When I signed up to walk the Camino for two weeks a year and a half ago, I was not exactly sure what I was getting myself into - a spiritual journey, a long walk in nature in Spain….
The group was being organized by my friend Rob, one of my favorite former colleagues from Asia Society. Rob had walked the entire French Camino – all 580 miles two years ago, and I had followed his posts and was totally awed by the beauty of his photographs and totally inspired by the physical achievement of completing the walk. The upcoming trip was being co-organized by St. Bart’s, with many parishioners of St. Bart’s joining Rob, as well as a few of his friends from other parts of his life.
I love to walk and admired Rob’s accomplishment, and had not been to this part of Spain, so I was in.
As the year unfolded and information about the trip was disseminated, I kept hearing Rob’s advice about footcare. l thought he was a little obsessed about feet and pooh poohed it. Yes, I have carried bandaids and some vaseline, but moleskin, tape, bandages, lambswool, toe socks, glide (what is that ?), sock liners, merino wool socks, silicone toes, Epsom salt….????
Little did I know that one week in, with 61 miles under my belt, after huge uphills and downhills on days 1, 2 and 3 of walking the Camino and in well – worn hiking shoes to boot (no pun intended) , I would also be down two toe nails, and two ER visits in Sarria (one for me and one for a friend also walking the Camino with the same toe nail issue). It was then that I would understand what Rob had been talking about!
The piercing of blood blisters under the toe nail with a paper clip (ouch!!!), let alone experiencing and seeing them (eewwww!!!) is not for the faint of heart. Hearing about the mechanics of the procedure from one of the doctors in our group, who had first - hand experience with this procedure, while waiting for the taxi to come to take us to the ER, is not for that faint of heart either.
And, it was only when I saw the nurse at the ER emerge from the examination room and reach for the paperclip at the reception desk, did I realize that our greatest fear for my friend was about to become a reality. My friend survived not only to tell the tale but also to walk the rest of the Camino.
But the reason one can walk immediately after said procedure, is because one wears open - toed hiking sandals with socks. Yes, I may look a little dorky, but, boy , is the freedom of the toes a wonderful thing while walking! And so, many in our group got the hiking sandal memo and have followed suit and are enjoying their walking of the Camino so much more, thanks to our wonderful guide Fran who is a total hiking sandal Camino walker.
Aside from toes and feet, the fascination with and constant discussion of body parts on the Camino is du jour - hips, knees, hamstrings, glutes, shins, heels, insteps, soles - as is the discussion of foot diseases and issues -- fascia plantitis being one that is most often afflicting many pilgrims, but I will leave that for another day…
I keep hearing that children’s song in my head as I am walking “head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes….” :)