On the road again ...

So a reasonable sleep was had, at least for me.  After I tuned out the throbbing toe and the rustling sleeping bags, people chatting outside the door of our room, the church bells ... well lots to tune out.  Earplugs help some of the time.  But I've slept worse in absolute perfect conditions, so it's all good.

My bitten foot was quite a lot larger this a.m.; put some ice on it for a bit before I shoved it into my boot.  No mercy.  An Aussie and another girl had made a pot of tea - which they kindly shared with me.  

Maybe not the "pot of tea" you were thinking ... but it was delicious!

I was on the Camino before sun up this morning, walking as though I had a hot coal in the front right quarter of my right  boot.  And my achilles on my left foot hurting ... but this isn't supposed to be a forum for complaints.  Suffice it to say that I wasn't moving that quickly.

A half moon was high in the sky - providing enough light to see the path.  And my flashlight was handy if necessary.  A few pilgrims out, but not too many yet.  Nice to walk in the cool.  Ok, shuffle.  But forward motion is forward motion.

Just as the sun was thinking about bursting over the horizon behind me, I was overtaken by a kind Spanish Señor.  He knew a little English (which is rare), and we walked together for a time.  He is a retired teacher from an elementary boys' school in Valencia.  He does a piece of the Camino every year.  He wanted to know about things where I come from, we stopped a drew a rectangular map of Canada in the dirt and he now knows where Camrose is ...!  He asked how my feet were and I told him about the bee/wasp sting.  He has some aloe gel to share with me when we reach the next stop.  If I see him again.  That's how the Camino is.  Everyone shares - antihistamines, tea, maps, pain killers, ear pugs, safety pins.  

Passed under this waterway - a modern look at an ancient idea.

Approaching the second village of the morning.  The day is heating up - expected to be 33 C.

For the first time, I hooked up my ear buds and played some music.  Took my mind off my troubles.  My achilles feels better now that it's warmed up and the sting is noticeable but no longer a terrible impediment.  I can even dance a little as I move along the trail.  

Stopped in this amazing tunnel in the shade for a bit and listened to a piece of Beethoven's 5th.

At the top of a hill (they are always at the top of the hill) a church.  

Stopped in Lorca for a tortilla de patata - my new Spanish superfood.  Last night I had a big plate of piaella - a few prawns looked sideways at me but I ate them anyway.  The food, the wine, the architecture.  No wonder Hemingway was in love with this country.