Today was scheduled to be a 34km walk. Much of it on asphalt. Asphalt is not easy walking on, really the only advantage is that you don’t have to look down at your feet and you can look all around and take in the scenery. Asphalt cooks the feet. It’s unforgiving with the impact of each step. Your feet take a beating.

Today that happened to me. The last couple of days I’ve had a pain in my shin. Today it got to the point of me not being able to flex my foot. Ends up being most likely extensor tendinitis. Basic inflammation of the tendons at the top of my foot to my shin.

I was making such slow progress that it would have been a 12-14 hour day for 34km. Not ideal and I didn’t leave early enough to make it to a bed on time.

So what does this mean? Rest and ibuprofen. I got alternate transport the remaining 24km from Arroyo to Olea. Now I’ll rest some more and see what happens tomorrow.

Tomorrow is only 24km and Aguilar de Campoo is a large enough town to have many services I would need if I need and extended rest.

So… about today and the Camino. While I was able to “abrir la boca” and enjoy the countryside, I feel that I missed out on the choice part of today’s travels by alternate transport. There was no lodging available – I looked.

The snow capped mountains and the Embalse de Ebro made for some nice scenic views. But I missed out on the birch forests and Roman architecture hidden in the mountains between the embalse and Olea.

I’m staying at a Casa Rural and the owners are very accommodating and nice people.

My plans as of the moment are to head out early in the morning and make it to Aguilar de Campoo where I can make another assessment of the ankle.

This is not a setback for me, rather just part of the camino and accepting what it has to offer. Spain is a beautiful country with many wonderful people. I have nothing but gratitude for my time here.

Now for some pics…