I´m still walking the Camino de Santiago, and it´s been a really intensive experience. I’ve been challenged on many fronts, mostly my feet! I´m on my third generation of blisters. But with plenty of time to think (what else does one do when walking 15-20 miles/day?!?), I thought I would share my daily routine.

4:30 am Silently curse whichever dorm mate set their %&$!%&$!%!! alarm for this godawful hour and roll over and try to fall back asleep
5:00 am Roll over again and silently curse the next dorm mate set their %&$!%&$!%!! alarm for this godawful hour and roll over and try to fall back asleep
6:00 am Too many bags rustling, most likely the lights are turned on (what do you expect in a room with 20 beds?) roll over, groan loudly at the new crop of aches and pains
6:30 am Alrightythen, stretch a bit, make peace with this day´s aches and pains, and get in line for the bathroom. Yes, folks, one place I stayed had 94 bunks (at least half of which were filled with women) and TWO toilets. Indeed, that was a fun place to stay!
7:00 am sling the pack on my back and start walking
8:00 am I am praying for a place that serves coffee (yes,I started my love affair with coffee again). Take off boots. Tend blisters. Rest feet.
10:00 am Stop for pictures, a drink, or a bocadillo. Take off boots. Tend blisters. Rest feet.
11:00 am Second breakfast. Take off boots. Tend blisters. Rest feet.
12:00 Lunch? Look for shade? Drink a beer? Take off boots. Tend blisters. Rest feet.
13:00 Take off boots. Tend blisters. Rest feet. Curse the heat. Calculate how many more kms to the next stopping place.
13:01 Take off boots. Tend blisters. Rest feet. Curse the heat. Calculate how many more kms to the next stopping place.
13:02 Take off boots. Tend blisters. Rest feet. Curse the heat. Calculate how many more kms to the next stopping place.
13:03 Take off boots. Tend blisters. Rest feet. Curse the heat. Calculate how many more kms to the next stopping place.
13:04 Take off boots. Tend blisters. Rest feet. Curse the heat. Calculate how many more kms to the next stopping place.
etc. until 14:00

Siesta 14:00-17:00 (This includes finding an albergue to sleep in, taking a shower, washing your clothes and hanging them to dry, organizing your pack, taking a power nap, possibly eating lunch, tending your blisters, etc. you get the picture)
Yes, the Spaniards invented the siesta and with good reason. It´s hotter than Hades after 1pm, and the sun just gets stronger until about 5 pm. Most stores are closed from 2-5 pm.
Dinner starts around 8 pm. although with so many pilgrims walking through, some places have rearranged their schedules to dinner at 7:30.
21:00 Fall dead asleep.

That pretty much sums up each day and why I have been too tired to do blog posts.

I walk between 20 and 30 kms per day (15-18 miles) wearing a backpack with everything I need, including water and a sleeping bag and camera equipment and changes of clothes.

The good news is that the walking distances are now easy. the bad news is that I feel every step of the way because my original blisters are going on their third generation. Feel free to email me for any blister-avoidance advice…my record would seem to indicate I am not such a good consultant, however I believe I would be a LOT worse off if not for proper management techniques 🙂

Sorry there are no pics. Alisa