Today was such a good day. 13.6.miles, quite a bit of it, more rolling hills than mountains. I still had a couple of steep places but after a good nights sleep, they didn't seem so bad. I got a bit of a kick out of these six pretty atheletic looking British guys at breakfast. They were pretty loud as a group of young men can be. I heard one of them say, "So dude, what the hell were you doing at 6:30 this morning, moving furniture?" I wanted to say, "Yea, what were you doing?" but I didn't. The young man who was in the room next to mine woke me up too. They were having such a good time, trading cheap shots at each other, that I couldn't be the slightest bit irritated. What fun to be on a trip together.
More antitque water wheels.
I much prefer the European trail markers to the yellow arrows. This sign means turn right. See how it goes from the bottom, up and then to the right. One of the funniest things that happened today was that I was coming up this long stretch of up and I was so busy looking at the sign that said go right. I wasn't paying attention to the dirt road to the left. As I made the turn, not ten feet from me was a man holding a shotgun. I yipped and he smiled. He was there so silently, dressed in camoflague, holding his shotgun in a safe position. Just to make it worse, I am singing the "The Old Rugged Cross'' because it is Sunday. Any other day of the week, would have been something else. Now anyone who knows me knows I can't sing but I really not seen many people on the trail so ... This guy was the real deal hunter..not one of those city boys in Abercrombie and Fitch apparel with his spit shined, extended cab dually, extended cab, Ram 350. You know the truck that has never seen work. I usually make some wise crack about the build of the man with one of these trucks but I will refrain. I am sure between my singing and tromping up the gravel road that whatever he was stalking was long gone. About thirty feet further was another hunter, being equally tolerant. I did not sing. I heard no shots after that point.
This just means you are still on the trail.
This one, the "x" in red and white, says "no don't go this way."
I saw acres and acres of citrus trees. I was finally a bad girl and picked an orange. It looked ripe and it was hanging over the trail. I didn't actually tresspass or anything. Packed it back to my room, cut into it and lock jaw would be the perfect decription. I guess although it was fully orange, a few more days on the tree would have been beneficial. That will teach me to steal fruit.
I wondered if they celebrated Haloween in Portugal. I guess so. I was so far in the sticks on Haloween night that I wouldn't have known.
First time I have ever seen a whole herd of black or at least dark brown ones. Right after this point I was walking through a group of about three houses watching two huge dogs that were fenced in. They were barking and snarling. I was thinking how glad I was that the fence was good and sturdy when something licked me on the ankle. I yipped and turned around, scaring this funny little young hound to death. Well, I couldn't just go by with out some doggie kisses but it did scare the bejesus out me.
I was starving at 11:00 this morning and I happen upon a gas station. The little cafe was quite popular. I pointed at the cheese and ham pastry. It turned out to be quite tasty. The crust was flakey puffed pastry. Warm. I hope no one from Portugal goes into any of our gas stations and orders anything to eat. They will be sorely dissappointed.
While I was enjoying my little break, I struck up a conversation with a fairly handsome Portuguese man. Actually, he noticed my shirt which said "Never quit exploring." His English was excellent. He is an environmental engineer. Three years ago, he bought a 300 year-old ruin that overlooks the Atlantic ocean and has restored it. He said the coast was only about 18 miles away. I know my last night, Sagres is on the ocean. He told me that the Algarve (meaning sacred) area is divided into the East and the West. Until today, I have been on the East, the more remote side. The West side is the resort area of Portugal. He said my trip will be much prettier on this half. Wow, I thought the first half was pretty spectacular.
This photo is for Mary P. who loves doors. She can write a wonderful story about just everything.
I had to look twice. These are ripening persimons. You have not experience pucker power until you have tried a gren persimmon.
Mangoes. They looked good but I refrained. They were behind the fence.
I never seen two sof the same the same group of tiles. They are all different and so beautiful.
I was so excited that until today, I had not seen any graffiti or tagging. I guess when there are no young people around, it is kind of hard to be in a gang or impress anyone with your art. I can tell that this is a more popular area of Portugal
A stream along the way.
This was a barbeque grill.
So far all of my trails have had easy footing. They might be severe up but fairly flat on the foot. These were really rocky stones. This trail got narrower and narrower util I was walking through sticker bushes. I could still see the trail but I got a bit scratched up on my arms and legs.
I have hit the land of beautiful flowers.
More flowers.
And more flowers.
One of my biggest challenges on this trip has been that I forgot to bring any kleenexes. I really haven't been anywhere that sold anything. This town, the biggest so far had possibilities. First I went in the pharmacy and she said they didn't carry kleenexes or tissues that I would have to go to a grocery. Went in two small groceries. One had about 20 different types and sizes of toilet paper but no kleenexes and the other didn't have much of anything. Phooey! Finally I found this Asian place that sold crapola and low and behold they had packets of kleenexes. Now I haven't opened one of these packets yet. They may be rough as a cobb.
So that is all the news that is fit to print. Hopefully, there are not too many typos and errors. I do type these when I am dead tired and sometimes after a couple of glasses of wine. Until manána...
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