ZippySails

Hhhhmmmmm, should we push today and go all the way to Santiago or should we break it into two days. There was not one Alberque along the way if we stopped with only 6 beds in it. It was not on the main path and it was unusual for hikers to stop that soon after leaving Santiago (we are doing the trail backwards). Up until now we just walked until we were ready to stop but this was a little different situation. Thinking we would stop we left later than usual that morning and sauntered along. The hike was mostly downhill for us which means it was uphill for the hikers going the normal direction. Was I ever glad we were backwards people. My shoulders were burning, my feet had some blisters and my legs were just at the turning point where I think, instead of muscles feeling beaten up they start to feel stronger,but that would be tomorrow! So we finally arrived at the Alberque around dinner time to find it FULL! A group of 6 Italian hikers had made a reservation. Hhhmmm....we thought with our predicament the owner would suggest us sleeping on the floor or something creative like that, instead he gave us a rousing vote of confidence about how we could make it to Santiago, we were strong. Strong? We were dead tired, but we regrouped and off we went towards Santiago.