September 21 Castelo de Tomar
We had a very interesting day strolling around el Cavaleiros Templários’ (the Knights Templar) town of Tomar. Tomorrow, we start el Caminho Portugue Norte, the Portuguese Northern Way.
September 22 Alvaiazere
Day 10. Tomar – Soianda – Calvinos – Tojal – Cortica – Alvaiazere (Al-Vy-Ah-zay). 34 kms. An absolutely magical day. Another 0530 start through Tomar then climbed through forests and ambled along country roads, lanes, an estrada Romana, through villages and finally to our albergue by 1530. It was in the low 30s but the shade and the breezes were lovely
September 23 Coimbra
Day 11. Alvaiazere – Ansiao – Rabacal. 32 kms. The now usual long climb in the dark after a 0600 start (slept in) and another day of rambling through forests, villages and along tracks and country lanes. It was over 30 so this afternoon was a bit of a slog along a “delightful stretch of pathway that winds through open countryside.” Honestly, at the end of a long day at over 30 that’s the last thing we need. We got to our albergue by 4 pm though. Showered, clothes washed and I have a cerveja sitting in front of me. Life’s good.
September 24 Sernandelo
Day 13. Coimbra – Mealhada – Sernandelo. 25 kms. An absolutely wonderful day. We started in the dark and fog then sunrise. The mist burnt off and the temperature went up. We tramped on and then in to a huge eucalypt plantation where the temperature dropped dramatically. We’re starting to speed up to about 5 km/h now so we reached our albergue by midday. Sagres with lunch. 😀
September 25 Agueda
Day 14. Sernandelo – Anadia – Aguada de Baixo – Agueda. 27 kms. Today was a very hot walk mainly along country roads to the beautiful town of Agueda.
September 26 Albergaria-a-Nova
Day 15. Agueda – Serem de Cima – Albergaria a Velha – Albergaria a Nova. 25 kms. What started out to be a mindless bitumen bashing through dark suburbs, past abandoned mansions and a ruined bridge turned in to a lovely ramble through forests to our albergue. We’ve caught up with Fred & Debbie and Michelle. We also met Jeroline and Dorothy, two American ladies.
September 27 Sao Joao da Madeira
Day 16. Albergaria a Nova – Oliveira de Azemeis – Sao Joao da Madeira. 26 kms. It was a very hot and hard day trudging up and down hills with very little shade along the way. We still got to our albergue by 1300.
September 28 Grijo
Day 17. Sao Joao da Madeira – Mozelos – Grijo. 20 kms. Not one of the great days. Bitumen bashing through Porto’s outer suburbs and the air is thick with smoke from the bushfires north of here. Hopefully, the Caminho will still be open when we leave Porto on Monday. p.s. we’ve decided to press on to Porto this afternoon and try to find somewhere for the night. It’s only another 15 kms.
September 29 Porto
Day 17 (b). Grijo – Sierra de Canelas – Porto. 16 kms. A rather suprisingly pleasant afternoon walk along a Via Romana and then through the city, across THE bridge to some cervejas and our room for the night. Shower, supper and some more cervejas are in order.
September 30 Porto
Jane Finucane, Cameron Cossart, Charlie Goh and Savannah McGuirk have joined us. We had a great day being turistas. This is a really beautiful city!
Lighten The Trip Fantastic 