Thanks for your replies yes I looked at the possibility of the starting to walk shorter stages or less popular stopping points (staying an extra night in Pamplona wasn’t an option at £60 a night) it seemed to me in checking the web that pilgrims were travelling in waves and I seemed to be caught in one but I’ve learned from that. I guess what I was meaning in my op was that the Camino is more than just a really long walk, it’s a mixture of physical, mental and emotional and that making a change to your normally well worked out plans is not a failing, it’s just a plan b and a plan b sometimes just adds to the adventure. I’m back at home now and I’ve already got the
Brierley in front of me with the diary out. Part one was shorter than I hoped but part two (plan b) is just around the corner
as an aside on my return home I was able to offer a bed in my room to a pilgrim who couldn’t find anywhere to sleep and my poles to a young woman who discovered hers were broken as she was leaving the albergue to start, so maybe I was supposed to head back and assist other pilgrims