Just For Fun....A Day in the Life

I've been asked what it's like to walk day after day, and having a bit of time on my hands as we stop over in the very, very small village of La Portela I thought I'd give the topic a go. My thoughts may at times ramble, but a the core of my walk is about change. Hope you enjoy, or you can skip if you prefer.

Part 1: The Morning Prep:

Having decided the night before what time to be on the road the next day, the alarm clock has already been set. The game? Wake before the alarm goes off, so Annemarie's programmed marching thing doesn't go off...which I hate.

Up we get...use the bathroom...no morning shower, crap! It softens your feet which can cause problems on the road, but no fear as we'll get one later...just wait. Get dressed quickly, and then the fun begins...getting your feet prepared for the day. This isn't like going to work, its serious business...the boots might be stuck on your feet for literally hours. Therefore  you have to specially prepare your feet for boot entry.  First bandage and tape up any obvious injuries, blisters, weird toes (not aimed specifically at anyone, Annemarie) and then tape any areas in danger of potentially becoming a problem. 

For me it's my left heel....I just put a bit of tape there for luck...it's worked so far so I just do it.  Oh, and strangely I always prepare my left foot first...don't ask. So now you're all taped up and in certain quarters your toes are generally pointing in the same direction. Now it's time to apply a nice coating of Vaseline to each foot, heavy on the heals, lightly on the rest of the foot. This is followed by a very thin micro liner sock and then the heavier wool sock. Pull them both tight and it's on with the boots... making sure not to dislodge all your hard won taping efforts.

Dressed and booted, now it's time to make sure you have the gear you might need handy for the day and that the pack is properly loaded. If walking out early you need your head lamp...is it going to rain? (really hope it doesn't) then you need your wet gear on. Once you have the day figured out then everything else goes on including your pack. You try really hard not to forget your ugly Tilley hat and your poles!

Ok, so you've got you clothes and boots on, your pack is in place and your feet are happy...did you remember to use the bathroom one last time? If the answer is "yes" then head for the door...drop your keys off and wander off down the street in search of breakfast. It usually turns out to be just around the corner in a little bar. 

Take off your pack, find a home for your poles, loose the ugly Tilley hat, take off the wet gear or the coat your wearing and then wander over to the bar to order breakfast. Toasted left over baguette from the night before...that's all there is? Well ok. Add tea and for a bit more coin a zumo (fresh squeezed orange juice). At home this would be pretty ok before work...but not so good before walking all day. Finish then visit the bathroom, again...for only the forth time already today. Gear up all over again and finally it's time to walk. We've now been up for an hour and the trail is still waiting.

As you walk there is certain etiquette to be followed...

 

And new friends to meet...

And very cool sights everywhere...

Along the way it's important to stop for nourishment, and one draws on what's available. We learn to stop, not because we have to but because we want to...a significant difference if you stop to think about it. Use the bathroom again, then walk on. You can usually find munchies on the way if you're nimble enough...and don't get caught!

 

Then before you know it, the 24+ kms are done and it's time to get together with your pals for a drink and to go in search of groceries where you tend to make best friends with the shop keeper if you're smart.

Then there is the daily laundry to do. If you're fortunate enough to stay in a Parador you can spend upwards of $55 to have your laundry done...or...

Then we arrive at one of the best times of the day, afternoon lunch at about 3pm...the well used menu del dia where you are given a choice of up to 8 items for the first course followed by a similar number of options for the second course. A bottle of wine is included, fresh thick slices of bread and a nice desert as well. It's brilliant and all this for about $14 each!

Then it's usually time to meet up with your friends for a drink and comparing the various guides to decide where to walk to the next day. Each guide book states different distances and features, so by the time we finish this daily process we basically give up and have another drink!

Then it's time to work on various injuries and prep for the next day...

And then...you feed again! But not until about 8 or 9pm. Seems like a lot of food, but when one walks day after day the calorie burn is frightening! Some days I feel like a walking disposal unit...the European chocolate is so good!

And then you go 'home' and crawl into your twenty somethingth bed and get up the next day...and do it all over again....THE BEST!!!!

And now...Annemarie's version.

A Day in the Life

Each day really starts the previous night

We check the weather and our maps to help us plan right 

We re-organize our clothes, and decide on a time to rise

Then it's time to close our eyes

Geoff usually wakes before the alarm goes off

There's a fair bit to do before we head off

We tend to those early morning bodily needs

Washing faces, combing hair and other deeds

Foot care follows, with Vaseline or gewahl cream applied

Bandaids, then two layers of socks before our laces are tied

There is, of course fresh water to fill

And if we haven't done so already, we pay our bill

We get breakfast before we go on most days

The breakfast doesn't vary in many ways

Tea, cafe con leche, orange juice and a tostada

We say gracias, they say de nada

And then we head out, with headlamps in place

Sometimes the roads are uneven, the light helps in this case

Our first break takes place about an hour and a half after we start

In deciding where or when our bodily needs play a part

We then carry on past the next village or town

And break again when we begin to slow down

This break will often include something to eat

And I might take my shoe(s) off to rest my feet

After an hour or two we are nearing our destination for the day

Not a moment too soon, we likely need a shower or so some would say

As we walk along the road greetings might be exchanged

Buen Camino or conversations can all be arranged

We find our habitation, check in with passport and credential

Then head to our room; one will shower, the other might just chill

The shower is definitely a highlight of the day

It refreshes and renews and we will again be on our way

The laundry, too, must be also be done

We don't want a reputation as the smelly one(s)

We often are thirsty for a beer at this point

We wander the town and find friends and a likely joint

We will also take this time to check email and put the blog together

Sometimes this will depend on other options and/or the weather

This is our "hang out" time, to do as we please

It might be time for tapas, including sausage or cheese

Dinner will be later in the day than we would prefer

We check out the menus around town, or if there's a recommendation to refer

We often join friends around the dinner table 

And exchange stories of the day whenever we're able

The dinners consist of a variety of choices

I'm so happy that they always include postres

Then it's back to our room to plan for the day to follow

We re-pack our pack; for a while they were quite hollow

By the time we retire for the night we are quite worn

But we're raring to go again when we rise in the morn