Stage 5: Puente la Reina to Estella 22 km

 

Blisters!

Heidi, Vera (Germany), & Carolyn

9/4/24 Alto del Perdón.

 

Yesterday was an amazing trek to el Alto del Perdón from Pamplona. The climb was challenging and gratefully it was overcast and cloudy, making for a cooler climb. The ridge is dotted with wind turbines and iron silhouette sculptures that meet pilgrims once there. The view at the summit was spectacular–stunning vistas on either side of the very windy ridge.

 

When we descended into the valley, we walked along a dry arroyo filled with large rocks. It was hard on the feet, the ankles and the knees. It seemed interminable. When we got to Uterga, it started to rain. We scrambled to put on jackets and rain covers for the backpacks. Conor, cold and wet in his poncho, ended up near some trees. We sat in the portico of a church until the rain stopped.

Then we continued our camino. I was wet and cold. My feet were wet and I could feel I was getting blisters. (the day before I had a small bout of diarrhea from the pintxos). It was confirmed when I got to my albergue. I slipped and fell when I got to the albergue and allowed my boots to dry on the rack.

 

Last night I began to question if I could continue (walking with blisters is painful). I was only in stage 4 and I was having serious doubts if i could do this. I was catastrophizing. If I got bloody blisters, I would be out. I had a nightmare that I would hve to cancel the pilgrimage–which i had planned to do these many years would have to be delayed.I thought I could use the baggage service to take my backpack to the following village. It was a decision that we finalized with the help of Paul, a fellow pilgrim from Nova Scotia.

 

So today I took my small backpack and when  Iarrived at Hostel Curodories, the backpack was there. My blisters on my pinkie toes were larger. I could feel another coming on to my big toe. But I was not exhausted to the point of needing a nap.

 

Good call. Interesting how a fellow pilgrim was just what I needed.