Rest Day

With my feet still aching after the walk into Burgos, I knew the day would be short. The soles of my feet were incredibly sore from the pounding of the road. I'd been compensating and walking differently and now the top of my right foot was hurting. If I knew what a bone spur was, I'd say it felt like that. Whatever  it is, after 22k at 12:30 I decided to stay in Hornillos. I had first set my sights on the alburgue with communal dinner, it being full, I went to a new one across the way. There I also found Mia, who I'd met coming out of Burgos that morning. She's a very young adult heading to the University of Santa Barbara in the fall. She was walking the Camino alone to give her self efficiency. It certainly showed her courage, and she was meeting a lot of people. Her family would meet her in Santiago on the 14th, which I thought was an incredibly wonderful way for them to celebrate her journey. After napping/resting for a couple hours, I took a shower, laundered and got to FaceTime my loved ones. After a rest in the big garden, I ventured in search of food. At the only bar/restaurant in the town, I met Mia, Erika (from Oregon/Utah), and Paul (from Amsterdam) and we shared the pilgrim's menu dinner with wine and dessert as always included. After conversation about teaching and traveling we returned to the garden and restored ourselves  with WiFi and Facebook. Early to bed since many intended on leaving first thing to beat the heat of the Meseta. The endless wheat fields without shade, sometimes referred to as "hell". I knew my own travels would be brief with the lure of a rest day, but I laid in bed happy to catch up on emails and connections to home. At 6:30 am, I awoke to the last pilgrim silently leaving the 10 person room. At the breakfast table, only three of us still there enjoying coffee and toast. By 7:30, and an hour earlier than wanted, I was out the door and walking slowly through town. It would be the hardest part, going slowly and intentionally along the way. When others past me, I took deep breaths and reminded myself it was a rest day and to enjoy the luxury of walking in the cool morning even if for just 5k. At 9 am I arrived in San Bol, a house/alburgue with a small pool of the supposed healing waters flowing through pipes. Met a couple from San Diego, both teachers, walking after he had kidney stone removal surgery in Bayonne two weeks ago. Incredible!! They helped me translate my wishes to stay at the alburgue, even though it was too early. It appeared to have worked because throughout the day as others arrived, she always deferred to me as the one waiting for a bed. I alternated putting my feet in the incredibly cold healing waters and sitting under the huge trees throughout the morning. At noon, I had my standard bocadillo from the hostellier and made a plan for the upcoming walks. An Italian woman was waiting as well and soon a German, Eva, arrived. We were conversing as well we could with the three of us when done more Italians arrived, 3 students I'd seen previously. The Italians were a lively bunch and Eva and I were glad there were two of us    We shared a bottle of wine before dinner and were eager for the communal meal to come, chicken paella! Eventually the 12 person alburgue was full and the round dinner table set. Besides Eva and I there was a swede and 9 Italians, a lively dinner!