Camino Day 27: Rabanal to Molinaseca
“Some days there won’t be a song in your heart. Sing anyway.”
Day 27: 28.4 kilometres - 42,174 steps
I am sick. Woke up with gastro but I desperately want to walk. I keep thinking of Max who walked in Nepal even while vomiting on the side of the road – I can do it surely? I am strong. I get dressed and put on my pack.
Sylvie decided yesterday not to walk today because there is a steep long downhill section. Today we cross the highest peak on the Camino and the Iron Cross. It’s important for me to place my stone and my sisters stone at the base of the cross. Checkout is not until 11am so I go back to bed hoping I will feel better. I don’t. It’s now 10.30 am. Sylvie wants to call a cab to take her to Molinaseca. I take some Gastro-stop but its not helping. I try walking 100m but I can’t make it, so I agree to taking the taxi.
I am so disappointed. The taxi twists and turns up the mountain road and all around see ABSOLUTELY STUNNING views. Purple heather and Spring Wildflowers everywhere. Herds of cattle grazing against breathtaking backdrops and I feel TERRIBLE. I want to cry.
The kind taxi driver stops at the Iron Cross so I can drop my stones. I am so embarrassed getting out of the taxi in front of the 20+ pilgrims who have walked here. Even the one-legged pilgrim is lying on the grass watching me. I drop the stones, take a quick photo, but I feel so ill. I walk into the woods to vomit. I return to the taxi – he drives a little slower now.
We get to the hotel – I need to lie down NOW. The staff are worried about me, they make me a horrible effervescent drink, force me to drink it one go. I have no strength to resist! Big mistake, I race to the bathroom and it all comes up, then crash on the bed for the rest of the day. I want to go back and walk the trail but I can hardly walk up the stairs.
I call Ben and Emma. Ben says if he were here he would take care of me – I want him to be here. He also says Gastro is good to get – better than flu which could last for days or a sprained ankle which could finish my Camino. He is right of course – just talking to him makes me feel better. Sylvie is an excellent nurse, the perfect mix of attention – fresh water, toast from the kind staff downstairs, hydrolytes and fresh pillowcases, and leaving me alone to rest.
Late in the afternoon I go timidly downstairs to sip a coke (great for gastro - it will kill any bugs) with our crew. Nat is still here – he can’t leave this gorgeous town either! I farewell him (again!) go back to bed and leave the others to enjoy dinner.
