and calves are still very sore and achy by the time we reach our destination. Luckily we have not had serious problems like many others. Yesterday seemed easier but today for some reason was like hitting a wall. I am hopeful tomorrow will be better. Our an is to walk about 20 kilometers.
The building we are in is a very old building, formerly a Pilgrims hospital. The church sits right next door. We are unable to go inside because it is being renovated. We keep hoping to attend more pilgrims masses, but the churches in the small villages are often closed.
Lesson for the day: Everyone has a story, a journey that enriches fellow travelers. Take the time to listen deeply.
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