San Juan de Ortega

10 oktober 2015 - San Juan De Ortega, Spanje

The previous story was almost finished. The dishes were done by the people who did not go to the chapel. That was a nice surprise. There were no snorers last night so we had a good rest. After breakfast we said goodbye to the monk and the Italian and we were on our way again. We passed two little villages and stopped for coffee at Villafranca. Which means: "town of the Franks" like others along the Camino. The name refers to the many Frankish settlers and traders who established themselves along the pilgrim route in the Middle Ages. It had an important pilgrims hospice as early as 884. This was superseded in 1380 by a hospital that is recently restored into a pilgrim's hostel. We passed it on the way up hill. It was beautiful! For the next 12 km de route is wooded and completely unpopulated and just then my left heel started to hurt. The pain increased quickly. My tempo became very slow. Doug took some of my heavier things and found a stick for me. On top of the hill were some pick nick tables. We drank some water and ate a banana. I put my poncho on, not because it rained but it was getting cold. I walked slower and slower. The pain was excruciating! After another hour I could sit down again and took some ib-profen. Doug took some pictures of the sculptures people had carved. After a while the pain abated somewhat. I increased my speed, however, many people passed us. Among them Elsa and her Hungarian friend. Finally the first houses of San Juan de Ortega came in view. In front of the hostel I sat down on a bench and Doug dealt with the formalities. I laid down on the bed for a long time before I could muster enough courage to drag myself to the washroom to have a shower. After that we went next door for a drink. As soon as I sit down I'm fine. Carson, a British yoga teacher recognized my problem right away: "plantar fasciitis" and he began to massage my foot. Before he left he gave me some advice as what to do but it takes time to heal. Then, to our surprise, Joanne arrived. We caught up. At six o'clock there was a pilgrim's service and we went. After Mass the priest gave all the pilgrims a little cross from San Juan de Ortega. What a special souvenir. Back at the hostel we had our dinner. Then to bed as most of the pilgrims wanted to arrive in Burgos the next day. In bed I massage