Mio el Camino de Santiago de Compostela -18

Day 18 Sarria --> Arzua


With one day spent for rest and no more days to spare with my Schengen visa, I was determined to go up to Santiago de Compostela today. It's foggy outside but it promised a sunny day. I left the hotel early but as soon as I started to climb uphill, my sweat just won't stop dripping all over my face. Since the first day of my cycling I wore scarf on my head before wearing a helmet to catch the sweat. Today, not only was my forehead sweating, I could feel it coming from the top of my head and it's literally pouring all over my face. I was convinced I was still sick.


But I should go on. Up until noon everything was going as planned. At around 2pm however, the heat has gone up to a scorching degree that I felt I had used up all my energy and I couldn't pedal anymore…on a flat road!


I consumed all my drink because of the heat. Fortunately I saw a bar. I stopped and ordered myself a cold beverage. I rested for about 15 minutes and then I continued on my way. I kept my focus to reach my destination today. Pedal, pedal, pedal... I kept on and on.


When I looked at my watch, it was already past 7pm but the sun was still so high and so was the heat. I had to stop every 10m, not minutes but meters, to cool off.


I felt not progressing as I had hoped. For the first time, I gave up. I didn't reach my day's goal, which would require at least 3 more hours at my current pace. So I got in to the nearest hostel in the humble town of Arzua. My stomach was still empty. I ate dinner at the bar downstairs but I still couldn't take down food well and was feeling a little dizzy. I did my best to get sleep despite my growling upset stomach. Lying down, I thought I was being delirious and was out of my mind. I kept thinking and dreaming of eating banana as this has been my custom to naturally fix my upset stomach.


I was dreaming of eating bananas.
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Mio el Camino de Santiago de Compostela -16

Day 16 Villafranca --> Sarria


Great weather today.


But then I remembered, it's April Fool's day. I thought I shouldn't be fooled by the fine looking weather.


Daylight savings time was being implemented so I couldn't leave until 8am because it was still dark. I had a long mountainous climb up until past noon. I was cycling until the early afternoon but it was still rather cold.


But after having a break and eating my lunch, the temperature rose. It became so hot that my inner shirt was soaked with sweat. Up there in the open road I changed to a simple T-shirt and it felt so refreshing. The view from O'Cebreiro at an altitude of more than a thousand meters was magnificent.


After a few more minutes, my descent began and it was a long way down. I wasn't sure if it was the good weather but the views were so stunning that I thought I was merely floating. Even with the wind blowing in my ears, I could still hear the birds singing. The scene that I could hardly describe in words are still so vivid in my mind. It's like an unforgettable dream. Only that it was real.


So smooth the ride that I arrived earlier than scheduled in Sarria. I was happy and contented. Thankful that I did not encounter any difficulty in today's leg. I searched for an albergue with a private room, or a room with 2 person maximum occupancy but there was none or was already occupied. So I checked myself in a business hotel.


Since the sun was still high, I walked around and did some food shopping to eat on the road for the next days ahead. While browsing for food, my eyes fixated on the yummy looking deep fried pork cracklings. I bought 2 packs, together with the smallest bottle of vinegar available, which was actually a big 500ml, to dip in the fried bits. I knew I was up for a food fiesta tonight.


When I got back to the hotel, I turned the TV on and watched while eating the fried pork bits. I looked at what I bought and found out that I forgot to buy some drinks. Good thing they had coca-cola in the hotel fridge. The yummy pork cracklings and the soda I nursed with it immediately made me feel full and sleepy.


Then around midnight, I felt like throwing up. Without opening my eyes, I tried to raise my pillows thinking that maybe I had eaten too much. But an hour later, I felt really sick and when I went to the bathroom I threw up. A lot.


Relieved and still sleepy, I went back to bed. A few minutes passed, however, I felt sick again. I got to the bathroom and threw up again. And again. And again. I was throwing up all night.


I didn't get away with April Fool's after all.
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