journeying

Hi everyone, here's what I've been up too since my last blog of to be continued a while back...... I had many factors on the decisions I made over the time spent on contemplation of my pilgrimage up until and whilst staying in the city of Leon, so here goes in my explanation of firstly the lessons I learn't and then what I decided to do next, I hope you all enjoy. Firstly I realized I had damaged both of my feet by overworking my ligaments that ran across both arches,I also had a couple of bad blisters and a very sore corn on my little toe,and couldn't see the point of carrying on walking towards Santiago in excruciating pain as the Camino will always be here. Secondly up until this point of my pilgrimage in the middle of the winter, the weather I encountered was somewhat harsh exposed to the elements but probably no different to any other winter on the Camino, I found the trail quite solitary at many times along its route which was great for inner exploration but not so good for the fact many albergies were shut after a long cold days walk, and others that said on my guide sheet that they would be open ,clearly were not when I arrived so I would then have to trek sometimes maybe another 10k to find somewhere to rest for the night which in irony was what did the damage to my feet. I then took the decision to head back to the UK and heal my body by getting a train to Madrid then a plane out of Spain. As I write this blog my rucksack is sitting next me here at home packed and almost ready to go,I have ordered and I'm just waiting for delivery a new pair of walking poles, and also lightened my loads a bit by streamlining the innards of my backpack slightly.I have been going to the gym for extended periods since coming back and doing extensive cardiovascular and weights training to improve my general stamina and strength,I have bought a great guide book a pilgrims guide to the Camino by a author called John Brierley,the maps in this guide are great and it also lists the lengths of each stage and also gives readers comprehensive information in many other ways. Although as mentioned earlier my backpack is packed and ready I have decided to go back and finish the pilgrimage in April because by then all the albergies along the way hopefully will be open,and I will have an entirely different experience meeting other pilgrims,hopefully the weather may be a bit kinder to me too. I have now put out to the universe to raise the very appreciated and needed cash to carry on this adventure and exploration, firstly to the city of Santiago then onto the coast at Muxia, then who knows where the wind will take me,as it's really not the destination that's important, it's the glory of the ride along the way. I will keep posting my thoughts and plans on here over the coming weeks, so please keep on popping back or subscribe to this post and you will receive a notification by email when I do. All donations to my cause humbly and gratefully received.