Alpriate to Vila Franca de Xira (14.50 miles/23.40 km)

Day 2 was both a long and short day. Long because with about two hours of sleep I was running on empty and couldn’t wait to stop. Fortunately the terrain was flat and the temperature fairly cool. Short because I got to Vila Franca and called it a day by 1:30 pm, which gave me plenty of time to do all my daily Camino chores and relax. After that I forced myself not to take a nap so that I could fall asleep easily tonight, and hopefully get over the jet lag.

The day did start early because of my rough night, as I was awake at about 4:00 am and waited until about 5:45 so to get up as to not wake the snoring crowd from England, France, New Zealand, and Brazil. Ha!

I was ready to have breakfast at the cafe at 6:30, but it wasn’t open until 7:00. A good breakfast is so noticeable in my energy level so I really wanted to eat. Nilton, or Doc as I call him, who is from Brazil, talked me into walking anyway. He’s actually a medical doctor and jokingly told me it’s healthier to not eat in the morning, but I don’t believe him.

So off we went at 6:30, without eating, and me with two hours of sleep. As spacey as I felt I figured an extra pair of eyes looking for those directional signs and arrows would keep us on track, and within a half hour we were lost! On a main highway with lots of traffic and no Camino signs anywhere! I think Doc was to busy talking. He obviously speaks Portugués, and stopping a motorist in the middle of the street got us back on track.

We started back on the Camino and within a few miles we were back in the city commercial area, and once again lost. We stopped and had breakfast and having a Portugués speaker got us back in the general direction of the traffic circle where we made the wrong turn. Ok, I am Wrong Way Ted, but trying to figure which way an arrow is pointing in a traffic circle is challenging.

Standing there scratching our heads, Doc went up to a woman exercise walking and asked for directions. Next thing we knew she was taking us on a short cut to the Camino. Through the commercial area and then on an elevator to a pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks. Unfortunately the elevator on the other side didn’t work so I had to gingerly ease the Wheelie down about three to four stories of stairs.

Once across we continued on a dirt jogging and bicycle trail through open fields were it connected with the Camino. Once there we gave our Camino angel a hug and thankful good bye.

From here the Camino ran parallel to the railroad tracks through several miles of open fields and then onto a paved path. Near the City of Alhandra it moved to a walkway that ran along the edge of the river and bay. That was beautiful and a great change.

I walked with Doc most of the day until I had to stop and on the Wheelie. Stepping off a high curb one of the straps connecting the waist belt to the Wheelie handles broke. Fortunately, I was able to tie off the strap and use it.

When I got to Vila Franca a little after noon and I wasn’t sure if I would be staying? Vila Franca only has two hostels and one hotel, and the next lodging was another twelve miles. I decided to continue on but after a mile I realized that I didn’t have the energy to go that far and turned around. A kind jogger stopped and gave me the same information about the hostels, hotel, and the other 20 km to the next lodging. That solidified my decision to stop here.

I was looking for the hostel, and must have had that lost look again, when kind woman stopped and asked me if I was looking for a hostel and pointed out the building. Shamefully, I had mentioned a few times that the Portugués didn’t seem open and friendly. And today I felt embarrassed after three kind people went out of their way to help.

The HostelJD is a beautiful old building and old buildings don’t have elevators, so my room was on the third floor. There are standard rooms with baths, and also shared dorm rooms with four to six beds. I picked a private room with a bath! And at €45 ($49) it is not bad since it includes breakfast.

It turned out Doc was staying here too and surprisingly he is in a dorm room. He says that he likes to feel the full Camino experience, even though he’s done eight different sections of various Caminos. Me, tonight I am loving my own room!

Doc and I went to a private restaurant for dinner that was reserved and paid for through the hostel. Our meals were locally caught fish, beautifully grilled, mashed potatoes, delicious all you can eat vegetable soup, salad, olives, bread, beer and desert, for €7.50 ($8.25).

Great food and fun company, all part of a Camino experience. Back to my room to write my blog and hopefully get a good night’s sleep, without any snoring.

Best wishes to all,

Ted

Please excuse the typos, spelling, grammar, etc., as I am typing this on my phone, and I am probably pretty tired.

If you would like to see the Alzheimer’s Association website and see our team page please go to:

act.alz.org/goto/tedstrek

Sunrise at 6:30 am on the Camino

Heading out in the morning

Doc approaching the bridge crossing the stream. This is where we finally got back on the Camino

Doc and our Camino angel walking on the pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks

The stairway up to the pedestrian bridge

Doc and I stopped for a break

It’s amazing the different places that the Camino runs through

The Camino on a new concrete path

The Camino along the harbor

The Camino along the river

Coming into Vila Franca after crossing on another pedestrian bridge over the railroad track. And again, the down elevator did not work.

HostelJD

My giant room. But it least it was without snorers!

Typical tiny bath in old hostels. If you are big your knees wouldn’t fit!

Not a big cooked fish lover, but this was great. The owner/cook was such a friendly bubbly person that she could be in a sitcom. A little on the heavy side, apron, and talking wildly with her hands. A sweet lady!