I had a restless night the night we arrived in Astorga. When we arrived at the Hotel Astur Plaza and I took off my boots I found a new blister; an old blister was aching and the top of my other foot so sore I could barely hobble. I desperately wanted to walk the whole Camino but I could barely walk into the plaza from our hotel to have a beer.
In the wee small hours I made my decision, stay in Astorga, have my feet looked at and take it from there. At our normal time of getting moving I woke D2 and told her the news. I could tell by the way she snuggled back into her blankets and went back to sleep that she was devestated.
I found a cafe for coffee, where I met up with a Canadian couple we had met the previous night. He was moving on that morning but she was staying to have her blisters and sore leg looked at. She spoke Spanish quite well so I was more than happy when she suggested we go together. I can say “I have blisters” and “my foot is sore here” but that’s about it.
All I can say about our walk, or should I say hobble, to the Health Centre is that there were a lot different views from locals as to where the Centre was, and we walked a long way.
However, we finally found it, stood in line for a long time, filled out lots of paperwork and finally got an appointment for later in the morning. My friend came in with me, the doctor spent most of the time looking at a print out of someone’s heartbeat, but prodded my sore foot, said I had tendinitis, to rest for a couple of days, not to walk more than 15-20 kms a day and make sure I eat enough sugar during the day. He then sent me off to the nurse who said my blisters were ok, no infections and make sure I take the dressings off at night to let them breathe.
We took a taxi back to the plaza and found the Centre was about 10 mins walk away at most!!
After a quick chat with D2 we decided to rest the day and take a bus the next day to catch up the stages we missed, and give my foot another day of rest. The next day’s walk was very steep, up and down, which is always hard on legs and feet. A tough decision, but once made I knew it was the right one.
And I have to say a very pleasant afternoon was spent, foot up, eating chocolate and churros and drinking beer!
Oh, Trish, your poor feet. Thank you for sharing your journey. I feel like I’m along for the trip but without the blisters and sleeping in my own bed every night. Happy healing to your feet. 🙂 Lorraine
They are feeling much better today thank you
Good Morning Trish and D2……enjoy your rest without guilt (and the chocolate 🙂 )…Glad to hear your feet are already feeling much better, amazing what chocolate can do!
It is indeed. We are just about to have breakfast, then time to hit the road again. Easy day today I hope!
Hi Trish I have become so involved in your journey and am even dreaming about the walk in my warm comfortable bed. Hope everything heals up quickly. Are you giving thanks to your feet and appreciating them for the contact they are making with the earth and those small steps you make every day? A bit of massage at night perhaps? I know I couldn’t do what you are doing for the length of time you are doing it for. A few days maybe but a few weeks??? Keep it steady -we are supporting you all the way. Its like you are doing our dirty work for us and challenging all the corners of your psyche so as to heal the rest of following you on the journey. Love and hugs and kisses to you both Margaret