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.

.

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.

Coffee – 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

Genuine expression machine are typical at roadside cafés. The cafés’ decor haven’t changed over the years. The interiors are basic, functional, and inviting to linger.

Cappuccino please.
Make mine an expresso.
Two Caminos, two destinations sharing same route. Santiago in Spain and Fátima in Portugal.

Bugs – May 31, 2023

  • Portuguese Central Camino: Day 1 / Coimbra to Anadia
  • Distance: 20.9 miles / Total 20.9 miles
  • Ascent: 1,148’ / Descent: 1,048’
  • Time: 11 hours
  • Weather: 66 – 72 degrees / overcast and a bit humid

Once on the Portuguese Camino there were bugs in my bed. Planning for this Camino, I could not remember which albergue to avoid. That problem was resolved as I discovered tonight’s reservation was at that very same albergue! Being there I could vividly remember every horrible detail. Fortunately I did did not become a bug carrier. New reservations were made making my 16 mile day into 21 miles. The excessively long walk was somewhat repaired by a long soak in the tub.

Blooms
Today I heard churches chime at 8:00am and 1:00pm. The loveliest of sounds.
Soon wine.
Portuguese Tile