Getting Ready!
March 8, 2024 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 8 °C
Some people wanted to know what is in my backpack. Well here it is! I got the total weight down to 10lbs!
Arrived In Lisbon!
March 17, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
Arrived in Lisbon at 8:30 am local time. I took a bus from the airport to the end of ir's line, and then walked the rest of the way to the water front area. I took in some of the sites, waiting forRead more
Along The Riverfront To Sacavem.
March 18, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
I left the steps of the cathederal at 7:30 this morning, and took my first steps. At first I walked thru some industrial areas, but then turned into a lovely riverside walk. I had to go on and off theRead more
Nice and Slow!
March 19, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 13 °C
Left Sacavem at 6:30, because I knew I had a big day. Yesterday was a warmup of 12.5kms, and today would be double. The heat has been rising every day. I thought march would be cooler. I had not seenRead more
On The Road Again.
March 20, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Was a day of lots of road walking. My feet really feel it tonight. A really nice albergue here in Azambuja was a welcoming respite. Walking along the highway, it says to always walk on the left sideRead more
Short recovery day.
March 21, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
After yesterdays marathon of pavement walking, I had a choice of doing a 12 km stage or a 32. I decided to have an easy day and just do the 12. Tomorrow 20 to Santarem! I also knew that there would beRead more
Be sure to carry plenty of water on the way to Santarem. There is a long stretch of 16 km through farmland without water or places to rest. Try to stay at Hostel Santarem (host Mario). It's a great albergue and Santarem is a beautiful town with much to see. We had a rest day there. [Paul McLaughlin]
Santarem!
March 22, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
A relatively straight forward walk along mostly farm track to Santarem. One section of 13.5 kms had no water or eats. Was great up to the big hill into Santarem. It was Ulia's birthday today! She isRead more
Azinhaga
March 23, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Good country walk from Santarem today. Made it to Azinhaga. Just a few pics due to some lost pics!
A Haunted Village!
March 24, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
Quinta Da Cardiga is a completely abandoned town. Has a very creepy feel to it. Ideal location for a horror movie. While walking today, we came across many free lemons alng the trail. They were greatRead more
Highway Forest Repeat
March 25, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C
Had a long 32 km day. Made it to Calvinos, just past Tomar. The day was a mix of beautifull forest, and road walking. This camino has waaaay to much road walking. Best thing today, was picking anRead more
First Rainy Day
March 26, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
Left the albergue in Calvinos this morning after a light breakfast of a cup of coffee a banana and some juice that I had bought last night. It was a beautiful albergue, but only 2 of us there. ThereRead more
TravelerYes! The owner is quite the character ! I bought a Portuguese Lisbon patch for my backpack from him which I'm grateful to have as I didn't find them in Santiago .We ate dinner at the chicken place next door, which was a great meal. The friends we made at that Alberghe became friends for life!
More Rain!
March 27, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
The rain was on and off again today, along with some very high winds. In the ucalyptus tree forest, many were cracking in the wind. I thought for sure that some would come down. I made it to a veryRead more
Rain, Rain
March 28, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 11 °C
It was a rainy 22 km's again today. When I arrived at Conimbriga, most of my stuff was very damp. At the hostel tonight, many of the people that I have met on and off were all at the same placeRead more
COIMBRA
March 29, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
It was a fairly quick walk into Coimbra today. The only excitement today was when I seen Karen from Holland walking towards me going the wrong way. I asked what was up? She was nervous because thereRead more
Coimbra Rest Day
March 30, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
It was nice to sleep in a bit today. It was going to be a no walking day, but I did walk 4 km to the decathalon store and back. The rest of the day was just wondering around Coimbra. A few of us endedRead more
Happy Easter
March 31, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
It was an uneventfull walk to Mealhada today. I met Jorge and his wife Charo from Argentina on the path tho. Jorge has done 9 caminos, and his wife 6! Lots of people in the albergue tonight.
25 km's to Agueda!
April 1, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
It was a hard walk today due to most cafe bars being closed, and the amount of road walking required. Yesterday most people were at mass, then seemed to spend the day at home. Today was anotherRead more
TravelerI'm glad to hear that locals are so inviting. They probably would have put you up for the night had you stayed.🤷♀️
I Yam What I Yam!
April 2, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
It was a rainy and muddy walk thru
the endless eucalyptus forest today, but I did find this great pic of Popeye! I Yam what I Yam, a pilgrim. After being drenched on the 26 km walk, I arrived here atRead more
A Sunny Day!
April 3, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
I had to take it easy today, and only did 18 km's to Sao Joao da Madiera. The albergue here is very different. It is in a room in a wing of a hospital! I hope it is not an insane asylum, or I mightRead more
Gijo
April 4, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
It was an uneventfull walk to Gijo today. It was only 19 km's, and only 16 km's for tomorrow to get to Porto. Doing 35 all at once looked like too much. Especially since it was mostly road walking. ItRead more
Porto!
April 5, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ 🌬 24 °C
Arrived in Porto after a long hot walk today. The first part of the day was thru a thick forested area that had many forked trails, with poor markings. The wise pilgrim app's gps came in real handy!Read more
To the monastery!
April 6, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
It was a straight 15 km ealk out of Porto. A virtual straight line of boredom. At the end, I reached the Zona Industrial. Yes just as lovely as it sounds. The last 8 km's, were a bit nicer thru someRead more
TravelerThat is also where we stayed our first night out of Porto. It was my wife's birthday and they threw a celebration for her. It happened to be a holiday so there were no restaurants or food around so they also cooked outside for us all. It was a great community meal and we met many pilgrims that had just started in Porto so our Camino family grew that night.
Scenery Getting Nicer!
April 7, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
I left the monastery at 8:00 this morning, but first took some pics of the elaborate cemetery there. (See pics) It was then a reasonable 20 km to my destination of Pedra Furada. It is a nice newerRead more
Casa Da Fernanda
April 8, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 10 °C
Weather wise, the day was up and down. If I put on my poncho the sun would come out. If I put it away, the rain would pour. A japanese lady named Takei and myself, walked a long day of 29 km's, toRead more
Beautiful Ponte de Lima
April 9, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
At Casa Fernanda this morning, we had a huge breakfast table presented to us. All the coffee and eats got us of to a good, albeit late start. That was OK tho, since only had 15 km's to do in order toRead more
1 pair of socks? [Paul McLaughlin]
Traveler1 pair in the backpack, and wearing the other for a total of 2. Also the injinji liner socks.
TravelerBuen Camino!