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The Spirit flies again
  • Michael Spies
  • Michael Spies

The Spirit flies again

From the southern tip of Portugal to Santiago. Read more
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  • Trip start
    April 3, 2021
    Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies

    The Eagle is ready to fly, NOW!

    April 11, 2021 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    I need to get out of here! I need to walk again! Exit this crazy world for a while. Meditate-in-walking, Only think about my next step, to be totally in the moment.
    AND IT STARTS TODAY.!
    Finally! I am sitting at the Munich airport, unbelievable!
    These last days have been absolute hell, organising everything so that I can be away for three months.
    I actually wanted to start my CAMINO last week, on easter Sunday, but then suddenly Portugal closed its borders only allowing essential travel.
    Now, one week later, having repeated the COVID test, I am talking to my neighbour at the gate, only to hear that her husband flew, without any problems, on exactly the flight I was going to take last week. All the talk about "essential travel" was manipulation aimed at discouraging tourists around easter.
    What has happened to our world?
    The media and our governments are lying incessantly to us, keeping this fear dynamic going, only to cover up what is really going on: a financial system that has gone totally out of control, government members, who are being financed by industry, and have no interest whatsoever in our democracy, and who are using every opportunity to fill their own pockets as the World, Europe and Germany are marching into an economical crisis like we have never seen before.

    May my SPIRIT EAGLE, which I carry tattooed on my chest, now sweep me up to the air, away from all this worry and anger, back into my own sacred energy, far from all this crazyness.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies
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    Yes! I did it, I'm here!

    April 11, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    The waves signal that this sea was here long before we were, and still will be here when we are gone, when Seehofer is gone, when Jens Spahn and his friend Drosten are gone, when Gates, Rockefeller and all the others are gone.
    Nature is in full Bloom, as it always has each year, ignoring the craziness around us,    Read more

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies
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    Bed with a view

    April 12, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Even though everything is green and flowering, the ground is hard as concrete. So when I tried to pitch my tent last night, it was hopeless. I gave up and chose the roof of this ruin to sleep under the open sky. That was a mistake! I froze all night.
    I got up this morning looking like a zombie, but in a totally different mood than yesterday. My frustration about Germany is gone, I have finally arrived here, on my camino!    Read more

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies

    Sagres at last

    April 12, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Just reached Sagres, the most western point of Europe and the corner of Portugal. Here the Rota Vincentina begins and then joins up with the Camino Central which I will then follow to Santiago di Compostella.
    Did 20 km today, and EVERYTHING is hurting. I am dead! Finished!
    Although not that far, the path leads through a multitude of valleys and river beds, so it is 50meters down and then again 50m up onto the next cliff. I must have climbed 1000m today!
    But I received a million unpayable gifts along the way, a nature in full bloom emitting every scent you can possibly imagine. This is God's garden and I am so grateful to be here.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies

    Farol do Cabo de sao Vincente

    April 13, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    So here I am at the lighthouse of the Cabo de sao vicente, the Start of the Rota Vicente and the Real start of my Camino.
    Buon Camino I wish myself, without injuries, and lots of deep moments.

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies
    And the waves come rolling !The man and his dogs

    Pain everywhere!

    April 13, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    What a day today!
    Beautiful flowers, wonderful cliffs, but incredible pain everywhere, in my shoulders, back and knees . My body is definitely not yet up to speed ready to carry this weight. But it is comforting to know that in a few days things will be different and the walking flow will set in.
    While everyone in Germany seems to be going crazy because of covid and the government has decided to totally get rid of democracy, people here are totally relaxed. What a good feeling to sense this.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesThe Spirit flies againMichael Spies
    And the path leads on through endless fields of flowers.

    They do still exist, Cowherds!

    April 14, 2021 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    And the crazy thing is that this one speaks perfect cultivated English while he stands out there in the rain wearing his felt cloak, like the shepherds of centuries gone by. What an encounter!

    Maybe all our politicians and bankers should become cowherds. They would gain new values and spiritual insight about what is really important in life.Read more

  • 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

  • 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
    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
    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
    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
    Mother stork stood up to let the sun warm her chicks
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    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
    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

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