El Camino on a Wrecked Ankle

Catina Noble's *Cat's Journals* are anything but notes on an easy life. Once again, Catina Noble takes us on a journey of determination and courage, this time on the El Camino. Alone. With blisters and a twisted ankle.The guy beside me on the top bunk, Jamie, noticed my ankle. Mentioned he used to be a doctor and that my ankle looked really bad. He told me, if I weren't so close to the finish line, he would definitely advise me to stop.He offered to spray it with some sort of antiseptic stuff that would create a seal all over the blistered area and it would be good for at least twenty-four hours, maybe longer.That sounded great to me but he also advised me that when he sprayed my ankle, it would hurt like hell for a minute or two so to prepare myself.I prepared myself.He didn't lie to me.It did hurt.I screamed into my pillow.