Well, despite what I thought I might do today, I pressed on to Puente La Reina, about 24km from Pamplona.
Upon waking up, my feet felt better than when I went to bed, and I thought I´d be good to go. I walked about a km before stopping to try a different pair of socks. By the time I stopped for a coffee and sandwich another km down the road, it was time to try something different again… I ended up with my thickest socks again for comfort, but it comes at a price of feeling like my feet are in a vice… very tight, and uncomfortable on the end of the toes when going downhill.
So, in the end, I quite literally hobbled my way to where I am… the pain got progressively worse as I went on… and I was glad to finally arrive at the albergue (4 euros)… mental note… I seem to be spending more on beer than sleeping arrangements… 🙂
I´ve had a few people along the way showing concerm for my ´hobble´, and giving some advice on how to deal with blisters… they say the best way is to penatrate the blister with a needle and thread, leaving a bit of thread on either side, and the liquid will ooze out by capilary action… (side note… google the word ´penatrate´for fun… I did, to check out the spelling of the word…) Anyways… I wish I had know about that trick before leaving… would have brought a needle and thread with me…
I can just hear Christina now… she´s saying ¨´you NEVER listen to me…´¨ 🙂
She in fact, suggested I bring a needle and thread for just this purpose, but I declined, rationalizing that I NEVER get blisters, and that my boots were ´broken in´… folks… guys specifically… LISTEN to your wives (at least once in awhile…), they have wisdom to impart.
Walked, and by that I mean ´painfully hobbled´the last little bit with Layla… a nice young lady who stayed with Christina just passed Pamplona last night… apparently she had a really nice stay at the little place they ended up at… great hospitality and food… it´s funny talking with people who know of us, that we´re walking independently… sometimes they simply recognize the identical backpack… we just might be the ´talk of the walk´…
Well, I off to drain some blisters… Layla has kindly lent me some thread and a needle. The new gel inserts I put in my boots helped a bit, but damn, it would be great to retire my current footwear for something more up to the task… I tried a few pair of new shoes last night, but my feet were so beaten-up, that nothing felt right.
Oh my Chris, TMI. I’m joking. Glad to hear your feet are still attached. Keep truckin’ dude!
Cheers,
Andrew
I really should taken pictures/video of me forcing a needle through my feet, and having all these strings hanging about… cool stuff!
I am going to take a rest day tomorrow… my feet had a hard time getting me to and from the pub up the road… there´s no way these dogs can carry me another 20-some km down the road!
Hi chris
I ran into Pauline today (haven´t seen her since day 3 and it is now day 6) and she showed me the video of you hobbling down the street. Poor you! Hope you are healing!
I am in Torres del Rio today letting my feet heal. Nasty round of blisters from yesterday – will write about it later. I managed 2 posts but have so much more to say from yesterday and today but it will have to wait as this internet is too expensive – it is just eating up my euros and I have run out of change. Isn´t this camino a wonderful experience! I love you honey!
xoxoxo
Hi Guys,
I can’t believe after all the walking you’ve done this past year that you’re getting blisters. I never would have thought that would be a problem for either of you at least not as bad as Chris is getting them but it sounds like a needle and a few beers will do the trick.
Cheers
Angus