Arzua to Arca -- about 20km -- still limping on the Camino

Wednesday, Oct 14

Dinner last night at the albergue with Carmen, Alberto, Adriano, and Susanna was great -- lentils and carrots, salad, wine, and yogurt with chocolate bits!

My ankle felt much better after icing.

This morning I am still limping, but able to walk.

I am walking through the pain and hoping I don´t do more damage -- but it is certainly bearable. John is worried about how slow we will be, but we seem to be doing okay after getting a palo for me.

John had looked for a staff -- he said he found some brooms at a hardware store and perhaps I could use a broom to help me. I gasped! But Carmen´s staff had certainly been a help when I used it before.

As we started off I was so slow, John and I talked again and walked back into town to see if we could find a staff. No one seems to be selling them this far along on the Carmino. Then he suggeste the hardware store again -- he said we could take the handle of a broom or rake and use it. Luckily we found a store that sold handles separately so 5 euros I had a staff which I wrapped with a stick ace bandage to help with the grip.

The day went slowly but we finally made it into Rua just before Arca where there was very nice hotel we hoped to stay in -- lovely village -- the hotel was completo. The pensione there did not look great, so we walked 2 more km to Arzua itself. There we did find a nice room -- the only drawback was the mosquitoes all night long.

Not too many downhills today which was good -- made walking easier. Mostly on the dirt trails through groves and villages. People we know on the Camino pass by and ask how my ankle is doing. Strangers on the Camino also see me limping and keeping telling me, It´s only a little farther!

We ate dinner with Carmen and the gang in the restaurant which turned out to be a comedy of errors iwth ordering -- first time that has happened. We kept getting tuna in whatever we ordered.

The hostal had an internet link so I could update the blog -- I hate getting behind.

And after taking more anti-inflammatory meds my ankle was doing ok -- the ace bandage wrap really helped.

Weather has still be clear and warm!

We leave Arca in the morning for Santiago! It´s getting near!

Palas do Rei to Arzua - 29 k - limping on the Camino

Tuesday, October 13

We knew this would be a long day. And it is suddenly much warmer. We started out early -- stopped at a cafe run by two Germans in a small village for an omelette about 11 am.

There are about 20 German pilgrims stopping with us. A group from all over Germany -- very nice people. We also ran into a Carmelite monk from Cracow!

Had some cidre -- 4 per cent hard cider yesterday -- very tasty!

It really got hot in the afternoon -- then it happened.

Suddenly my left ankle ached and I could hardly walk. I did not twist it -- but we had been doing about 5km per hour and perhaps I stressed it.

We stopped so I could rest at a cafe -- the ankle was very swollen. We tried to stay at a pensione in a small village, bu they were full. So we went on .

John took my pack and carried it sherpa style on his head while I very, very slowly walked the Camino. Luckily Alberto and Carmen appeared -- we thought they were way ahead of us but they had stopped for a long lunch of pulpo -- octopus. Carmen gave me her palo -- staff -- and we all made it into Arzua.

We joined them for dinner at the albergue -- after I had iced my ankle and John had found a pharmacy with an ace bandage and other first aid items for all my blisters.

I am very worried about tomorrow. But at least it is a shorter day -- only about 12 miles.

Susanna - a doctor from Tarife -- tells me to eat a lot of lentils- They will help heal me!