There was an absolute ton of rain lastnight and it was so heavy it was hitting the ground and bouncing back up under the tent. My tent was drenched inside and out and absolutely caked with mud. It was only 6am and i was already up packing my things and eating breakfast which has become my nice little routine on this hiking trip. It was cold and wet when I went for a pee that instead of going to toilet I just peed from my tent entrance - ahh well this is nature after all. It was horrible trying to pack a wet and muddy tent - hands were all dirty and freezing cold and in the end it took me nearly two hours after trying to scrape off as much mud as possible and get things neatly packed. After using the camp hole toilet I started walking and as expected I had massive pains in my legs when walking up and down the hills and really didn't know how I would make it to the next campsite. I stopped every 30 minutes to drink and eat to try give myself energy but it didn't seem to work. On a brighter note i did do some beautiful bridge crossings and actually nearly fell of one as the legs were still jelly like. Luckily it was only a short distance today but I was nervous about making it as leg muscles continued killing me.
Continued with my break and snack routine - awsome views of glacier grey but mind was preoccupied - it really has turned into a race against body failure and not so enjoyable any more.
I also cant stop thinking how heavy my pack is and how I wish I didn't have to lug it anymore. I finally arrived at 12:30 and met Belgium friends who had stayed at the campsite lastnight and they were going on to the next site now and encouraged me to do the same.
I decided first to get all my stuff out and dry it - specially my tent and then went and cooked some lunch in the wonderful indoor facilities. Having noodles and tuna for lunch - hit the spot perfectly and I then went to go and pack things again as I would go on to next site and then the sun was shining and I was like what the hell I will stay here. I set my tent up slowly and dried the rest of things and then made my way 20 minutes down the hill out to the view point and my leg muscles were once again really sore - good thing I didn't try continue. The mind is a crazy thing! The mirador was breathtaking - I got some photos and managed to find a place out of the wind with some nice sun to watch the beautiful bright blue glacier with the snow covered mountains in the background. Why walk when you can sit and look at beautiful scenery like this. Charged phone and went for a delightful shower - must have been in there 1 hour or so and so nice to be clean and warm again. I went to tent to cook dinner again - having fried salami chunks with soy mince, mushrooms and carrot soup for flavoring. Whilst cooking dinner my two American friends invited me over to drink a glass of red wine and watch sunset with them which was nice. We had a great chat and enjoyed some Chilean wine before calling it a night.
There were loads of young yobbos at Refugio Grey and even in the middle of the campground the guys partied all night; drinking, swearing and yelling to the early hours. I took a sleeping pill as I really needed to sleep.