Don’t mess with Tradition

We’ve found the bar that has taken over from Swany’s – or the back room in the Ox – as the smokiest bar in Europe.

It’s fantastic – you take 16 Spaniards on their lunch hour – like mine 20 mins – put them in a bar – give them a deck of cards per foursome and watch all 16 light up.

The room reminds me of the movies in the 50’s.

On the road today I was reminded of all those westerns as the dust was swirling and all you could think of was that hot tub and a bottle of Tequilla – well maybe a glass of water and a shave, a foot massage and someone – under 100 kilos – to check your chaffing and administer any prescription.

Talking of prescriptions, you don’t want to get ill here. It costs a fortune for fart cure never mind a real ailment. Simon has visited the Pharmacia twice and each time left with our weeks accomodation and food allowance blown on the latest herbal medicines.

Fair play, it passes the weight test and its slowed him down immensely. Simon now carries a rucsac and medicine cabinet which he puts in a shopping trolley we picked up in the junkyard just outside Burgos..

The junkyard incidentally was full of very valuable items but Saturday was not the day to say that one man’s junk is another man’s gold. We had every intention of lightening our load by going to the casino but were fortunate in failing to find the entrance by some 40kms. Apparently its in another town.

Leon – yes – Leon – a big city with an even bigger casino. If I stop Simon running we’ll be there on Saturday – if I don’t I hope his string holds strong on the shopping trolley I’m sitting in.

 
Meanwhile back on the camino or “life of blisters” as the film makers have called it we have identified a new leader for our fundamentalist splinter organisation and his name is Simon Wodewick Kettles.

Apologies to Monty Python but as we search for our holy grail we decided we needed a leader – especially now our new friend Nick is going for a bus tomorrow to Leon. We’ll catch him in 5 days – no worries but only if Si leads. If I lead we’ll reach Santiago by April.

www.500m.wordpress.com is the blog for Si and Al as they walk 500 miles across Spain to raise money for CHAS. Please read and comment.

CHAS is a children’s hospice and all donations are gratefully received. www.justgiving.com/deadbeat

Day 16. A new slimline Al strides into town

Al sporting his latest piece of headwear

Day 14. Man in the middle of nowhere

Day 16 – Fromista to Carrion De Los Condes

Cant remember where i finished yesterday. Suffice to say had good meal and okay kip in refuge. There was some poor lady opposite who coughed all and kept Al awake but not I. The benefits of drinking enough before hand do work.

Today was an easy stroll along a straight road for 20k. Nice path, not to hard on the ol´feet. It was cloudy and pretty chilly also which made us feel right at home.

Stopped firstly at Revenga de Camion ( great name) for chocolate, and then again for bocadillas con chorizo and queso (fiver for first correct translation) at Villalcazar de Sirga.

On the way out we met Nick, the Aussie and had some banter before leaving him to struggle on. He wears bright orange socks which match Al´s bright orange t-shirt. Nuff said!

Reached Carrion by 12.30am and booked into hostel. The owner gave us a glass of vino tinto whilst doing the paperwork and taking our cash.

Now doing what we usual do when not walking.. Go on have a wild guess!

Manana Amigos

50 – not out!

We´ve made it to the halfway house – and what a joy as we strolled into town at noon. Shops were open, B & Bs were open and had baths, we were smelling and the deal was done. 39 euro gets you a good clean in a hot tub, twin beds in case the diet´s not working and you need space, but most importantly nobody else.

Last night i got to sleep at 6.30am, I know this as it was precisely one minte after I´d said to Si – “Fat coughig french woman – time of death 6.29am – by Al with a pillow in the dorm”.

 I dont know why I waited so long. She had a particular condition bought on by walking 250 miles when fat and unfit – sound familiar? – but hers was a breath, followed by a short breath, followed by a small cough, then a large cough then silence – well not quite.

I think she was doing a rosary in her sleep and one bead would fall off the string on to the floor – roll down the dorm and make a nice clang against the metal leg of our bunk beds.

 This cycle took only 1 minute 47 and I started having a spread bet with myself as to whether it would be over or under 107 – when the make up was 134 seconds I thought “shit, I could have got to sleep”.

There was one other sleep inducing opportunity, when she went to the toilet. She didn´t walk, more slid across the floor as if the legs were too heavy or maybe she liked to clean the floor with the soles of her feet. This glide across the floor, well actually it sounded like she was sanding the floor, took 3 minutes 42 and I definitely missed my opportunity to nod off.

But back to the present – we hae nae meat so cannae eat so we´re aff tae buy some!