Category: Portugues / Coastal

• Portuguese Camino: Day 07 / Asseiceira to Tomar + Fatima
• Distance: 7.2 miles / Total 101 miles
• Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
• Ascent: 375’ Decent: 492’
• Weather: 91 degrees / sunny

The Templars fought in the crusades and made a fortune. They became suppressed by the Pope. Many were killed by Philip of France on Friday 13th. Survivors fled to Portugal and were given sanctuary by Don Dinis. He rebranded the Templars as the Order of Christ. Their new insignia had a white band which symbolized purity. This satisfied the Vatican.

• Portuguese Camino: Day 06 / Azinhaga to Asseiceira
• Distance: 16.6 miles / Total 93.8 miles
• Time: 7 hours 15 minutes
• Ascent: 651’/ Decent: 430’
• Weather: 81 degrees / overcast with one 30-minute light rain

As rain drops freshen blooms, I do not complain when I walk in the rain.

• Portuguese Camino: Day 06 / Azinhaga to Asseiceira
• Distance: 16.6 miles / Total 93.8 miles
• Time: 7 hours 15 minutes
• Ascent: 651’/ Decent: 430’
• Weather: 81 degrees / overcast with one 30-minute light rain

Olive trees can be so broad they can’t be circled with your arms. The trunks are rough and gnarly. Hollow center trees thrive. Some aged trees look as if the tops have been completely severed; yet, new limbs miraculously sprout bringing life. Trunks and limbs are disproportionate. Olive trees simply defy death. Olives simply taste delicious.

Today we purchased 1/4 pound of local olives for less than a dollar.

• Portuguese Camino: Day 06/ Azinhaga to Asseiceira
• Distance: 16.6 miles / Total 93.8 miles
• Time: 7 hours 15 minutes
• Ascent: 651’/ Decent: 430’
• Weather: 81 degrees / overcast with 30-minutes light rain

Plant figs for yourself, grapes for your children, and olives for your grandchildren…a bit of wisdom from CJ.

Grapes for your children.

• Portuguese Camino: Day 05 / Santarém to Azinhaga
• Distance: 16.7 miles / Total 77.2 miles
• Time: 8 hours Ascent: 434’/ Decent: 713’
• Weather: 85 degrees / sunny

September sun is low on the horizon making it brutally hot. With this intense heat, I expect ears of corn to shower popcorn any minute.

• Portuguese Camino: Day 05 / Santarém to Azinhaga
• Distance: 16.7 miles / Total 77.2 miles
• Time: 8 hours Ascent: 434’/ Decent: 713’
• Weather: 85 degrees / sunny

Surround sound of gunshots popping were heard as we trudge through enormously tall and endless fields of corn. In this maze of corn, only Duncan encounters two beagles and a hunter with rifle in hand. Hopefully it’s not open season for pilgrims.

• Distance: 16.7 miles / Total 77.2 miles
• Portuguese Camino: Day 05 / Santarém to Azinhaga
• Time: 8 hours Ascent: 434’/ Decent: 713’
• Weather: 85 degrees / sunny

Like thieves in the night, we are on the way under moonlight to avoid afternoon sun. GPS Camino Apps take away 95% of the stress from finding the route. It’s like being Hansel and Gretel following a trail of cookie crumbs. It’s being prepared for the 5% when devises fail that counts.

• Portuguese Camino: Day 04 / Azambuja to Santarém
• Distance: 21.8 miles / Total 60.8 miles
• Time: 11 hours 30 minutes
• Ascent: ?’/ Decent: ?’
• Weather: 90 degrees / sunny

To each their own. Some prefer cycling over walking. Some prefer telephoning over silence. But all prefer head-soaking from the city fountain on such a hot afternoon.

• Portuguese Camino: Day 04 / Azambuja to Santarém
• Distance: 21.8 miles / Total 60.8 miles
• Time: 11 hours 30 minutes Ascent: ?’/ Decent: ?’
• Weather: 90 degrees / sunny

Tomatoes blanket the ground like endless fields of Easter eggs. The past days of industrial complexes are pleasantly replaced by agriculture.