26th June Proclaim
Back in the 8th century, the prophet Isaiah proclaimed 'How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Maybe, but I am not so sure that the same could be said about the feet that walk the Camino. They could be described as battered, bruised, blistered and generally buggered yes, but beautiful no.
Forget your knees, hips or back, feet are without question the part of your anatomy that takes the most brutal pounding. Step after step, mile after mile, day after day, week after week. If your feet are good, then the walk is good. If not...ouch, aagh.
In albergues across Spain, everday after slipping off shoes, hobbling to the shower and easing some of the immediate discomfort, almost everyone can be seen beginning their trotter treatment. Tape and plasters are attached, lotions, ointments and unguents are applied, toenails inspected and as importantly counted.
By the end of this trip I will have walked approximately 750km or 466 miles and believe me my 'plates of meat' have been through the ringer. Blisters have come and gone. Red raw skin has been calmed. Toes have been tamed. Thankfully now after 26 days of walking, my shoes, well if you'll excuse thebpun, they finally fit me like a glove.
I am now tape, plaster and Compede free and can actually say that walking is a joy. I'm not sure if it helps or not but despite being washed every day, my socks now appear to dry in a shape comparable to my feet shape. I can even tell if I have put the left sock on the right foot.
Now back in 1988 twin brothers Charlie and Craig Reed made another proclamation, perhaps not as biblical but certainly one tha has become ingrained in popular culture. In one of their most famous songs, one which many people will not realise is actually called 'I'm gonna be', voices will join together in a mass sing along, as people proclaim that 'I would walk five hundred miles. And I would walk five hundred more. Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles. To fall down at your door.'
Well let me tell you as the man who has almost completed 500 miles of walking, I'm not too sure the boys or 'The Proclaimers' as they are better known, know just what they are letting themselves in for. Let's hope as they set off on their marathon challenge that they are able to channel their inner Nancy Sinatra and ensure that they have 'boots made for walking ' Otherwise it's gonna be one painful journey.
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