After a cold rainy night in a not very clean albuergue, Yaz and I have settled into a nice pension. A pension is a hotel like room within someone's home. We have 2 nice beds with a bath!! I just took a nice hot bath, the best bath of my life at this moment. My hair is clean. The cost of the room is 21.5 euros each, probably about $30. Worth it. They are also washing our clothes, we put them together for 11 euros. A bit pricey, but worth it.
The walk today was better. I am feeling better. The weather here has been 40 and raining, all the way here. I have been wearing most of my clothes, and thank God I have a good raincoat that not only covers me, but my pack as well. I look like a large elephant in it, but it so does the job. And it helps keep me warm as well.
I think that the things that are getting to me are that the weather has been so rainy and cold, and all of my clothes are dirty. Most of the albuergues don't wash clothes, and with all of this rain, nothing can line dry. Problematic and depressing.
I went to church last night in the very small town of grannon. All of the churches are amazing, all stone carved, even in these small towns. Mass was short, about 30 minutes and the the priest has all of the pilgrims come up to the altar for a blessing.
The town of Belarado is a medium size town. We plan on going to sleep very early, so we can walk a long distance tomorrow. We have a steep climb of 400 meters 1200 feet. And the whole day might end up being 24 km, unless we break it in half. I'm trying to keep a good pace, so that I can get to Santiago, the finish point of my pilgrimage no later than June 18th. My flight is for June 20th.
My feet are better, but they seem to swell up after about 10 km. my toe is healing the best it can.
I am glad that Yaz and I am traveling together, she is from the U.K. But lives in Qatar. We walk at similar paces and get along well. Her birthday is a week later than mine, so we are both strong Gemini women!!
Attached is a pic of church last night and me walking in the rain. Also one of some of the artwork at
The albuergue last night.
