Thursday, April 25, 2024
I had really hoped to get out early this morning, but it turned out to be really late. I had some confusion about the backpack transportation service, so we ended up waiting around and not leaving until nearly 9am.
The hike today was shorter -- just 18k. It didn’t feel too tough. Betty is feeling better in her foot. It’s always a bit sore, but it’s manageable. I think all of us are feeling like that now.
This albergue isn’t the fanciest, but it will do. We are all in a shared room, and it’s pretty cramped quarters. When Betty and I went out for lunch/dinner, the market was closed. So we just went to a bar and ordered a couple of big salads. They were amazing! One was made with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and bacon, and the other had lettuce, tomato, and a bunch of sautéed mushrooms.
I’m pretty certain I need new shoes. My old ones are really wearing out, and my feet are pretty uncomfortable every time I put them on. The soles are totally smashed down, and they are running really thin. I’ve been putting it off, because I worry about getting blisters from new shoes. But I’m pretty sure in Leon I can find the same kind of shoes (Hoka Speedgoats), so I’m going to try to take care of it there.
The weather is getting colder today, and some clouds have rolled in. It looks like we might have cold and rain off and on for the next week. I’m so grateful for the protection we’ve had from the elements so far. I couldn’t have asked for better weather. But we may have to work with some rain over the next several days. That should be interesting. I’m planning a bit shorter stages until we get through this.
Now everyone is resting. I might take a little nap here by Betty, but I’m afraid I might not wake up. I’m pretty beat.
Update: I ended up doing some work, and then I went out and rustled up some food for everyone. Then Alicia had some stuff she wanted to talk about, so she and Betty and I went out for a walk and we got some hot chocolate at a bar and we just talked and talked.
One of my favorite things about this trip, and I know I’ve said it before, is the opportunity to just talk. Back home, if one of the kids is struggling, it seems like we never have the time to just talk. Good communication just takes time -- a lot of it. I’m finding more and more that with teenagers especially, you just have to sit and let them talk about what they want to talk about. They want to be heard. I was so grateful this evening that we had the time to just sit and work things out.
