October 03 2019

I slept really bad again. Even thou only one dude out of 36 beds snored… [what are the chances?!] I couldn’t sleep. Rolled around awake from like 130am to 5am. 😴

6 am alarm went off and I felt 💀

My bunk mate was really sweet. Middle aged woman from UK named Joy who kept telling me to live my life. Thanks Joy.

The hostel workers come wake you up and then church hymns play at 630 am 😑

Breakfast was coffee, juice and two pieces of white toast. Keto on the Camino would not be possible

Then we set out!

First part was throu some beautiful Spanish towns and then countryside

This time there were a couple villages to stop and buy stuff/ food trucks but I had a bar so ate that mid way and kept trucking. Also it’s really hard to pee on this trail if you’re a lady. Not a ton of opportunities to go with a giant pack where people cant see you from the trail.

My feet really started to feel it like hour 3. I realized I forgot to put Vaseline on and panicked when I started to feel the onset of a blister. Side bar: pro tip is to slather your feet with Vaseline before they go in your socks. It really works. So, I stopped and slathered my toes and then proceeded.

The first hour I walked without listening to anything. I met a Portuguese man who’s done this route twice and the route from his house 10times.

He had a hip replacement so he biked it the first time which looks really hard. Lots of rocky tricky parts.
But like dude he also HAD A HIP REPLACEMENT. Man is a machine.

Then we parted ways and I started listening to an audio book about all these insane runners logging 120+ miles per week. Listening to that helps me realize I need to tell my feet to buck the hell up and gets me over the hump.

I came to most of the people’s destination: the town of Zubiri. All hostels here were sold out though, so I had to walk 40 min more. However, I needed a quick break so stopped for lunch. Cafe con leche. Vegetable soup with bread and chicken with peppers – all for €11. Not too shabby.

I arrived to the hostel. I had to walk on the highway – which was kind of scary since I heard most people die from cars on this hike.

No one was here.. it was a bit weird. But got to shower by myself, watch track and fields world trials in Doha, and pick my bunk. Found a water bottle to ice with and THEN – in walks Dutch Frank! Him and Kitty are staying here too. So they come and this girl from Singapore and this nice old chubby Spanish man (who keeps walking around in his tighty whiteys)

There’s a pool so that’s why… he went in, in his undies and has just decided to stay that way.

I’m glad to have some company though. Helps since I spend most of the trek by myself.

The host only speaks Spanish but as a result, I’m the one translating for the Dutchies and the Singapore girl because tighty whiteys doesn’t speak English either. Which is cool for me! Since when am I the most able in the room ?

Dinner was the best one I’ve had to date. Amazing salad (not ice burg lettuce), free flowing red wine, and roasted chicken. All for €12 and no, I did not eat the potatoes.

Tomorrow we go to Pamplona! Town where running of the bulls happened and Ernest Hemingway frequented.