The Wagon Is Draggin' (Day 28) — Glenn's Walking Adventures

Today’s walk was mostly through green hills and woods. It was spectacular. I started out while it was still dark and saw the sunrise again.

We are definitely in the hills. It was also cold as mutha.

While it was only 14 miles the daily hiking for 28 days is starting to catch up to me.

This descent, unlike ones in the past, was kind of fun because the trail was so good I could zigzag done at a really quick pace.

My heavily taped sock liners held up and the feet and legs are doing excellent. It’s just the overall fatigue at this point. Let me be clear this isn’t a real complaint, just an observation and it was to be expected. I made it to our albergue, was shown my room and noticed there was a laundry facility in the main building. I then actually took a shower and then a nap. So here’s the thing - I don’t nap. That’s how I know I’m getting worn down. I laid down to do my leg stretching and woke up 45 minutes later. I also don’t want to rule out that it could have been alien abduction but I didn’t seem to have been probed nor did I have any new scars where there could have been an implant installed. I woke up from my nap/abduction and decided to drag ass down to check out the laundry situation. That’s when I realized this was a great big albergue with a ton of walkers staying at the site. There are dorms, single rooms (where I was because I’m fancy) and even tent camping on a big back lawn. I started my laundry and hung out in the main room. The sheer amount and variety of people was invigorating. I also got my first walker who was shocked when I said I started in SJPP. Three of them gathered around while I told them tall tales of the Pyrenees and the forbidden Meseta. They had only started in Ponferrada so I was the grizzled vet. This was the little kick start I needed. Tomorrow is an easy hike to Sarria. Sarria is where a majority of the pilgrims start their hike. I know, I was shocked when I first learned that too. To get the Compostela certificate you only have to hike the final 100Km of the camino and a majority of the pilgrims start in Sarria. It makes sense, not everyone can get a bunch of time off and you can do the Sarria to Santiago route in about 4-5 days. I’ve got concerns about Sarria and have discussed them with other walkers. I think I’ll wait to address them until I get to Sarria. I’m just happy to have gotten a little energy boost, some clean laundry and finally the reverent respect I deserve from other walkers (or at least three young Australians anyway). I’m currently in my room with a Sharpie writing on one of my shirts, “I walked all the way from SJPP and all I got was this lousy T-shirt”. It seems like a subtle way to strike up some worship from the noobs.

Pictures from the hike today: