Allison Cowie

Burgos to Rabé de las Calzadas / 8.76 miles

It felt SO good to be back on the trail today after three days in Burgos, where I recuperated from a cold. I eased into things today with an under-nine mile walk in case my symptoms returned, but I’m feeling healthy, strong, and ready to keep going! Tomorrow, I plan to log around 18 miles. I’m starting to see the Meseta unfold in front of me, which I’ve been looking forward to since the start. For the next ten days or so, I’ll mostly be walking through flat, golden farmland. I hope to see big skies and colorful sunrises and lots of empty trail around me.

My three days in Burgos were a necessary rest for my body, but a big challenge mentally. I’ve been on the trail for two weeks, and I still haven’t felt like I’ve hit my stride, or found a pace that feels fast enough to feel like I’m getting somewhere while slow enough to make my body last all the way to Santiago. It’s been demoralizing at times to see people almost 3x my age continuing forward with no rest days. I know I’m stronger than them physically, so I can’t help but think that I must be weaker than them mentally. I’m in the middle of a necessary lesson in hubris. Now that I’m walking again, I’m eager to prove to myself that I can get to Santiago and beyond without more rest days or tons of negative mental energy. I know I can do this! And as soon as I start walking for the day, I’m flooded with positive emotions and a desire to continue.