2025 Camino Portuguese

Today has been a bit easier. After the initial shock, there’s now a lower simmering grief. Impending death, especially of someone so close, is difficult to cope with. But knowing what’s to come doesn’t necessarily make it any easier to accept the final result. And for me, being alone and on the other side of the world and away from everyone is extra troubling at times.
But enough about me. I can only imagine what my dearest friend and her family are going through. May God bless them forever! ❤️🙏

Today was my second day of walking. I walked 24 km and I was so tired and felt beat up by the time I reached my destination. I haven’t walked that far since my last Camino three years ago! But I will adjust in time.

I brag (in a way) for never having encountered bedbugs yet. Not once with all my traveling. And we all know you can get them from five star hotels or hostels. They’re not a sign of filth. Anyway, much to my dismay this morning I heard a man at the front desk complaining of his room having bedbugs 😳 (he was on 2nd floor, I was on first). I actually looked for them before going to bed last night, but apparently they’re not always visible. And not always in the bed! I hope and pray there was none in my room.
So consequently, I was scratching all morning. Psychological? Gosh I hope so! An adventurous life is definitely an exciting life. But it is not without worries.

I was proud of myself for walking every step of the Camino Frances….800 km. I never took a ride. Although it was really tempting at times. Well today re-ignited that temptation. 24 kms, second day out of the chute, is a lot. Especially without proper training. The last 4.5 km was the worst. I trudged on and on and then I would look at my GPS and saw that I had only gone about .1 or .2 km!! 😳 Geez! I remember that well, a few times on the last trail, where I felt so tired like I couldn’t take another step, only to look at the map and realize I had another 11 km to go!!! It was excruciating at those times. So that thought came slamming back today. Towards the end, it felt good to go downhill. I thought to myself…..yay, I’m gonna make it! But nooo! I overshot my turn-off. And not by a few feet. By a third of a kilometer!!! 🤬 That was the third time today! Where the *%#@ are the yellow arrows?! And of course to backtrack meant I had to go back UP that same damn hill I just enjoyed coming down! I did NOT want to go any farther. I just about set up camp in the middle of the street, right there and then. I’m not gonna lie, there was some colourful expletives passing through my mind.

My first eight or so kilometres was through industrial areas, so not very pleasant and nothing to take pictures of. But walking along the water was worth the wait. And I took a short tram ride for the heck of it.Читать далее