Today was horrible. I woke at 4:30am and felt ok I got myself ready and left the hostel, it was colder this morning then it had been in a long time. As I set off down the dark narrow streets I had my eyes peeled for a little place that I was told would be open from 5:30am for brekkie. I had already had some fruit and normally wouldn't stop for brekkie till I hit the first town but today there was a 17km stretch of dirt track ahead of me until I would reach anywhere for food or coffee. Much to my disappointment I didn't see the coffee shop or else it wasn't open as it was Sunday!

I set off anyway as i knew I could get through it but a little coffee really would have kickstarted my morning. Again it was one of those morning where the signs weren't that well posted, the last arrow I had seen was about 3km back and as much as I knew I was going in the right direction I still couldn't help but doubt myself. It's a horrible feeling when that happens and its pitch black and all you can do is pray that you see an arrow soon or if not you'll just have to walk back to where the last one was and set out again. Then out of know where there was the sign I shouted " YES, THANK YOU" I was so happy. As the sun began to rise behind me the clouds turned a shade of dusty pink it was like Candy floss in the sky all around me, it was just stunning. As I walked on I knew I wasn't going to be fed for at least another 11.6km but the only thing keeping me going was the fact that apparently during summer there is a mobile truck that is on that stretch selling coffee and snacks. The further I walked the more it became apparent that the truck wasn't going to be there, I knew I should have passed it already and then suddenly I remembered again it's Sunday!!

I just felt like I had been walking for hours and this strange feeling came over me that I'd not felt before along the way, I just wanted to sit down and chop my legs off(dramatic much!) Yes I had had blisters and a sore back through different stages of the journey but never had my legs felt tired or wanted to give up. I battled in my head as to what I could do( knowing I had to keep going as there was no other choice!) then at that very moment out of nowhere I turned my head and saw a sign that was nailed into a tree reading 'Don't quite before the miracle' call it what you may but it was just the sign I needed to keep going. Don't get me wrong it was still a difficult morning for me but that little sign gave me a lot of hope just when I needed it.

Finally over the top of the hill I could see the tops of houses, I had made it I had got to the first town and was now over the worst of today's walk. Calzadilla de la Cueza was where would I sit and refuel. As I approached I could see the German guy I had met a few days before sat having a coffee so I ordered food and sat with him for a while. As we sat and chatted I could see people just appearing over the top of the hill to descend onto the town for food also,yet while I was out there walking alone I couldn't see anyone for miles! I didn't delay so I knocked back the coffee and said G'day! It's amazing what food coffee and an Ibuprofen can do for you lol I was skipping along now, I kept thinking back to the walks I would do around Sydney with my friend Joanne and how we would just get up early and head off my brother Stephen used to think we were mental. It's funny though as I thought about it I realised some days we would walk 23km or more and even though we had bus stops along the way or the choice to grab a cab we never did, so this made me more determined to keep going and smash this one out for Joanne as I knew she'd be proud of me.

As I walked on I began to think of old friends that Iv lost contact with or the ones that I just grew apart from. I guess it's just a natural thing for people to change and move on in different directions and yes it's sad when it happens but sometimes things are just meant to be. As I thought about it more though I realised there are some old friends that you know you could just pick up the phone or bump into on the street and it would be as if nothing had ever changed.

As I approached Ledigos I realised I only had 3.4km left to go!! As I sat on a bench to apply some cream and just take a breather I met the Canadian lady whom I'd met two days before so we walked the last 3.4km together. I had planned to stay there tonight but as I approached I got this wave of energy and though 'fuck it' I'm going to walk on, I don't know if it was because I just had the energy or because the town I was meant to stop in would have been the half way mark from St. Jean to Santiago and In my head I just wanted to be able to say I'v made it just passed the halfway mark(I mean honestly the games you end up playing with yourself lol) So I walked on another 3.2 km and finally reached Moratinos and here I would stay for the day! I arrived just before midday after doing exactly 30km I was so chuffed with myself. I lay on the bed and feel asleep for nearly two hours which I'd never done before, normally I get straight in have a shower no then grab food but I knew I needed to rest and elevate the feet and legs.

I headed down for lunch around 3:30 after cleaning myself up, the sun was shining down on me as I sat and ate Spag Bol and drank red wine it was just Heaven. An Irish couple from the North came and sat with me they were so lovely, they had done the first part of the Camino about two years ago and had now come back to finish it. It was so refreshing to sit and listen to them chat and tell stories, I don't know what it is but something has to be said about the Irish and how being around them suddenly gives you a feeling of comfort like you've been transported back home no matter where you are in the world. *406.9km down *383.1km left to Santiago