Checkout at my hostal was noon and I only have a 10 kilometer hike today so I sacked in and did not get on the road until 11:00. I’ve got to be honest with you. After that hungover walk from Padron to Santiago a couple of days ago I was ready to pack it in and give up on the Camino. Like it was the Camino’s fault that I felt like two tons of horse apples after a long night of drinking “strong beer.”
After a rest day yesterday and a day to detoxify, today I stepped out on the Camino at the crack of noon with a bounce in my step and a song on my lips. And I wasn’t singing 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall!
I got out to the edge of Santiago and it started raining cats and dogs. Did you ever wonder where that expression came from? It really makes no sense.
I quickly jumped up on somebody’s porch and in about 10 minutes the rain stopped. That was the story of the day. It should have taken me about 2 hours to cover 10 kilometers. It actually took me 4 hours because every time it started to rain I found cover and waited out the storm.
After about an hour we were well outside Santiago walking along a beautiful stretch of the Way.
About two hours into the walk a particularly nasty storm cloud started coming my way. I hustled to get to a nearby bus shelter to wait out the storm. A couple of guys that were walking behind me followed my lead and it was the three of us squeezed into a small bus shelter.
them about my days as the Service Unit Attorney for the Union Pacific Police Department. When the rain let up a bit they decided to be on their Way as they had another 20 kilometers to go before their final destination.
This section of the Way is very well marked. Just follow the yellow arrows.
I arrived at my alburgue at about 2:30. I checked in and took a shower and hand washed my clothes. Now it should be Radler time but the woman running the place said that the bar is closed until 5:30. 😢 It would probably be a good idea for me to wait until a little later in the evening before I start draining Radlers.
It’s 5:30 and it’s time for a small Radler and some peanuts.
A French guy is in the lower bunk next to me. The minute I sat down on my bunk he started haranguing me about how tired he was and told me that he was going to go to sleep immediately after dinner and I better not snore. I told him not to worry, that I would be as quiet as a mouse and would never dream of disturbing his slumber.
About 6 months ago I got a special mouth guard that moves my lower jaw forward to help prevent snoring and treat my mild case of sleep apnea. I have been wearing it every night on the Camino and no one has ever commented or complained that I was snoring. Tonight I think I’ll leave the mouthguard out and take an Ambien to ensure that I have a long night of drug induced, can’t wake me up, sleep with the added bonus of a cacophony of snoring to annoy my French neighbor.
The alburgue has an attached bar/restaurant. I had dinner there this evening.
That’s it from Ventosa, Spain. I hope you are having a wonderful day wherever you are.
Steps walked – 15,152
Kilometers walked – 12.1
Flights of stairs climbed – 18
AbeAndMarkontheCamino 