14 and 15 May 2023

Peñacastillo (minor accident)

The day after the accident I slept for almost 16 hours. I woke up to one of the saddest days I have had in a long time. I can’t explain. I got a shower in the afternoon and walked back the last steps before my accident. Had a bite and went back to sleep. 

The day after, and after playing over and over in my head what could have gone wrong, I decided to learn, correct, improve.  I went for a lighter backpack. I woke up early and went back to Santander for breakfast and then to the lovely outdoor store. I picked a 34L backpack (instead of the 70L I originally brought with me) and headed to the the post office to ship the old backpack to Santiago de Compostela where it would be held for me until I got there. I also got me trekking poles which I have never used. I appreciated the comfort and stability it provided my fellow pilgrims along the way. With the new gear, I went back to the hotel. Everything I had in the previous backpack, I managed to stuff in the new one.  I was now 1.9 kg lighter, with poles and a more manageable backpack. I was  ready to restart.