Burgos to Burgos, 200 metres 

The last few days have been pretty full-on, from the ankle down in particular, so with a few perfectly synchronised words of advice coming in overnight from my UK support crew, I decided it might be time for a rest day.  

Looking back now, a good 14 hours wiser, I’m not sure why it was such a difficult or emotional decision, but have to admit to a few tears as I sent Gonzalo, Daphne and Silvana on their way. 

There was, however, one perfect moment as Sil and I were saying goodbye when we started chatting to an Irish girl who had grown up in Australia. Silvana finally got to practice the ‘G’day mate’ I had been coaching her on for the past few days – went down a treat and was just what we needed for both of us to go our own way with a smile on our face. 

The logistics of a day off are a little complicated when you have to be out of the albergue by 8am. I had planned to walk to the edge of town and find either another albergue or a hotel there, but was feeling a little fragile so ended up walking all of 200 metres up the road before poking my head in the door of a rather nice establishment, working out they had a room I could take there and then and booking myself in.  I only thought to ask how much it was after the fact (ouch!) but with most of the albergues averaging about €7 in this stretch, am hoping the budget will cope. 

 From that point on, today has been a delightful combination of sloth and laziness – all of it gloriously boot and backpack free.  I have managed two baths, a shower, reading in the park, a pizza in a lovely cafe by the river, a visit to the absolutely stunning Burgos Cathedral and quite a few hours napping. Soul and stomach are officially replenished and my feet actually look like my feet again (still with perfect pedicure intact). Will see how they go tomorrow when I slip the boots back on …