Woke up early and enjoyed a hot shower to prepare this dinosaur body for some more pain. My friend Zowie stuck his head out the window and said, looking good, my reply was pigs might fly. As he prepared his bike for take off, we said our good byes as we would never see each other again. I walked to the edge of the village under cloud, but not like it has been. Freezing cold, but maybe no rain. The first couple of ks pleasant. Then a huge climb. No complaints as still no rain. Then, you couldn’t see the clouds, I was in them. I didn’t stop at the first village, as that big climb in the freezing conditions would have made me sick had I eaten or had a drink. Besides, the climb kept going. It was at least five kilometres. The track was atrocious but manageable at this stage, however, some pilgrims taking to the road. I’d rather the track as vision was poor. The next chance for food was idyllic. An open air cafe under an awning which had a roaring fire going. I stopped here and caught up with Ollie and some other familiar faces. With a cup of my favourite thick chocolate and a tomato relish baguette, I was ready to tackle again. The next section was more down than up, but the track was deteriating more. I caught up with Helen and Mark at the next cafe, and we walked, or I tried to, steeply on a track that was near impossible to handle for the last ten ks. At this point I decided to put my knee brace on as my knee was starting to hurt. I also took a tablet. I didn’t know what I was in for, so I tried to prepare the best I could. The  mud, loose rocks, steepness, man a lot of the track had washed away.Could not have attempted this section had it been raining. Many pilgrims took a fall. With about two kilometres to go,I was starting to doubt whether I could get to the bottom. My knees were screaming, and my back was starting to go,and I could feel my body leaning to the right. Mark was concerned for my well-being and kept behind me reassuring me. At about one k to go, I took a fall as my legs now felt like jelly and I was starting to struggle. Mark offered to carry my pack,I don’t know how, as he had his own. He adjusted my straps as with all the swaying from side to side had loosened them. I staggered and finally the last few hundred metres became easier. When we reached the village, and it was an absolutely beautiful village, I was happy to see a bar. When I sat down, a dutchie, Gerard saw the pain in my eyes and handed me the beer he had just bought for himself. I took off my socks and shoes and singlet and we sat there and had beers for the next hour or two sucking in the beautiful sunshine on offer. We spoke about lots of things, and when football came up, he was blown away when I told him Johny Metgod is my cousin,as in his words, Johny Metgod is a football god and is his hero. By now, I’m starting to feel human again. Mark and Helen had found their accommodation, showered, and returned and went to explore this gorgeous village. As it turned out, Gerard was staying in the same hostal as me, and we were having trouble with the self check in system. Eventually, I got in to my room for a well deserved hot shower. As I was lazing on the bed, I got a message from a very dear friend Inge, who I met three years ago, on a different camino. She has been walking and going back to Holland on Friday. I am so proud to call her my friend as she took a bus to come here to catch up with me. I gave her a big hug and we joined Helen and Mark for dinner. I felt a  bit embarrassed, as straight after dinner, my body needed to get rest,and I headed back to my room, and can’t remember my head hitting the pillow. Tomorrow morning I will start late, as I will join Inge for breakfast.