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I already took a rest day in Puente La Reina, and I already jettisoned a lot of things, so I can carry my cpap in my backpack. This makes it heavier but I don’t think that’s the issue. Negotiating rocky terrain is the issue, takes a lot of focus and energy. I could have walked the same distance with no problem if it was flat, not like this obstacle course. I might just try to walk half a stage tomorrow so I can at least cover some ground.If you feel the need, taking a rest day in Puente or Estella is an excellent idea. I met a hospitalera in Estella once who told me she has noticed that more than a few pilgrims quit in Estella due to injury. Also I know from my own experience that around day 4-5 I start thinking about things I don’t need and how I can lighten my pack. I think your Camino will be better if you can carry your own pack. Usually I will walk a few hours and whenever I feel like I know where I want to stop and sleep I start sending WhatsApp messages and see if I can make a reservation.
So far, with respect to avoiding injury and managing your pack, and all Camino logistics you are crushing this Camino. I am excited for you. Carry on!!
Forget about "processing." Just rest!I need to shower, eat, try to u wind and process
Those videos of me with the poles are not telling the whole story. That’s me taking a leisurely stroll on flat, even ground. The real issue is using them in rocky, treacherous terrain. When I must gingerly plan ahead the next step. I simply can’t breeze by like some people do like it was nothing. When I got lost in the fog near Roncesvalles, a French guy gave me invaluable coaching on how to plant them firmly in the ground before I take the next step, it made a difference. I’m aware that I am supposed to advance the opposite side when walking, I simply can’t coordinate those motions for very long. I’ll take a look at the video tomorrow. I do thank you for the link, tho.Having had a look on your Facebook video with the poles: you are using them wrong! (like many others). This actually makes you use more energy instead of less!
Please do yourself a favor and have a look at some video on youtube how to use poles correctly. I learned from this one, but every other should be just as fine.
I was thinking just that. If it’s on “comfortable earth tracks” (my own translation of the Gronze page I might decide to go the whole distance, but I absolutely will stop halfway through if I find out their description was inacurrate.Forget about "processing." Just rest!
Tomorrow you can walk a short day to either Villamayor de Monjardín (9.4 km) or Luquin (10.3 km).
Hang in there!Note: I wrote a lengthy post yesterday about day 6 but it seems stuck in the uploading mode, not sure how to fix it.
Day 7: Puente la Reina to Estella, 14.5 miles, took me 11 hours!!! Eleven freaking hours!!!!!!
As seems to be the pattern, mornings on the Camino are fine. It was a beautiful, cool morning, and a passerby pilgrim couple took my pic as I left Puente La Reina. I set off enthusiastically. I can walk at a brisk pace, and while I do struggle with the climbs and the terrain, I can recover fairly quickly. The first climb to Mañeru was difficult, but it was fairly early in the day. When I got there, I found a nice little park with picnic tables, so I took advantage of that to check on my feet, apply Vaseline for blister prevention, adjust my gear, fill the water bottle. This nice couple shows up, and they were PRs like me! So we took a selfie showing the 3 of us around my backpack which had the PR flag. Then I walked some more, coming up to the stunningly beautiful town of Ciriaqui. I stopped there for a Coke, but the town was deserted. Along the way, I struck conversations with a German guy who eventually moved on, and later on with a Finnish guy, this latter one helped me pass the aftas we talked about our countries, with some of the hard to avoid politics.
We eventually reached the tiny town of Lorca, where he was staying. By that time, after gulping a Coke And an Aquarius, I was passing by sn Albergue snd and a sweet Cinise young woman let me use their bathroom, filled my water bottle, and I bought some chocolate/vanilla ice cream sandwich which felt heavenly.
I debated whether I should stop there for the day, as I wasn’t sure I could make it to Estella, but I thought I could make it to Villatuerta. The path was actually very smooth and flat, but when I got there, I tried calling an albergue but no answer. The doors were closed. I called a different albergue and I was told that because of the religious weekend holiday, everything was closed but there was a huge party in time. An overheated exhausted pilgrim didn’t seem to be high on their priority list, and I had no choice but to continue to Estella, which thankfully was just 2.6 Km (I think) away. I called ahead and they had beds at the Hospital de Perrgrinos, which is the Municipal Albergue.
So I dragged my sorry exhausted pilgrim ass towards Estella, cursing and wondering why earth I’m doing this. There were some rough, tricky spots, but nothing I haven’t encountered before. It probably felt worse because of the tiredness, the heat of the day, and because I was in a foul mood, but it really wasn’t that far away, so eventually I arrived at Estella. After a hot shower and eating a dinner of Pasta Carbonars, I’m feeling better,trying to think of my strategy for tomorrow. I’ll probably do just a half day. BTW, while the cPAP machine did feel heavier, I seem to be fine with it.
I also re-encountered a lady I met at SJPDP, so that was a great morale booster after feeling left behind by others. But right now I feel too exhausted to socialize, and I’m trying to figure how to best plan my walking days.
I expected hardship, so I figure this experience will show me my true limits and potential.
Link to my FB post: https://www.facebook.com/share/gTfBfHFmgUPmGM6o/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Well if it is any consolation your walking rate has increased from 37% to 45% of the Google "average walker"Day 7: Puente la Reina to Estella, 14.5 miles, took me 11 hours!!! Eleven freaking hours!!!!!!
As Meatloaf said "You took the words right out of my mouth" but I was too afraid of mentioning that option myself on this forum.jump on the bus straight to Logrono
I wouldn't just because of exhausted discouragement. Injury yes. Hang in there, peregrino. Short short day tomorrow. Or maybe a rest day.perhaps even jump on the bus straight to Logrono and if need be take another rest day there.
I agree. Much too early in the Camino to skip stages.I wouldn't just because of exhausted discouragement.
That's the worst of them.I just don’t want any more horribly rocky trails ...
Again, wise.I need to be mindful of not pushing myself so much that I relapse, but not trying to be so comfortable to the point of avoiding challenges, thus stunting my growth.
As @JabbaPapa said, you're pretty much out of the woods for the time being, quite a while, in fact. And by the time you get to the Cruz de Ferro, you'll have had a few more weeks under your belt.I just don’t want any more horribly rocky trails…
11 hour day?! Hector you're an absolute beast! Of course you're feeling the effects of that and need to figure out how this is not your new normal. For me it was booking ahead - even if I had to upgrade to a pension or other private lodging. Yes this will cost more but what's it worth to have secure lodging? You're doing great!Note: I wrote a lengthy post yesterday about day 6 but it seems stuck in the uploading mode, not sure how to fix it.
Day 7: Puente la Reina to Estella, 14.5 miles, took me 11 hours!!! Eleven freaking hours!!!!!!
As seems to be the pattern, mornings on the Camino are fine. It was a beautiful, cool morning, and a passerby pilgrim couple took my pic as I left Puente La Reina. I set off enthusiastically. I can walk at a brisk pace, and while I do struggle with the climbs and the terrain, I can recover fairly quickly. The first climb to Mañeru was difficult, but it was fairly early in the day. When I got there, I found a nice little park with picnic tables, so I took advantage of that to check on my feet, apply Vaseline for blister prevention, adjust my gear, fill the water bottle. This nice couple shows up, and they were PRs like me! So we took a selfie showing the 3 of us around my backpack which had the PR flag. Then I walked some more, coming up to the stunningly beautiful town of Ciriaqui. I stopped there for a Coke, but the town was deserted. Along the way, I struck conversations with a German guy who eventually moved on, and later on with a Finnish guy, this latter one helped me pass the aftas we talked about our countries, with some of the hard to avoid politics.
We eventually reached the tiny town of Lorca, where he was staying. By that time, after gulping a Coke And an Aquarius, I was passing by sn Albergue snd and a sweet Cinise young woman let me use their bathroom, filled my water bottle, and I bought some chocolate/vanilla ice cream sandwich which felt heavenly.
I debated whether I should stop there for the day, as I wasn’t sure I could make it to Estella, but I thought I could make it to Villatuerta. The path was actually very smooth and flat, but when I got there, I tried calling an albergue but no answer. The doors were closed. I called a different albergue and I was told that because of the religious weekend holiday, everything was closed but there was a huge party in time. An overheated exhausted pilgrim didn’t seem to be high on their priority list, and I had no choice but to continue to Estella, which thankfully was just 2.6 Km (I think) away. I called ahead and they had beds at the Hospital de Perrgrinos, which is the Municipal Albergue.
So I dragged my sorry exhausted pilgrim ass towards Estella, cursing and wondering why earth I’m doing this. There were some rough, tricky spots, but nothing I haven’t encountered before. It probably felt worse because of the tiredness, the heat of the day, and because I was in a foul mood, but it really wasn’t that far away, so eventually I arrived at Estella. After a hot shower and eating a dinner of Pasta Carbonars, I’m feeling better,trying to think of my strategy for tomorrow. I’ll probably do just a half day. BTW, while the cPAP machine did feel heavier, I seem to be fine with it.
I also re-encountered a lady I met at SJPDP, so that was a great morale booster after feeling left behind by others. But right now I feel too exhausted to socialize, and I’m trying to figure how to best plan my walking days.
I expected hardship, so I figure this experience will show me my true limits and potential.
Link to my FB post: https://www.facebook.com/share/gTfBfHFmgUPmGM6o/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Hi Hector! Just to confirm what others have already said: There will be more stones on your way to Santiago and there will be sections that others have found difficult but they are a long way ahead of you. The descent from the Cruz de Ferro and later another descent to Molinaseca/Ponferrada are sections that some people find difficult but it is nothing like the descent from the Alto del Perdon which is steep and has a lot of loose stones. You did well be taking it slowly. Bravo! (I am one of those who skipped down and bathed in the admiration of othersI just don’t want any more horribly rocky trails…
Oh, you can. I thought that too. Don’t give up.Finally, finally, FINALLy I made it to Estella and checked into the Municipal Albergue
More later (or tomorrow). It took me 11 hours! I tried to stop at Villatuerta because I was exhausted, but one albergue didn’t answer, the second albergue told me that everything was closed because of the religious holiday and that there was a huge party in town, so this exhausted pilgrim must walk a few more kilometers in this infernal heat.
I’m not a happy camper at the moment. I need to shower, eat, try to u wind and process. I see like 34 notifications but I don’t have the energy right now.
I don’t think I can do this or that I have what it takes. More later…
Yes, this is how I like my Camino as well.Copied from my FB (which I accidentally posted before finishing adding pics, there might be an update)
Day 8: Estella to Villamayor de Monjardín.
I decided to take a very short walk day, but not a full rest day, because I want to feel I’m still making progress. So I got a boost when, walking out of Estella, I came across a couple of signs stating I’ve walked 100 km, good to know on the day I start my second week.
Maybe it was not a coincidence that I went by the famed Bodega Irache and, although normally I shun alcohol, I did take a sip and it was heavenly. I also bought a pendant from the blacksmith next door, something I’ve been wanting for a while.
The trail was fairly easy for the most part, but it was more challenging as I approached Asqueta. The terrain wasn’t too bad but steep, and I got a sweeping vista of Navarra’s mountains and valleys.
I had a snack at Asqueta, a ración of potato croquetas. I decided to call an albergue in the next town, and fortunately they did have beds, so I took one. It took me about 45 min to an hour to make the steep climb to Villamayor de Monjardin in a very steep and very rocky terrain, but I knew the end was in sight.
I was the first one in the albergue, and it was nice to just relax, shower, set up my cPAP, hand wash and tend them to dry (I still need to learn better handwashing techniques.
A new bunkmate came in, we were just chatting away, then I went outside, sat for a little while, went to the store, bought a few snacks and drinks for tomorrow, now I’m just relaxing. This is the typical pilgrim day I have been hoping for.
While there are certainly challenging parts of the Camino, nothing has been impossible as long as I take my time.
I’ll take a nap now, and we’ll see where I’ll go tomorrow…
FB link for pics and videos: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/ddoh1vLhgDF94Jew/?mibextid=WC7FNe
This seems a good sign that you consider 9 km now to be VERY short when it is actually half a "normal day". The Google person is meant to take 2 hours 10 minutes so how long did it take you?I decided to take a very short walk day, but not a full rest day
Or Sansol, where I've stayed three times at the lovely Casa Rural El Olivo de Sansol. It's like staying in Grandma's house. The Palacio de Sansol albergue also received high marks from the pilgrims that I met who stayed there.Now will it be Los Arcos (12 km) or Torres del Rio (19km)?
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