Day 46

The walk today was so much like walking at home in the Blue Mountains, the smell of eucalyptus, the forests trails, even a creek crossing with a great stone bridge and what looked like a fire trail.

I had 2nd breakfast with the Kiwis from Wellington and lunch with the Irish sisters, everyone is excited about being so close to Santiago but sad, we are nearly finished our Camino’s. It’s a heady mix of emotions.

The Alburgue I am staying at is lovely and even has a foot bath for pilgrims to rest those weary feet, my second one on Camino.

At some point in the afternoon I started to feel dizzy I couldn’t eat dinner and went to bed thinking I would sleep it off.

A terrible night and still feeling very dizzy I think perhaps I can try for 10km then get a taxi, I get dressed slowly and think maybe 5km, then reality hits me, I google medical centres.

The Alburgue owner calls me a taxi and 10min later I am being wheeled into the centre, the team there are amazing I am on a bed with BP, ECG and tests done, the nurse speaks English but the Doctor very little. I have Vertigo, I have never had it although I know about it from friends and family. Two jabs in the bum and a rest there I start to feel better, wobbly but better. “You need to rest”. The nurse arranged a taxi for me to my next destination and just like that I am here prescription collected, resting in my Alburgue.

At the medical clinic I had to show my passport and the letter I have from my travel insurance company and signed some paperwork, I feel very lucky to have been so close to that place and the help they gave me.

Tomorrow is another day and I will see how I feel, I feel better this afternoon, a little wobbly but ok. I will arrange my backpack transfer for tomorrow.

I have to accept missing this stage of the Camino but that is what happens. I am grateful it’s not something more complicated.

Distance walked 11km

Total Distance walked 733.5km

Distance by taxi 22km

Total Distance 755.5km

Elevation 410m

Distance to Santiago 19.8km