Albergaria a Velha to Sao João da Madeira (18.54 miles/29.85 km) I woke up at 5:00 am, much earlier than usual, and without an alarm. I think it might be because of the strong smell of smoke triggered something in me. I had closed the window when I went to sleep and opened it in …
Continue reading Camino Portuguese, Day 15, Sunday, September 8, 2019
Anadia to Albergaria a Velha (23.81 miles/38.84 km) Good day, and then not such a good day! The day actually was uneventful for most of the day, until the last few miles and hours. Weather was typical, with cool weather and a slight breeze making for a good morning and establishing my rhythm that stay …
Continue reading Camino Portuguese, Day 14, Saturday, September 7, 2019
Coimbra to Anadia (19.76 miles/31.82 km) Today was a totally different day than yesterday, mainly because of the increase in my energy level. Yesterday, I struggled going twelve miles, and today, I had energy, found a good rhythm trekking, and went almost twenty miles. I felt I could have gone four or six more, but …
Continue reading Camino Portuguese, Day 13, Friday, September 6, 2019
Conimbriga to Coimbra (11.73 miles/18.92 km) Today was the shortest day of the Camino and I am glad that it was because I am in a beautiful old city. Coimbra is the second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon and Porto. I have to be honest that I heard lots of people on the Camino …
Continue reading Camino Portuguese, Day 12, Thursday, September 5, 2019
Ansião to Conimbriga (21.10 miles/33.98 km) It turned out to be a very long and hot day today, but I really did not have much choice. It started out with a great breakfast at the hotel, which made the stay well worth it. Fresh eggs, turkey bacon, fresh whole wheat breads, fresh cut mango and …
Continue reading Camino Portuguese, Day 11, Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Cortica to Ansião (17.17 miles/27.70 km) Another grueling day because of the heat, but a little cooler at only a high of 102 degrees (39.44c). Ha! However, I think that this being the third day of the extreme heat it seemed worse. I had a good night's sleep, and Lindsay and Ann were good roommates …
Continue reading Camino Portuguese, Day 10, Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Tomar to Cortica (17.12 miles/27.55 km) I don’t want it to sound like every day on the Camino Portugues was a challenging day, but today was probably one of the toughest single days on a Camino. It was challenge because the steep terrain, and the blistering hot weather. The hottest part of the day here …
Continue reading Camino Portuguese, Day 9, Monday, September 2, 2019
Golega to Tomar (19.39 miles/31.22 km) Today turned out to be another grueling and challenge day, as the rest of this week might be because of the temperature. Leaving at 7:30 in the morning with already warm weather should have been an indication of the temperature, but I really did not give it much thought …
Continue reading Camino Portuguese, Day 8, Sunday, September 1, 2019
Santamer to Golega (22.27 miles/35.86 km) I woke up this morning at 5:30 and was actually feeling a bit better and decided with some reservation to start trekking. I figured once I started I was committed as there are no places to stay before Azinhaga, 18 miles (28 km) away. As it turned out, today …
Continue reading Camino Portuguese, Day 7, Saturday, August 31, 2019
Santamer (Zero Day 2) I slept well last night without coughing as much and let myself sleep until 7:30, but I felt very weak and aching, and decided to give myself another zero day of real rest. And I did just that, laid in bed all day. Other than getting up for breakfast here at …
Continue reading Camino Portuguese, Day 6, Friday, August 30, 2019
Ted Trekking 