A day in the life of a modern day Pilgrim

We are not really sure that you have the picture of just what is involved in our daily life...so here is a little insight just to set you straight.
Awake at 6.00am when the first eager pilgrim wants to take off, usually to plastic bags rustling.
We are amongst the last to get up. Most places you have to be our by 7.30 or 8.00am.
We stay in our sleeping bags and put on our undergarments(!) if they have been removed at night due to sweating. Could be hot , could be cold , you never know. Should have left the PJ´s at home!!
Then we can get out of our bags, still lying down, put on another layer of clothing, all the while trying to forget that there are about 20 other blokes in the room in various states of undress!!! Lets just say they are not as modest as us, don´t use your imagination here!
Michele then puts on deoderant and reminds Chris to do the same. Reluctantly she does, most times! We then go to do teeth next to some man doing morning abulutions!!!
Next, pack sleeping bag and stuff everything you are not wearing in to the pack. Then unpack again as you have forgotton to fill the water bladder up!


Then to the boot room to pick out your smelly pair,usually the last 2 pairs sitting there! Hang sandals on the outside of your pack along with any wet undies and socks that have not dried overnight, that is if we could have been bothered to wash them the night before.
Now to feed ourselves..we would kill for a pot of tea ...find the nearest bar/cafe that is open.. yes they are all smokey at this hour of the morning!
Cafe con Leche Grande and Tostados with jam and something they call butter.
Choke it all down and then we are on the way. walk about 2kms and find out it is either too hot, too cold, too wet for what you are wearing and you need to strip off/add something, whatever.So of course then we stop and have to take off the back packs and start again.
Then we need the maps because we dont know where we are going..and try to guess where the next coffee stop will be. Then we might want a tissue, try to remember who has them and on what side of whos pack.


Then we need the lip gloss ..same senario again, turtles turning in circles comedy act!


All we have to do is follow the yellow arrows and we are right. When fellow pilgrims ask where we are headed for that night we just say "the town that starts with...." What ever we say is never pronounced right..Chris sometimes gets it..Michele hasn´t a hope..but says she will learn French or German when she is home instead!



Ok have worked up a thirst/sweat need to find a bar pronto. Great one nearby where we meet up with fellow pilgrims exchange horror stories about where we spent the night/enjoyed(?) dinner etc. Only joking it is all the most amazing adventure. Check the time, is it really 11am already - have we only walked 6km with 24k´s to go??



Sun is over the yard arm and Michele is already discussing possible vino tinto venues up ahead. Many pilgrims have shots in their coffees and beers all before 10am (outrageous!!) Must add here all the truck/taxi drivers have a slug of something as well.



Lunch is generally around 2pm, timing is the key as you need not to be in the middle of a forest/meadow/meseta/industrial estate or mountain top. also it needs to be someplace mentioned on a map otherwise they are all very busy having their siesta´s.



Have progressed past ordering a ham cheese bocadilla and moved onto tortilla patata with ensalada which is a perfect compliment to the vino tinto. Can even order sin or con onion - how clever we have become!! Sometimes we have had wonderful picnics in amazing locations. That requires prior planning, a visit to the supermarkado and actually carrying it all with you. Its a struggle, day half over still a long way to the nights destination. Divide the number of k´s left to travel by 4 (our average k´s per hour) then guesstimate our arrival time. This system accurate to the nearest 3hours. It doesn´t take into account the number of chats/vinos/loo´s you stop for.


Now the important part of the day, finding a bed and feeding ourselves (again) and showering. You will have to check back for the next installment on this. (Will talk you thru a communal shower!!)