On the Way again.

Last night was the first time for our humans to enjoy a proper Pilgrim’s meal with a group of other pilgrims! 

At the end of the table, furthest from the camera sat Manuell a German, opposite him Christiane also German. Then our BBF and opposite him Irene from New Zealand. Next came Rianne and opposite her Bill the Kiwi other half of Irene. And nearest the camera were Nan and Mike from Portland in Oregon.

Christiane bought the white wine and our BBF the red. We understand it was a convivial evening telling stories and just enjoying each other’s company!

Breakfast was a communal affair in the hostel kitchen and then we were off out the door and back on the Camino.

The route initially went along the road and up the hill. Our humans walked initially with Bill and Irene, but at this point our humans took their jackets off, while the Kiwis being hardy folk were already in shirt sleeves. It was also the place where they parted company as the Kiwis tromped on.

Alan’s left knee did not like the up or down hill work so we went slowly and enjoyed the views from the top of the hill.

 

Then it was off the tarmac onto proper paths. Some were Stoney ankle breakers and others gravel tracks.

The views from the top always compensated for the hard work. The sun shone but had not reached its full potential yet, so the hike was enjoyable.


 

Occasionally we came across shrines to some holy person or other.

This was the last proper Way marker as after this some vandals had taken the blue and yellow marks!

We slowly went down hill from this spot.

Occasionally there were bright flowers to be seen along the Way.

 

The Way became an ancient track between dry stone walls which with their stones could also. E ankle breakers, so caution was called for. 

This shrine was clearly to Mary.

 

On entering a bit of civilisation again we wondered if this could have been an old cistern? 

 Ansião was our end destination for the day and we were surprised to see a sign so soon as our BBF had told us it was to be a hike of at least 15 kilometres!

Then suddenly we were there having walked just a little over 9 kilometres! 

Our humans stopped for a coffee in a pastel aria where they met again Irene and Bill. Fond farewells were said as they were going on and we were staying.

Needless to say as we were early we had to wait for our room to be made up. Christine the German lady now joined us and once our rooms were ready the humans showed and did their washing, which they hung up in the yard.

We were then left to guard the room while the humans went off in search of WIFI (there was none in the hostel) and an isotonic drink. Buen Camino! 🐻❤️

Over enthusiasm smashes glass!

Last night after finding a bar to sit and write their blogs our humans returned to the hostel where Rianne poured out some Dutch liquor called Schrobbeler. It’s good for the stomach, she said!

Alan to her surprise pulled out a set of dice and score cards for the game of Yahtzee or Yatze as the Dutch spell it. Rianne had discarded the game at the last hostel on the basis of unnecessary weight!
So they sat and played the game. Those who know our BBF well will also know how excited and enthusiastic he can become. He was so exited at throwing a Yatze ( five of a kind) that his violent arm waving knocked over his glass of Schrobbeler sending it flying and shattering into a thousand pieces!

 

Needless to say despite his enthusiasm he lost the game and not having any more of this nectar they drank wine.

 They each were the last to go to bed in their respective dorms and the first out this morning.



On the way out of Santarem they again took advantage of every photo opportunity.

The sun was up but had not burned off the fog. The route out of town took them along an ancient cobbled road, through an old gate and down the hill.

 

Once they left the road the route took them through fields some of which were a cause for discussion. What had been planted here? 


 

The stubble in the field looked like bamboo. It was peppered with little irrigation stand pipes. On one side of the path the field looked as if it was now fallow, and on the other asif it had been planted with something.

Occasionally they passed through small villages where they were able to stop for coffee. Once the sun had burnt the fog off, off came the jackets and shirt sleeve order was called for.

This was the first time they had come across a sign showing the Way to Santiago!

It was generally a lovely walk through the countryside, past eucalyptus woods and fields of Rape, Alan thought.

At one point they came across a few cork trees.

 

Often the path was wet and muddy and needed careful navigation. 

 

This little lake ended in a gushing stream and as they passed over it, Alan introduced Rianne to Pooh Sticks! She won of course. Beginners luck he cried, but we Bears know he is hopeless at the game for he never wins!

By the time they reached this point Alan’s knees and feet had had enough! They had now walked almost 20 kilometres and they had been told it was only 20 to the next hostel!

They had religiously followed the signs they saw and now passed through Pombalinho which was not expected! They stopped for a respite in a bar and using Maps on Alan’s iPhone worked out the shortest route to the hostel.

They were both relieved to see this sign the final destination.

In fact they walked 25 kilometres according to Alan‘s Garmin watch but according to Rianne‘s TomTom watch the distance was 28 kilometres. Alan’s bones and muscles thought that they had walked this distance too!

It is a private hostel and Helene the owner was most hospitable giving them isotonic drinks and nibbles as they arrived.



This is our room for the night and if we are lucky will not have to share it with anyone. Rianne is in another room with two French ladies Collette and Christine. 

An evening meal will be served at 19:30 hrs. 

We are not sure how Alan being the only male will cope with three women, but being a “Hahn im Korb“ we think he’ll enjoy himself.

It’s sometimes tough on the Camino!

The Guides are all wrong!

When we were ready to set off this morning at 08:00hrs the sun looked as if it would shine all day! The humans had decided to walk to Asambuja today some 18 kilometres according to the guide book! 

When we got to the river there were some dark clouds but the Gods were kind for the sun did come out later.

The humans never seemed to miss a photo opportunity either!

Mind you we think if they wanted to fit in with these statues they should have been looking up to the sky!

As soon as Alan saw some poppies he thought of his Camino sister Pat and took a picture.

The Way  today basically followed the railway line which was much nicer than the road. It was fairly quite as there were not many trains.  At one place they came to was a station and so the humans after some 5 kilometres walking or so looked for a toilet and a café. Sadly they spent many useless minutes looking but found neither!

 

They walked on to Vala do Carregado where by another station they found a café and a toilet.

With flooded fields on one side and the railway line on the other, the only real sign of civilisation! There were many snails though. 

On at least two occasions the path was blocked with a gate, but a way round was easily found or as in this case one could go through it!

To our humans surprise when they got to Azambuja they found yet another Bull Ring! 

Now the guide Book and the App on Alan‘s phone lied! The pilgrims hostel was not to be found where marked. After asking a number of people they eventually found the first sign to the hostel. But now they had walked about 24 kilometres!

The hostel was basic, small and our humans were the first to check in, consequently they had a free choice of beds.

Alan chose one in the corner by a plug. They were not allowed to take their rucksacks to the bunk, but had to leave them outside the designated sleeping area!

 

An orange tree in bloom was outside the back of the hostel where the washing line was and the laundry had to be done. Its fragrance was lovely and compensated for having to wait to do the laundry! 

While our humans were in the shower other pilgrims arrived. The Finnish couple, an Italian man and then  a couple of elderly French women. One of the Frenchwomen was looking to swap a top bunk for a bottom bunk with our humans, but Alan showed the scar on his knee and that ended the conversation!

Our humans then sought out a café where they had WIFI, for the hostel has none. They sat then doing their internet stuff, drinking isotonic drinks, chatting and waiting until 18:00hrs when they could order the first pilgrim’s menu they had come across!

We Bears meanwhile have been left in the hostel to guard their stuff!