TOF – June 4, 2023

  • Portuguese Central Camino: Day 5 / Sāo Joāo to Porto
  • Distance: 22.4 miles / Total 83.1 miles
  • Ascent: 1,820’ / Descent: 2,269’
  • Time: 10 hours 15 minutes
  • Weather: 60 – 65 degrees / foggy, overcast.

TOF or Time on Feet is a running term for a slow easy long run. The weather condition was perfect for walking…foggy morning, overcast day, temps low 60’s. I wore double shirts most of the day. It was an impromptu decided to condense two days of walking into one day.

The backdrop is Porto.
Plaza in Porto.
A well deserved rest at The Gallery Hostel.

Sunflower – June 3, 2023

  • Portuguese Central Camino: Day 4 / Albegaria-a-Nova to São Joao
  • Distance: 14 miles / Total 60.7 miles
  • Ascent: 1,370’ / Descent: 1,112’
  • Time: 7 hours 30 minutes
  • Weather: 60 – 70 degrees / foggy, overcast becoming blue skies with clouds

Sunflower yellow…

Sunflower Yellow
Sunflower Yellow
Sunflower Yellow
It just wouldn’t work in Sunflower yellow.

Just Rewards – June 3, 2023

  • Portuguese Central Camino: Day 4 / Albegaria-a-Nova to São Joao
  • Distance: 14 miles / Total 60.7 miles
  • Ascent: 1,370’ / Descent: 1,112’
  • Time: 7 hours 30 minutes
  • Weather: 60 – 70 degrees / foggy, overcast becoming blue skies with clouds

Long walking on asphalt was paused by a walk through Eucalyptus Forests and crossing a Medieval bridge. Just rewards.

Eucalyptus Forests
Eucalyptus bark naturally peels.
Medieval Bridge
Pastry and cappuccino, just rewards.

Boy Toy – June 2, 2023

  • Portuguese Central Camino: Day 3 / Agueda to Albegaria-a-Nova
  • Distance: 13.7 miles / Total 46.7 miles
  • Ascent: 948’ / Descent: 626’
  • Time: 6 hours 45 minutes
  • Weather: 55 – 75 degrees / overcast

All-in-one boy toy. Grabs limb, trims branches off limb, removes bark from limb, cuts limb into uniform segments, gathers and piles trimmed branches.

All-in-one boy toy.
Better than a Transformer.
Segments neatly stacked.

Service – June 2, 2023

  • Portuguese Central Camino: Day 3 / Agueda to Albegaria-a-Nova
  • Distance: 13.7 miles / Total 46.7 miles
  • Ascent: 948’ / Descent: 626’
  • Time: 6 hours 45 minutes
  • Weather: 55 – 75 degrees / overcast becoming blue skies with clouds

Service with a smile. In three minutes flat, this cashier found all my shopping items…rubber gloves, hair twist, medical tape, and clothes pins. Unfortunately I wouldn’t have the same quality experience at home.

Cashier
This was a mega-grocery store.
Clothespins, rubber gloves, hair twists, medical tape. Gloves, twists, and tape will keep my splinted finger dry in the shower.
Read the fine print. 330km / 205 miles to Santiago.

Curbside – June 2, 2023

  • Portuguese Central Camino: Day 3 / Agueda to Albegaria-a-Nova
  • Distance: 13.7 miles / Total 46.7 miles
  • Ascent: 948’ / Descent: 626’
  • Time: 6 hours 45 minutes
  • Weather: 55 – 75 degrees / overcast becoming blue skies with clouds

Buildings are literally curbside or their privacy walls are curbside.

Curbside
Curbside Building
Curbside Privacy Wall
Curbside Succulent

Magician and Wizard – June 1, 2023

  • Portuguese Central Camino: Day 2 / Anadia to Agueda
  • Distance: 12.1 miles / Total 33 miles
  • Ascent: 727’ / Descent: 746’
  • Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
  • Weather: 60 – 75 degrees / blue skies becoming overcast

Coach Mark L. is the magician and Dr. Bob W. is the wizard. My bend pinkie from surfing is comfortable splint with an improvised cut-to-size McDonald’s bamboo spoon.

I thought the pinkie was simply jammed.
Bamboo spoon splint.
Agueda
Public Water Fountain.

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Tiles – June 1, 2023

  • Portuguese Central Camino: Day 2 / Anadia to Agueda
  • Distance: 12.1 miles / Total 33 miles
  • Ascent: 727’ / Descent: 746’
  • Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
  • Weather: 60 – 75 degrees / blue skies becoming overcast

Aesthetic tiles to cool the houses. Religious tiles to set spiritual compasses. Both are found in Portugal.

House tiles cool.
House tiles.
Spellbinding symmetry.
Virgin Mary appearing to Fátima and two friends.