Unfulfilled in Condom? Drink Armagnac!
Well...that was our evening last night....Geoff sampling the Armagnac. It was brilliant! I had good reason to have a few last night. I had earlier Skyped with a Sports Medicine specialist in Victoria who generously offered his support before I departed. After a detailed discussion, the Doctor confirmed that my injury is in fact a stress fracture in my lower left leg. It happens. He told me that when people try to push through them the injury simply gets worse and the recovery then becomes more difficult. The X-rays I had in Condom wouldn't usually reveal this type of fracture and a more involved process with dye injections is required. However, he is sure that I have a fracture.
So, that means that my walk is postponed...for this season anyway:-)
I have walked enough to understand that injuries are part of the process. I've seen many people sidelined on their journey or hobbled as they continue onwards to know that this is just one of the risks and sometimes the unfortunate outcome. I'm just fortunate to have walked as far as I have over the past few years without a serious injury happening on Camino. Am I disappointed? Sure. I made a considerable effort to make this trip happen, sometimes at the cost of other life opportunities. But I'm also a realist and I know that to continue on would be pretty dumb. The pain I experienced the last 5 days of walking gave me the message, I just wasn't listening closely enough, or rather I heard the message, but I didn't want to believe it.
It's been an amazing walk these past 500 kilometres. I've met some very nice people, seen some extremely beautiful country, challenged myself, eaten far more than my share of French cuisine and found something of what I was looking for on this journey. I will return to walk again. It's become very central to me. What I've discovered and learned during these walks has been life altering and has opened my mind in many ways, too many to describe here or to bore you with.
Most certainly not lost during any of my recent drama is that this also brings to an end Annemarie's walk. I suggested that she walk on alone and that I meet her each day, but she has decided that it's not necessary for her to do so. She has accepted the outcome very calmly and indicated to me that she she is happy to stop as well. Something that I have not posted is that Annemarie experienced a very difficult time during the first 3 days of our walk together. Back spasms the first two days before she even put her pack on, followed by blisters not seen during any of her training. An extremely frustrating experience! The last few days were much more pleasant for her, so it's difficult for me to see her stop walking now. The poem at the bottom tells the tail. She is one tough lady! We will walk the Portuguese Way next September together, and perhaps with luck we will enjoy the pleasure of companionship with a few of our walking pals, so all is not lost!
However, this trip is not over! I have been given clearance to continue to travel while I heal, a 4-6 week healing period. So I'll be staying here for a few more weeks with Annemarie. We are off to have breakfast and figure out what that looks like! The world is certainly our oyster...we are most fortunate. So stay tuned if you like. I think there is a bit more to come!
Perseverance
As I bent over to tie my shoes that first morning
My back spasmed, excruciating pain without warning
Questions sped through my mind exploring options and alternatives
I made my way to a sitting then standing position, wondering "what gives?"
Is this Camino for me, am I meant to do this?
Is this an experience I should revisit, potentially miss?
Should I send my pack ahead, should I stay another day to heal?
Really, just what's the deal?
I injested ibuprofen and hefted my pack
And headed out tentatively toward the track
I thought of my friends who have much more difficult ailments to overcome
Carrying a rock up the first hill in honour of one
Throughout the day my back tensed and released
When our stop for the night came into view I was inordinately pleased
The pack helped address the pain
When I sat and rested it came back again
On the second morning my back spasmed as I taped my feet
This was definitely not the Camino I had expected to meet
I had planned a gentler kinder Camino this time around
I trained well, my preparation was sound
A steady pace and manageable stages were the order of the day
Secure in the knowledge only pleasant memories would come my way
Now I considered abandoning this walk
I was not at all prepared for this pain, it was a shock
Thinking again of my friends who have harder roads to travel
I remained steadfast not allowing my plans to unravel
The weight of the pack is an aid for the back
The walk became a sort of physical therapy as I continued along the track
Our place of respite on the second night was a vast improvement over the first
I began to think this Camino wasn't after all cursed
On the third day there was no spasm to greet my start
But by this time the pain from my blisters was doing its part
This day's walk was longer than we initially thought
New water filled bubbles on my toes it brought
Our resting place was a delight, I hobbled through town to explore
Knowing the next day a flat and shorter walk was in store
With stinging feet I began the fourth day
We walked along canals for most of the way
As we arrived at our destination, there were no new ailments to report
Just a series of beautiful images on my camera to sort
The next day and the next became easier still
No longer requiring that I set out through sheer strength of will
Instead I anticipated each day and the new experiences it would bring
Finally greeting my kinder and gentler Camino; perseverance is a good thing
Things have progressed very quickly the past 5 hours as they sometimes do. Over breakfast this morning in a small bar Annemarie suggested that we catch the 13:00 bus to Agen where there are better transportation options. I needed to remove myself physically from the Chemin in order to make the necessary break, so I quickly agreed. While we waited to depart we continued the discussion concerning where to from here? While working out a few things Annemarie did a quick Google and up popped barge and biking. My sister Kathy and her husband Bob did this for two plus weeks this past summer and they loved it. We thought, if they liked it so much perhaps this was our answer and our inspiration. After all, I'm able to ride a bike with this injury as there isn't any direct impact to my leg, unless of course I fall off! We confirmed the riding part on the Internet. So we phoned Holland and they have a two week trip available from Paris to Brugge, Belgium departing tomorrow. They had one cabin left with bunk beds and our own bathroom, and had been trying to fill the last space. We negotiated a very good price and reached an understanding as to how the process would proceed. I'll still be able to sleep in a bunk and feel like I'm in an aubergue!!
There will be exercise so that we can continue to eat and drink all we like, and there will continue to be communal dinners. The exercise component was important to both of us as we worked so hard to prepare for the Camino, and I can sit if I hurt, and stay active if everything proceeds as hoped. The boat is full of Aussies of all things, and a few Yanks. Fortunately we spent part of last winter in Oz visiting our friends so we have some of the lingo wired and will know how to communicate. Our daughter is marrying an American fellow so we pretty much have that covered as well. How good is that?! Funny how things have worked out so smoothly. We have purchased our train tickets at a discount and will be on our way north tomorrow morning at 7:10. Our boat sails from Paris at 17:00 close by the Gard du Nord. We have no idea of the route the boat will take, but we have purchased riding shorts and gloves in Agen and they provide the bikes, helmets and water bottles and most of the food and drink. They also have ice packs on board so that I can ice my injury. So if everything works out we will be on our way again. If it doesn't, then Plan B, whatever that is. Once the trip is over Annemarie will have two days to return to Paris to jet home and I'll look for a flight out of Brussels or Amsterdam. There really isn't any hurry to get home at this point. Not sure if we will have Internet, so will post if, and when possible.
Bon Le Canal!
And then we were on our way by train to Brussels...
We met up with Annemarie's cousin Peter and his lovely family who we know well from their time living in Vancouver and our visits to Holland. What is that painter painting down there?
This is the northern route which runs down from Amsterdam and picks up many branches as it moves south to Paris where is becomes the Vezelay route. A possible walk some day?
And then the main event...
But soon we were on our way to a birthday party in El, Holland as the surprise guests! It was a wonderful evening seeing Ted and Ros and their clan. Always so welcoming to us. We were invited to the 45th wedding anniversary gathering as we cycled through 3 years ago. Always seems to be a party going on here!
Woke up this morning with a cold. Thought about next steps and decided that rather than share my cold in Holland, I'd bring it home and share it in Canada! What a nice guy! I checked on line and there was a flight tomorrow direct from Frankfurt to Vancouver...just 10 hours straight through, then onto the ferry and home! I'll be able to pick up medicinal substances in duty free!
