Nai-publish: 08.11.2023
I wanted to leave at 7:30 today and had set my alarm for 6:45. I woke up shortly beforehand and at first I thought to myself "I'll stay lying down". I felt slightly under the weather and still exhausted from yesterday. My feet and legs hurt and I asked myself why I was so stressed the entire way. Neither life nor the Camino de Santiago is a competition and I don't have to prove anything to anyone. I really need to get this thought out of my head. That's why I initially thought about only walking 18km, but the accommodation was so good that I went to the owner at 7:30 and explained to her that I wasn't feeling well and whether I could spend another night here. She was so empathetic and said that this wouldn't be a problem. Then she invited me into the kitchen and gave me food and coffee and then I was told to lie down again. And that's exactly what I did. And it was the right decision. Later I'll briefly explore the place and do some shopping and otherwise just relax. I really need to treat myself to an off day more often, because sometimes the body needs it. I'm worried I'll get out of my running routine, but again I'm worrying too much. And I definitely have to choose shorter stages to enjoy the journey more. And so I'm writing this text right now and lying in bed and today I don't have to worry about how far I'm going or where I'm going to sleep. Just relax a little!
So, after lying down again, I went into the village and did some shopping and took a few photos along the way. A strange feeling to be on the move without a backpack and pressure. Back I ate something, wrote my blog and just rested. I think that's exactly what my body needed, even if a small part of me thinks I wasted the day, but that's what's good and that's the positive. That's how I have to see it. Tomorrow I'll start again full of enthusiasm. I studied the pilgrim guide a little bit and wrote down the hostels that should be open, but proper planning always only makes sense the day before because I never know where I'm starting from. In any case, I'm now trying to stop walking in such long stages (always depending on the availability of hostels, of course), but I'm also trying to go to church hostels more often, even if it gets a little colder because there's sometimes no heating there gives. Let's see. It should be a little warmer in the next few days. I'm going to rest a bit, take a shower and then go to bed early this morning.