Post Camino stuff

[Russ Irwin]

Gabrielle,

>May was a grand time to walk, wasn't it?  I forgot to ask you, after you
>stopped walking, what did you do, where did you go?

I didn't "completely" quit in Belorado. I wanted to give it one long shot last chance since I  knew
that my backpack was the cause of my problems. I took the bus to Burgos that morning planning on
spending two days there to rest up and find a sporting goods store to buy another backpack. I did
find a backpack that did what I now knew had to be done. It had a good internal suspension and, more
importantly for me now, it had padding that had an open space down the middle to keep any pressure
*away* from my spine. It was a much better backpack and only cost about a third of what I had paid
for my origional in the U.S.

I spent two nights in Burgos at a hostel which only cost 2,000 pesetas/night. I liked Burgos and
even ran into a few of the friends that I had made over the past couple of weeks. I then set out the
next morning happy to be back on the road again. Too late though.  After about 7 Km the pain in the
top of my back began to flare up again with a fury. The damage to my back had already been done and
even the best fitting backpack wasn't going to help it now :-(  I took the bus back to Burgos from
where I was at and, as luck would have it, there was another bus leaving for Leon in 10 minutes. I
quickly bought a ticket and just made it on the bus. In Leon I found another hostel for 2,000
pesetas/night. I didn't like this hostel though, and for reasons I don't even understand, I didn't
particularly like Leon, so I only stayed there one night.

The next morning I went to the train station in Leon (only 2 blocks from where I was staying) and
bought a ticket for Santiago. Riding the train, to me at least, was much nicer than the bus. It was
about a 6 hour train ride to Santiago, and I ended up getting a room at the Hostel Mapoula for 4,500
pesetas/night. I initally balked at the price - until I was shown the room. It was immaculate, and
even better it had it's own private bathroom and shower. This was the first time since I had left
home that I had my own private bathroom! I couldn't belive such luxury - I felt like some kind of a
King!  I will definitely stay there again, and it is only about a 10 minute walk to the catherdal. I
spent four nights there before coming home. I really liked Santiago and did go to the noontime mass
at the cathedral where they actually swung that giant incense burner!

>Will you jump again soon?

I'm planning on it! :-)

Blessings,
Russ