Today’s walk was mostly about keeping my head down and focusing on the trail in front of me, one step at a time. I didn’t take many …

Today’s walk was mostly about keeping my head down and focusing on the trail in front of me, one step at a time. I didn’t take many pictures. Step by step, I got myself incrementally closer to Santiago de Compostela.

I gave up winging my stages the night I was 27th in line for 30 beds at the only albergue in town. Since then, I’ve been planning my stages several days out, making reservations along the way. I’ve lost the spontaneity of being able to stop wherever I want, but I’ve gained the peace of mind of knowing I won’t be sleeping on a park bench.

According to my plan, I have one more long, hard day like the last three, followed by an easy six-miles stroll into Santiago de Compostela Wednesday morning.

Today’s walk, while certainly exhausting, wasn’t as bad as the prior two days, and it was slightly shorter. I over-corrected on the hunger problem, stopping for lunch when I smelled grilled meat, ending up at a restaurant that seemed popular with truckers, trying in vain to finish a protein-rich menu of the day. It was the first time since arriving in Spain that I’ve left any food on the plate, even if I didn’t particularly like it.

I also had my own room last night, and I got a great night’s sleep. I’m sure that helped me a lot today. It probably won’t happen again until I’m back in France.