2215 hrs 2/09/11

So, this is the deal--- it was a daunting day of walking and my feet are quite pooped and legs are swollen!

Guillermo and I walked over 31 Km (that equates to over 19 miles) today, up hills and down hills, through villiages and fields, and over an honest to goodness  Roman Empire-built road.  He was trying to talk me into walking another 6 miles (10K), and I, stubborn enough to refrain from "giving up" to my foot/leg pain, said I'd keep going.  We'll thank goodness Guillermo was also tired when we hit Lorca, so he called ahead to a private Albergue for us to stay in. This one's really more like a hotel, but there's 4 bunk beds in one room and only one bathroom. The good thing is that its "winter" pilgrim season and we're the only two here!

Last night, after posting my blog I got a remarkable lesson in taking care of my feet-- it turns out that Maribel from Cizur is the one that gave Guillermo the info on the maxipads for shoe inserts.  Aside from that, Maribel drained and treated my blisters and showed me some really great shoe tying secrets for long-distance hiking.

As a great finish to a long and tiring day, Guillermo and I did some more walking down to Jacques Super Mercado (supermarket not even the size of a bathroom in a Wal-mart). Once we arrived, the door was locked. I, being the American, would have just walked away, but, Guillermo, being the Spaniard, rang the doorbell (who'da thunk?). We'll two very cute little old Bascos came to the door and bowed to every pasta, vino, and fresh herbs-from-their-garden need that Guillermo had the language skills to ask for-- all for 4,50 Euro (that's like 7 bucks in the US-- OMG!).  We had a great pasta meal and a whole bottle if Spanish wine from Navarre (Pamplona area) and good conversation (as best as two with different languages can have with each other).

Please, feel free to make comments on my blog, as well as Facebook.

Off to Los Arcos tomorrow.

Photo:  the highest point if my travels today (you know you've climbed a high mountain when you're standing where they put wind generators).