8th June Martin

 

8th June ‘Martin’   Santullan to Laredo 36km

In the film "The Way", one that I am sure inspired many arm chair walkers to contemplate undertaking a Camino walk to Santiago, following a family tragedy Martin Sheen just decides on the spur of the moment that he is going to undertake the 800km journey from St Jean de Pier port. 

He is approximately my age, has a level of fitness that will get him round 9 holes of golf, he is using borrowed kit and more importantly borrowed shoes/boots. None of which seem to be a hindrance to undertaking such a challenge 

And so over the next month or so, the film doesn't really give a precise time frame, Martin and his three Wizard of Oz like companions, all have a jolly, effortless time walking to Santiago, with not an ache, strained muscle or blister in sight. The walking is fun, carefree and generally just a Sunday stroll across Spain. And whilst I love the film dearly for a whole host of reasons , it is also very far removed from reality.

Today, exactly a week since I set off from Irun, I did (just) 36 very long, very hard and very tiring kms. Arriving at my hostel I barely had the energy to get undressed before getting in the shower, where alternate  blasts of scalding and ice cold water has never felt so good.

Being Sunday, rural Spain was even more asleep/shut than usual, meaning that in a Sunday stroll from 7am until just after 5pm, I encountered just two locations that were open to get something to eat or drink. Martin Sheen on the other hand is having goat's cheese, pintos, bocadilloes and beer at every drink and turn.

Whilst this has been fantastic so far, it has also been at times really hard work. My feet are sore, my calorie intake certainly isn't catching what I am burning, and my pack appears to be getting heavier. Having left the Basque country behind and entered the region of Cantabria, I had hoped that the walking might become easier. It appears that what I have exchanged is muddy forest hills and treacherous trails for concrete rural roads and cobblestone descents. 

I wonder if it’s too late to switch over to the Martin Sheen version?


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