Day 30

There are two options today. I take the original which is alongside a busy secondary road. The other is slightly longer but away from the road and a bit more remote.

I don’t mind this way, there is much to see and small villages to stop for a rest and coffee. There is a constant stream of trucks and cars. Large distribution centres including a huge Decathlon one. The path is a well formed gravel and stone one.

I stop at a place for a break, it’s a bit like a truck stop, all the customers are drinking coffee and eating cake. So I try that, I think it’s just called Coffee Cake, it’s light and airy and tasty and it goes very well with my coffee.

I walked all the way today on my own, although there are pilgrims about to say Hola too.

At some point I start thinking about walking in the movies and on TV, a favourite, Kath and Kel of Kath and Kim fame, comes to mind they had a hilarious way of power walking in fluorescent tracksuits.

Bilbo and Frodo did a lot of walking in the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Forrest Gump morfed into Jesus when he walked across America.

Then there are great walking movies, Tracks, based on Robyn Davidson’s book about her walk across Australia with camels and Wild based on Cheryl Strayed book who walked 1800km on the Pacific Crest trail in the US. The wonderful The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, based on Rachel Joyce’s novel. Thinking of these keeps me occupied for ages and then the headphones are on and I finish the last leg to my Municipal Alburgue which I hope I can get a bed at for tonight.

I have a bed, have included a shot of the dormitory, one lady walked in and said ‘ oh it looks like a prison!’ It’s certainly utilitarian! And it’s freezing, thank goodness they have a blanket for each for us.

Just back from the Pilgrims dinner we had a green salad with an excellent balsamic dressing followed by rice with chicken and bread and vino Tinto there may have been chicken but it missed my plate. There was yogurt to finish. We have all piled back to the dorm. The lady from Norway in the top bunk to my bottom bunk has given me her blanket as she has a super duper sleeping bag and her own blanket so tonight will not be as bad as I thought. Although I have all my clothes on too, to be sure to be sure!

Distance walked 17km

Elevation 900m

Many pilgrims seen today, including my Columbian friend and a couple from Adelaide I met a few days back and a lady from Norway who I met 3 nights ago.

Song of the day; Tracey Chapman, Fast Car.

Total Distance walked so far 487.6km.

Xx