So after the obvious heat exhaustion yesterday a good meal and a lot of fluids had me back on track. Would like say a good night sleep did the trick but it was another albergue noisy night.
Got up with a heap of people at half 4. I know that sounds early but it’s quite the norm on the Camino. Especially for the long stages or the hot days. So with head torch armed walking into the darkness I set off.
I made good time and it got light about an hour later. My blisters more a din today so I managed to keep my pace up early on. Was a nice walk through small villages and forest. Today there was described an elevation for 4k well that wasn’t half of it it was basically loose rock steps for 4k. Whilst I was glad I was hitting it very early in the morning with no sun to say it wasn’t hard work would a lie but armed with my poles and my walking ethic of keep moving I soon got to the top. The guides then describe it as a gentle walk down well it was far from that it was the same loose shite all the way down. It was now half 9 and I had got to end of the stage for most of the guide books but with Valenca in my mind I walked on. The hill had certainly spiced up my blisters but they soon settled in again.
I decided to turn to my Camino companion for the first time on the trip. It’s fair to say I used to be a pretty regular ibuprofen muncher but after my back pain stuff all got sorted I made a concerted effort to keep away from them. But here and now it felt like time to take out the din in my feet. Along with a cake and a cafe con leache my two pals went down the hatch. I started walking on 36k ish is today’s target. I was making great time and really wasn’t as hot as yesterday. Then about 20 mins later I felt my ibuprofen buzZ kick in like a warm hug from an old friend. Then the legs didn’t just wake up, its was like day one again. The extra gear I had been missing for days was back and I soon smashed the remaining kilometers. Feeling better but tired and looking at the queue for the albergue that didn’t open for another 3 hours I decided what I needed was some proper rest so I looked for a hotel and one 100m away came up so it was decided. Booked it and got checked in.
It has a bath and was exactly what I needed so after putting my washing out on my balcony to dry I set about having a proper snooze. 3 hours later feeling refreshed.
The next 5 days should mean the end to the 30k plus walks and tomorrow I will walk into Spain and the end the Portuguese part of my adventure. Portugal has been beautiful and the people welcoming and warm and I shall have to come back at some point.
Pics from today:
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