Day 6.5 - Wow. Just Wow.

Had a decent night sleep even though it rained all night.  It's a little scary laying there wondering if the next day is going to be a monsoon!  I was cold.  The radiator heat was not working and I failed to acquire a blanket because I was writing my blog while my traveling mates had gone upstairs and went to sleep.  When I got to the room, it was dark.  I had to turn on the bathroom light, with the door closed slightly to be able to see anything.  I then found my headlamp and was able to get that on and find the items that I needed to get ready for bed.  I crawled in and listen to some music for a while before going to sleep.  I seem to be stuck on a new song that I had downloaded before I came.  It's called "Overwhelmed" and it's by a group called Big Daddy Weave (ya - I know - crazy band name).  I only have a few hours of power left as I forgot the charger for the iPod.  it's not like I need more stuff to carry.  Everyone I run into has way less stuff than me.  I am slowly getting rid of some things - but I will clearly have a heavier pack than just about anyone I come across.  Then I woke up at about 2:30 in the morning, realizing that I was cold.  I tried to find an extra blanket - but I could not.  Time to just curl up and try and stay warm.  Little did I know what was ahead of me for the day.

We got up at the usual time (7:00 AM) and got ready to leave.  I needed a bit of extra time so Jm and Brenda headed out and left me a note.  I found it right away, dragged out my poles and started using them right away.  I knew that today was going to be a tough day, so I wanted to use as little leg energy as possible at the start.  As has been the case almost every day thus far, it was rain, then no rain; then rain, then no rain.  I felt a little like the Karate Kid - Jacket on.  Jacket off.

We stopped at a truck stop and had a hearty breakfast.  Bacon, eggs and fries.  I also had a coffee.  A little strange for me I know, but everyone else is having it - so when in Spain...

Walked some more with more rain on and off.  It frustrating to make that switch all the time.  We stopped at a small village to grab some lunch and ran across a couple of German girls who we have seen a few times along the way.  Turns out they are from a place between Stuttgart and Manheim.  Lunch was a very tasty vegetable soup.  My guess it that it was some sort to acorn squash and a few other vegetables and seasoning.  That and the Tea was nice to warm up.

Wow, I knew that the climb was going to be tough - but I had no idea what I was about to walk into.  Just as I reached the start of the climb the weather turned for the worse.  The light rain we were used to became a torrential downpour.  I had failed to put on my rain pants because I have to remove my hiking boots to get them on (in the queue is a new pair of rain pants that I can get on and off easy), and the rain usually stops after about 15 or 20 minutes anyway. But even if I had, the end result would have been the same. By the end of the climb I was soaked!  Even my boots were wet inside - which would be the first time this trip.  I'm sure it was just running down my leg into the boot.  The climb was - well - dificult.  Most of the trek was about a 30 to 45 degree incline and it went on for somewhere between 10 and 15 KM's.  Most of the trail is dirt - so the climb was like walking up a 4 foot path (stream really - given the pouring rain), of mud and horse poop.  Ya - horse poop.  Apparently you can hire a guy with horses and ride up the rather long hill.  There were times that the mud nearly went over the top of my hiking boot.  Add to that tones of slippery rocks and a wind that can nearly push you over and you have what I experienced today.  There was a point when I wasn't sure I was going to make it.  My fit bit registered that I walked 355 flights of stairs.  Am I glad that part of the trip is over.  I got the last room at the first hotel in the place - it's a double but I was cold, wet and I nearly passed out getting my reservation.  I ordered a Coca-Cola and downed the whole thing to get a bit of sugar in the system.  You just can't East stuff on the way up with the wind blowing the rain sideways!

I got into my room and immediately assessed my gear situation.  I was soaked but my dry-sac's in my pack kept my other clothing dry.  Ok - I have day clothes.  I stood in one spot in the room and removed all of my wet clothing.  The floor was drenched.  I immediately put my boots on the radiator (upside-down and without the insoles) as dry feet are very important for minimizing blisters.  I need them to be released for tomorrow.  I then jumped into the shower and had an exceedingly long hot shower to warm up.  Ahhhhhh.  Then jumped into some dry clothes and started to wash all of my wet stuff in the sink.  I rinsed them in the shower and wrung them out to dry.  I could open the window a little and get some breeze in so using my two walking poles, I was able to create a hanging spot in front of the window.  My rain jacket, pants and the wool and quick dry shirts all were hung there.  Socks were placed in the slats within the radiator (chic now was nice and warm).  I think everything will be OK now that I have it all drying.

Brenda and Jim were somewhere behind me.  I wasn't sure they would make it here - but they did.  They got their own place at another establishment - just a few doors down from where I was.  We have each others number - so texting was possible.  I actually didn't see them at all tonight as they ate in their hotel.  I met up with a guy on the trail named Brian.  He as from Colorado.  We lamented together a little on the way up the mud creek.  We both arrived at the same hotel and he was shaking his head at me in disbelief.  "That was un-beleivable", he said.  He mentioned that he was meeting another American at 6:00 here for dinner and asked if I wanted to join them.  I said that I would.  The other American turned out to be Ron - a guy I had met a few nights earlier - a felt cancer survivor.  We both laughed when we saw eachother. Dinner was a plate of pasta, a pork chop and some french fries (you get fries with every meal in Spain), and a yogurt for dessert.  When you burn 5000 calories a day - you can afford to eat a few extra carbs.

One more thing - for some reason today I decided not to put my phone in the special sealed bag that I bought from MEC.  With the phone in this specially made device, you could submerge your phone at it wouldn't get wet.  Well, because mine was not actually IN It today - it got a little wet.  I'm not sure if my external mic is working and both front and back cameras are foggy.  I pulled the whole hang apart and am letting it dry out.  It still works for texting and the like - for that I am thankful.  I hope the lenses clear up or my picture taking will be a lot less.  Glad I have a new one on order for when I get back.  This Ol' Samsung Galaxy  S III has served me well.  I just hope it serves me for a few more weeks.  Tomorrow, I think I'll put it in that little bag...wow.
Should be a shorter day tomorrow  (I think the destination is only 18 Km's and it's not up hill. The weather report looks just like clouds.  The day after that (and for the rest of the week) it looks like we might get some sun.  I'm going to need it to dry out my pack!

Buen Camino

Curt