9/9/22
I realized when I got to Logrono that I had lost my straw cowboy hat. I noticed a hat store and stopped in. They had nice panama a d straw hats for about 60 euros. I found one I liked but hesitated. I left, thinking I might come back and buy it later. I walked up the street and saw a Chinese euro (dollar) store. I found a straw hat there for 3 euros.
My feet were bad. I had a blood blister under my right big toe and bad blisters on the balls of both feet. I decided I needed medical help. I didn’t know whether I could continue walking. I prepared myself for the possibility that I would have to quit. I searched google maps and made an appointment to see a podiatrist, Carmen.
She was able to fit me in at 2 pm. She was cute and delightful. She told me she could help, that I could continue walking and that it wouldn’t hurt. All true. She lanced and drained my bad toe, cleaned and dressed everything and sent me “home” with extra dressings and reassurance. 40 euros. We’ll worth it.
I checked into the Albergue. Somehow I ended up in a room with 4 beds, solo, for 50 euros.
I ran out and bought a pair of open toe shoes. Carmen recommended them. I’ll try them tomorrow.
I met up with the gang for dinner. We went to Calle Laurel for tapas and wine.
We stopped to eat and drink in 2 bars. Ran into Juan and Maria there. I love them. Juan ordered steak with foie gras and shared it with me. We drank a bunch of slushy sangrias and called it a night.
Back to the Albergue for another lousy nights sleep. Up at 5:15 am for today’s long walk - 18 miles through the Rioja wine country. Hard long slog. I put on my open toe shoes with 2 pairs of socks. (Ugh! Socks with sandals).
Not terribly hot. Today, I walked with Jayne, Justin, Lea and Elaine.
We got attacked by mosquitoes in the early morning. Nice walk. Good pace. We ran into Wisconsin. We saw him at the cafe where everyone stopped for coffee. Jayne mentioned that she had walked with him and he knew all about the priests and the Camino. He has gray hair and old fashioned looking horn rim glasses. I immediately suspected that he was a priest. Further inquiry needed.
Later, I walked with him for a while. I didn’t want to come right out and ask if he was a priest, so I asked if his purpose for the Camino was religious. He said, “in part”. He pulled out a photo album of people he was praying for on the walk and told us about a coworker who retired and died 3 months later. He said he recently retired. You have to enjoy life. He had worked in the printing industry until it waned. Then he worked at an outdoor store like REI.
Wisconsin seems to remember everyone’s name. He calls Jayne Oklahoma wine chick. I was wrong about him. He is weird and nerdy but he is not creepy.
We arrived in Najera about 1:30 pm. My feet did not fare well. The last few miles were painful. I took off my shoes and socks. Crap! Another blood blister under the toenail of my second toe on my left foot. Blisters on the balls of both feet painful. I can’t seem to get ahead of this.
We are walking 12 miles tomorrow. I think I can do it.
No dinner places open til 8 pm. We went out for pintxos and drinks at a nearby pub. Delicious.
Jayne is our planner. She books the hotels and pensions.
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