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Michael Spies
Michael Spies

Michael Spies

traveled in 25 countries Read more🇩🇪Icking
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  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies
    My birthday present to my self and in memory of good old times with my daughter, three jelly snakes which they
    Jungle like Vegetation in the middle of a thunderstorm. Everything is wetMarkus Müller. Met him in an alley after a day of rain. He then turned my birthday into a real birthday and inThe best birthday Pasta ever!1Birthday dinner on his terrace.

    What a unique birthday

    April 25, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 18 °C

    Today is my birthday. And It is not raining yet. (Will come this afternoon though).
    I started the day by giving myself a present, three Jelly snakes in memory of good old times with my daughters when they would bring me such snakes from the kiosk. This used to be heaven on earth for me 😃
    As I marched on weather got worse and worse with thunder all around. And then it broke! In buckets. Within seconds I was soaked and the rest of the day was rain.
    When I got to Grandola I met a young man in an alley who looked as if he could speak English. It was Markus Müller a well traveled international who two years ago decided that Germany is going to Hit the wall, sold everything to build a house in Portugal
    Markus invited me in for a beer and then, unknowingly, turned my birthday into a most memorable event by cooking a wonderful dinner. And for the first time in this trip I was able to have a real conversations with someone accompanied by wonderful wine, then Sake, and then to literally finish us off, half a bottle of Medronio, a killer Schnaps from Portugal.
    God bless you Markus. ❤    Read more

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies
    Two Beautiful butterflies doing what nature does
    My first Camino sign since walking in 2018. Brings a warm feeling1Flowers, flowers, flowersCystus roses everywhere (Cystus Palhinhai)Different sounds to the sea, stream, birds, the breeze

    Off on the next leg

    April 24, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    A bit wet today with showers coming through every few hours and me getting pretty wet. But I have a good rain Cape that at least keeps the top dry.
    Incredible landscapes with Cork oaks, streams and hills.
    After the rain, when the sun came out again everything radiated a scent, sweet jasmine, eucalyptus, cystus roses, wet grass. Simply beautiful.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies
    My old shoes being carried to Grave by the two new ones.
    Churchill of Santiago do CacemSt James (heiligen Jakob) in his more friendly versionChurch of Santiago do Cacem appearing1Beautiful Cork Oak alley on the way this morningOld Cork oak

    Carrying my old shoes to grave. R.I.P.

    April 23, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    This morning was seriously windy and ice cold. New weather is comming, but the walk was beautiful along old Cork oak alleys and finally arriving at the first pilgrims stop on my journey, the Santiago do Cacem church high up on a hill.
    I then headed off to restaurant COVAS whose address I had used to have new shoes sent to me, and they had actually arrived in time, which automatically initiated the burial of my old shoes. This sad task was undertaken by the two new ones who carried the old to Grave.
    R.I.P. (rest in peace) my dear old shoes!
    These old shoes have served for ages in the toughest environments, even the via ferrata in the Brenta .
    Now I am bouncing along on new soles like a young puppy.
    And now, for the "dark side of the moon", the next three days will be clouds and RAIN!
    HORROR! and definitely very wet.
    Early tomorrow I head off to Roncao, 22 KM.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies

    Walking inland

    April 22, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Walking inland the senses become finer. The coast has been dramatic!
    Waves, Cliffs, Wind, roaring Sound.
    The trail now is isolated, quite, gentle.
    I'm hearing the birds, the bees, the stream and the rustling of the leaves . And above all the cicads, symbol of southern countries. The whole air is singing!

    And everywhere abandoned ruins.
    And my fantasy flies!
    Repair an old ruin, keep chickens, plant vegetables, have solar energy and collect rainwater in a cistern. And forget the insanity of our world. And those walking by on the camino can stay the night    Read more

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies
    Powerplay and Container harbour of Sines signal end of the rota Vincentina
    Container harbourLast look down the coast, farewell waves and cliffs!

    Well, thats the end of Rota Vincentina!

    April 22, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    So that was it, the end of the Rota Vincentina. No more cliffs, no more sound of the waves, but the birth of something new, an opportunity to discover new parts of Portugal.
    It would be so cool to meet some people to walk and talk with.
    I feel pretty lonesome!
    The longest encounter so far was half an hour .
    I'm going to send this idea into the universe and open myself for what will come now.
    Buon Camino,
    "May the road rise up to meet me"
    ❤    Read more

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies
    David Bangma and Amelia Gill from Australia
    Full Italian Restaurant this evening. Delightful!Long roads of ants. Half in one direction, the other half in the other. For tens of meters!Walking along my endless beach this morning, alone!

    It's happened! an open restaurant, yea!

    April 21, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    At last an open restaurant, with tables service and all!
    For me the first since October 2020!
    Suddenly something banal becomes really important.
    I have now left the department of Odemira into that of Sines and the restaurants are actually open. I'm going to have an orgy!

    On a different note, this morning I met a wonderful couple from Australia, David Bangma and Amelia Gill. Both lived a while in London, then decided to escape the craziness of COVID to Lisbon, then things got crazy in Lisbon and they moved for three months into this region to have the sea nearby for surfing. David is Graphic designer, Amelia works for and ad-agency and both work totally virtually although they miss the social contact of the normal working world. Apparently life in Australia is totally normal. No lock down, no masks no craziness.
    I am Meeting many people here who have fled Germany, France, or Britain to come an live here near the sea while the World goes crazy. Most are working remote. One German Surfer I met is part of a technical call Center for engineering products he takes the calls from the beach. After 17:00 He is on his surf Board. There is a totally new professionell world appearing.

    This morning as I marched, I philosophised about ants. Everywhere I saw endless roads of ants, Perfectly organised straight lines which I followed for tens of meters. Half of them going in one direction, the other half in the other direction. They were not carrying anything, just crawling, sometimes meeting each other for a split second and then moving on. Where were they coming from? Where were they going? What were they doing? And why?    Read more

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies
    Probably my last sunset of this nature 🌞Looks like the right place to pitch tentSome of the last wild coastlineTonight I will be staying above this endless beachTakeaway breakfast this morning

    Last night on the coast

    April 20, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    After that long march yesterday I gave myself a hostel last night 😃
    Got up late, had a nice breakfast and marched off around midday.
    Now in the distance already visible are the huge harbour cranes of Sines which also signal the end of the Rota Vincentina. Shortly before sines I will be heading off inland to join up with the camino Central at Santiago do Cacem. I then won't see the sea till Porto . 🙁
    The wind was so strong at the coast tonight that I have pitched tent behind a port Jackson bush,
    In the Cape South Africa, there is a war being raged against these bushes which are viewed as aliens, grow extremely fast, consume huge quantities of water in a dry region and displace the indigeneous flora. Exactly the same is happening here, and especially in the last 60 kms this has been very evident with them growing everywhere and covering up and killing the flowers.
    So I have mixed feelings about the protection I am getting tonight.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies
    Reminding that my Daughter Nora is waiting to give birth soon.
    Walked for ages on this beautiful beachTraces of wild boar digging up roots with the efficiency of a bulldozer1"Margot's lookout", a special memory from a trip to Vila nova des Millefontes in 2019We are getting into the region of Cork oaksThis estuary was not doable, even at low tide. I had to take a 10km detour along a highway. Terrible!

    From heaven back into reality

    April 19, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Having walked 15 kms to Almograve this morning dreaming of a nice lunch (as of today all Restaurants are supposed to be open again), I wondered why the village was so quiet. When I was asked to please wait at the door at the local Café, I discovered that on Sunday night the government had decided to close down a large part of Alentejo. What insanity!
    A narrow Region along the coast, constantly blown upon by a sea Wind where people are outdoors all the time and villages hardly get larger than 1000 inhabitants is closed down. Suddenly I was back in the world of corona and the terrorism of our governments (who unfortunately we elected!). It was like falling out of the sky and my joy changed instantly.
    So I decided to walk on to "Vila nova des Millefontes". Another 30kms which makes my day a 45km day and was clearly too much for me at this stage. Probably I will "get the bill" when I can't sleep because of knee pain.
    Alas, quite stupid one might say!
    But somehow I had to get the anger out of my system!
    Sounds a bit crazy!    Read more

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies
    The path behind me
    The path in aheadSeagullsAnd sea

    Alone in nature with the spirit

    April 19, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Alone in nature with the seagulls, the sea and my path; the path behind me, and the path in front.

    This would be the right moment to die, like the indigeneous africans do when they feel that their time has come, they walk into the bush and lie down to sleep next to a tree 🌳
    The Hyenas or lions 🦁 do the rest.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies
    Decanting to my evening bath!
    Pristine rushing stream with rock pools for taking a bathClothes drying after being rinsed in water (no soap!)My usual evening wash using one 500ml water which is then reused in the morning

    A long time since I felt so clean!

    April 18, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Aproaching the evening I came upon this gorgeous, rushing stream and jumped in, clothes and all! At last an opportunity to wash (of course without soap in keeping with the principle of "leave no trace". Usually in the evening I use my ingeneous 60 gram portable basin from "sea to summit" with a cloth to wash myself. I then keep the water for the next morning as a bidet after having gone to the toilet. Such is the principle of "leave no trace".
    A good feeling knowing that this pristine nature doesn't notice that I have been here.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies
    Mother stork stood up to let the sun warm her chicks
    1

    And then came this unbelievable moment!

    April 18, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Once again, I was not following the rota vincentino, but walking along the cliffs when I had this unbelievable encounter. A stork looking after her nest. I approached ultra slow and my zoom did the rest. What a gift.Read more

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies
    1Reminds me of what people experience in "near death experiences". Could it be that I am in heaven?
    And there she goes!Camp site sheltered from the wind under pinesAnd slowly the sun sets over this beautiful seascapeEarly morning freshness and shadowsA lot of flowers have finished flowering and are preparing their seeds

    Zambuera do mar and coffee at last!

    April 18, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Started walking really early this morning to get to Zambuera do Mar before the cafes and restaurants have to close at 13:00hrs due to the COVID PANDEMIC. But at least they are open, a bit! Contrary to crazy Germany! When I talk to people here about covid, they refer to "the pandemic" with a huge sarcastic smile on their face. The reason gastromomy all follow the rules to the comma, is that they are terrified of having the place closed down again. Otherwise people are very relaxed here.
    I had the most beautiful campsite last night, sheltered from the wind under pine trees directly next to wonderful cliffs where I could watch the sun set. And for the first time I didn't freeze at night, but no wonder, I had my thick down jacket on plus a wool Jersey, woolen t-shirt and sleeping bag and tent. It gets really hot during the day, but as soon as the sun is gone, you better get dressed warm!    Read more

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies
    Steep down
    At last, my first breeding storkRather boring walking across fields and later tarred roadsArrived at last!, tent Set, ready for dinnerLuxury dinner a la carte in an amazing restaurantSatisfied customer after a great meal

    A tedious afternoon getting lost.

    April 16, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Oh my god , did I get lost this afternoon!
    Whenever the route gets really exciting, the Rota Vincentina goes inland and follows some road.
    So I decided to continue following the cliffs along paths where one is never shure, was it left by fishermen or by the many wild boars that dig up roots along the way. Well this one was definitely wild Boars! It become less and less clear until I was stuck in the middle of nowhere stuck in brambles up to my crest ripping myself bloody. I got through on the first 500 meters but then gave up and returned to the official path along a Main road.
    But the evening was great, with an la carte dinner in exclusive location. Mmmmm.!    Read more

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies
    Look at this service, Joe having his neck crawled!
    Joe, the goat, very much territorial as I came closer

    Ran to reach Aljezur river at low tide

    April 16, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    This morning has been a sprint to get to Al Jezur river at low tide. Despite this, it was an incredible morning along a wild, wild coastline with a wonderful encounter with Joe, the male goat and his harem. As I approached he made it very clear that these ladies were only his!
    Promptly one of the ladies started to crawl his neck, probably to signal him that there was nothing to worry about.
    This hike is a gift of impressions and beauty!    Read more

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies
    Bad weather for the next days
    Walking through dunesIf I having problems walking on soft Sand, how must this guy be feelingMy first river crossing

    A very wet day

    April 15, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Nothing is worse than leaving a dry space into the rain and knowing that this will continue for hours.
    A large weather front has reached portugal and will be accompanying me for the next days.

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies

    Rain rain rain, and so much beauty

    April 14, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    What a crazy day today! This morning those wonderful encounters, and this afternoon pouring rain. And as "cherry on the cake" I got totally lost in the middle of nowhere climbing through thorny Macchia up a steep slope with loose wet shingles slipping away.
    That was not a good idea, and I frequently thought "this is stupid", if I fall it will take a long time to find me. Because this coast is really wild and incredibly beautiful. Sheer paradise.    Read more

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