May 29: Boadilla del Camino to Villalcazar de Sirga
Leaving at 6:30 I walk along flat terrain, Tierra de Campos (land of fields). It's agricultural as the name implies and I'm told production here is mainly wine grapes, vegetables and wheat.
I walk along a canal and locks through a wooded area into Fromista just as the pharmacist is opening his store at 8. Here I purchase, for a few euros, Voltorol, the topical gel for pain relief, which is an expensive prescription drug in the U.S. I continue to be in pain. The gel helped some, but does not live up to my expectations. It seems my gait has been thrown off by limping and now my hip hurts trying to adjust.
Leaving at 6:30 I walk along flat terrain, Tierra de Campos (land of fields). It's agricultural as the name implies and I'm told production here is mainly wine grapes, vegetables and wheat.
I walk along a canal and locks through a wooded area into Fromista just as the pharmacist is opening his store at 8. Here I purchase, for a few euros, Voltorol, the topical gel for pain relief, which is an expensive prescription drug in the U.S. I continue to be in pain. The gel helped some, but does not live up to my expectations. It seems my gait has been thrown off by limping and now my hip hurts trying to adjust.
I do not want to wait two hours or so for the bus to come along at Fromista as planned. Instead, I continue walking and hoping to find a bus or train at Carrion. This will be another hot day on the high central plateau of the meseta. I take a wrong turn and can't make it to Carrion today. Now I'm on a less then desirable path, which adds several unnecessary miles to my day. That’s what I get for not pulling out my guidebook. Nevertheless, I find my way to where the two routes converge.
I must tell my interested neighbor, Sam that I stayed this night in Villalcazar de Sirga, a commandry of the Knights Templar, and known for welcoming pilgrims since 12th century.
For those playing along at home, Lin is almost halfway: An email from my husband says by days end tomorrow I will be half way. I want to walk the last 100 kilometers (62.5 miles) into Santiago. I’ve made up some distance by taking the bus, but I still must walk at least 14 miles each day. My right foot isn’t happy with 8 miles, much less 14. I must look for a way and check on timing on how and when to get to Sarria - the 100 k mark if I can’t keep up this pace.
I've been without e-mail service for several days. Back in Granon I realized my iPhone European adapter-charger was not working. There an American took pity and charged my phone. I hoped to find another replacement device by now, but have not.
I must tell my interested neighbor, Sam that I stayed this night in Villalcazar de Sirga, a commandry of the Knights Templar, and known for welcoming pilgrims since 12th century.
For those playing along at home, Lin is almost halfway: An email from my husband says by days end tomorrow I will be half way. I want to walk the last 100 kilometers (62.5 miles) into Santiago. I’ve made up some distance by taking the bus, but I still must walk at least 14 miles each day. My right foot isn’t happy with 8 miles, much less 14. I must look for a way and check on timing on how and when to get to Sarria - the 100 k mark if I can’t keep up this pace.
I've been without e-mail service for several days. Back in Granon I realized my iPhone European adapter-charger was not working. There an American took pity and charged my phone. I hoped to find another replacement device by now, but have not.
This afternoon I notice a young Korean man had his phone charging in the bathroom. Using sign language I asked if I could use it to charge my phone. He agreed. What a relief. I was able to send a text to Randy after receiving a Wi-fi signal in the bar adjacent the albergue where I relaxed and ordered a shandy – lemonade and cerveza.
I hoped to get into the Santa Maria church today. A posting read it will be open from 4 to 8. It is not open at four, so I wait until mass at six. Even then it doesn’t open. Later I learn there was a festival this morning and that's when mass was held.
The only tienda - market - opens at 6:30 p.m. Olive oil and garlic is stashed in the albergue kitchen from some other pilgrim leaving it behind. So I purchase pasta. A fellow pilgrim approaches me and offers to pay for half of it. I also buy canned red peppers. And a can of mushrooms that is rusted. I’m not sure if I noticed at the time. I pointed and she put it in the bag. I should have returned it. I guess I felt sorry to the old lady shopkeeper. I'm nervous about opening, but I do anyway and stir into the pasta. The next 24 hours I wait for food poisoning to strike. Why do I do those things? Stupido! Although I do have an iron stomach, a hearty constitution and never had food poisoning, there is always a first time.
To counter my stupid rusted-can-of-mushroom decision, another small miracle happened today. I found a 50 euro bill that I’ve been missing for days. I’ve looked for it no less than four times. It just appeared. Oh, those gremlins give me a workout even in Spain.
That night I took an Ambien but still I did not sleep well. Probably worried about dying in my sleep from food poisoning. My bed seems to be the only one that squeaks with every toss and turn. I hear everyone snoring and the banging of bathroom doors and noise from the sticking, pushing and pulling of the bedroom door. Oh Lord, I offer up this suffering to you.
I hoped to get into the Santa Maria church today. A posting read it will be open from 4 to 8. It is not open at four, so I wait until mass at six. Even then it doesn’t open. Later I learn there was a festival this morning and that's when mass was held.
The only tienda - market - opens at 6:30 p.m. Olive oil and garlic is stashed in the albergue kitchen from some other pilgrim leaving it behind. So I purchase pasta. A fellow pilgrim approaches me and offers to pay for half of it. I also buy canned red peppers. And a can of mushrooms that is rusted. I’m not sure if I noticed at the time. I pointed and she put it in the bag. I should have returned it. I guess I felt sorry to the old lady shopkeeper. I'm nervous about opening, but I do anyway and stir into the pasta. The next 24 hours I wait for food poisoning to strike. Why do I do those things? Stupido! Although I do have an iron stomach, a hearty constitution and never had food poisoning, there is always a first time.
To counter my stupid rusted-can-of-mushroom decision, another small miracle happened today. I found a 50 euro bill that I’ve been missing for days. I’ve looked for it no less than four times. It just appeared. Oh, those gremlins give me a workout even in Spain.
That night I took an Ambien but still I did not sleep well. Probably worried about dying in my sleep from food poisoning. My bed seems to be the only one that squeaks with every toss and turn. I hear everyone snoring and the banging of bathroom doors and noise from the sticking, pushing and pulling of the bedroom door. Oh Lord, I offer up this suffering to you.