Preparing for the pilgrimage to Santiago De Compostela - 3 If it's not one thing it's another To distract myself from the problems of my feet I went and bought my back pack. I wanted to get one with lots of pockets and high on practicality, the reality was that the only one that was really comfortable had no pockets, but I opted for comfort and this has proved to be a good thing and we seem to be getting on fine. I have been drawing some strange looks walking along the beach with a back pack on but who cares! A pain in the tooth During this time I had a problem with an infected nerve in a tooth, so off I went for emergency treatment at the dentist. Despite being an emergency and my explaining that I was off on this walk, the earliest appointment they would give me was 10 days hence. Unable to eat or sleep I had to find another dentist and we decided to try the easy solution before resorting to an operation. Now on a course of antibiotics, something I normally avoid like the plague, I discovered that they didn't agree with my stomach and I could feel my energy draining daily. Driving me crazy Just to make sure that my time was fully occupied on anything but the walk ahead of me, my car began to develop a problem and had to go to the garage 5 times before they finally solved the problem. I spent at least 2 occasions, wasting 4 hours, killing time waiting for them to resolve the problem. With clear instructions, at 8 am, that I had to have the car by 11.15, as I had to get to Barcelona for a medical treatment, I finally blew my top at 12.45 and demanded my car or a car hire, the stress was finally getting to me.	Now I understand the look on his face. Blisters!
	Getting to a stage of trauma It's got to the stage where there are only 5 days to go, I've put on the old faithful shoes and walked for the first time, but I still don't have any shoes to wear for the walk itself. I am now getting to a stage of trauma. I went to pick up my special blister kit and preparations from the physio only to discover that the order hasn't been placed. Today is Friday, the earliest they can place the order is Monday, I leave Wednesday and Tuesday's a national holiday. I should have expected it, things are no longer upsetting me, I'm way past that. Ugly but comfortable Finally, Friday evening, I've found a pair of shoes that I think might do the job, they are not proper walking shoes but made of soft leather with a reasonable sole and they are ugly! They are not designed for the purpose, but having seen that blisters are the one thing that cause the most problems, and are the main reason why some people have to give up, I've gone for comfort. After wearing them round the house all day Saturday and not experiencing any problems I went out today in them and forgot I was even wearing them. Hopefully the tide has turned Tomorrow I have a list of all the things I need to buy before I leave that I haven't been able to get before now, then it is down to packing and the goodbyes. Relaxed it hasn't been, but I hope that all the problems have happened now and the walk will pass without a hitch, but there again if nothing else I've learnt to expect that things won't run smoothly.

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Tadeusz Sieracki Javea 2001-2003 (unless otherwise stated) - All rights reserved - Do not copy without permission