Sep 22: Lumps and Bumps
SuperTrip2_2026 Blog Post.
2026_2 BLOG
9/22/20262 min read
I manage to poison myself at least once on a Camino. Along with blisters and heat exhaustion, it’s just part of the process. On our sneaky September Francés 2025, I unwisely foraged what I thought was a cherry, but was, probably a cherry laurel. At least, following a night of shakes, nausea and purging, that’s what I am going with. I’m the previous trip, I have an ignominious anecdote about running from the trail with a packet of wet wipes - the least said about that the better. This time, the beautiful creamy burrata I had on Sunday’s pasta was ooey, gooey and, in retrospect, likely also unpasturised.
I spent the night enduring what Google confirmed were ALL the symptoms of “severe Staphylococcus food poisoning”. On Monday, I went to bed as soon as we got in around 3:30pm. I slept like the dead until evening, then promptly broke out in hives all over. A few mosquito bites served to tip my system upside down. I felt my throat closing up and contemplated using my epi-pen, although that didn’t prove necessary. Even so, I had to wake Carey up around midnight, putting the light on to hunt for antihistamines. I was so grumpy, I immediately tried to pick a fight. Even exhausted, he was not having it. Swollen, scarlet and burning up, I can still recognize how lucky I am my life-partner will not respond in kind!
People gawked today. My right eye was swollen almost shut. I definitely shocked the café owner when I ordered our coffees mid-morning! My pack’s shoulder straps chaffed my hives raw. My left hand was/is the site of 3 bites and twice the size of my right. After pounding the antihistamines, I am getting better. The combination of the cold, food poisoning, bites set off an immune response cascade that is still uncomfortable and unpleasant.
I had 2 similar systemic reactions earlier this year. And, I’ve had 2 full allergy testing panels. Nothing popped. The specialist says maybe my body is over-reacting to an infection: as a diagnosis, this is useless. We will have to figure it out. Even on this busy trail, we are often quite far from help and neither of us have enough Spanish to successfully negotiate an ER, although we have good insurance.
Carey too has had 3 very rough nights, unable to breathe properly due to his cold. He also has a bad blister on his left foot. Camino reminds you that you are human, living in a body that you must move across the landscape and keep safe within it. Something always goes wrong. Eventually, you heal up, recover – until you don’t. We are traveling so extensively right now because we know it is a closing window of opportunity. These episodes only reinforce how limited our time is. They remind us to seize the day and be grateful. Today’s walking song was Psalm 118: “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad.”
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Inspired by our 2024 Camino Francais, Karen has a periodic podcast called "I sent you a bloody boat", personal thoughts on faith by a person who believes in thinking. Also, known as "The Reluctant Christian". You can listen to it on Spotify and on Apple Podcasts at: