Saturday, May 11, 2024

Early. I am offered yogurt for breakfast. The morning is calming, even with so much to film and capture. A beautiful sunrise. Quiet trails. Lovely rolling rustic hills. I meet up with Paul in the town of Navarrete, and we are looking into some reservations for tomorrow night as an event will take place there tomorrow. The day heats up quickly! By 9:00 the sun is higher in the sky, relentlessly casting the day’s fire downward onto us. After a quick break, I walk in solitude through the hot, bright sunshine. When I arrive at the albergue I feel a bit done. A queue of about ten has formed outside the door, and I put my pack down in the order forming. Some groceries are acquired, and the day’s materials are transferred to the hard drive. By the end of the day, I am failing at everything. Exhausted. I give up, climb into my bunk, and immediately fall into a deep, dark sleep.

Today’s distance walked: 39.2 km    |    Total distance walked: 220.41 km

“Do not stay in San Juan de Ortega—there is nothing there.” — Canadian hospitaliero working in Nájera albergue