You are not going to believe what I did today. I walked for a little over 12 miles and ended up, back at the hotel where I started out this morning. OMG, Is that funny? When I left this morning, I couldn't find the trail. (Dennis knows how that is. I is always harder to find trail markers in towns). So I asked several people where Sagres was and they all pointed down this road and said 7 kilometers (4.3 miles). My trail map showed 14.6 miles. I started walking. Suddenly after about six miles or so, I saw a marker and it was going the way I was headed. WhooHoo. I got close enough to see what I thought was Sagres but I decided to follow the trail markers...six miles later, I was back at my original hotel. I am sure the look on my face would have been priceless. I then rode with the luggage to Sagres. So I can honestly say that I have mostly walked the Via Algarviana. Although I thought this was going to be my last hiking day, I decided to walk to Point St Vincent tomorrow which is about 10-12 miles round trip. It is the farthest point both western and southern for Europe.
The flowers all over this part of Portugal are so colorful.
I saw a lot of these trees in Spain. I think they are so interesting with the long cylindrical blooms looking at the ground. They are always this color.
I saw this man and his dogs were much closer to me. I heard a short whistle and suddenly they were all sitting by him. I love working dogs. He waved and was very friendly. I thought this was his whole flock until I rounded the corner...
All of those bumps are sheep. I spread my arms wide and said "Grande" and he yelled back "many sheep."
Look at this little guy. He had a white face and a whitetail.
You can tell that I am getting close to the coast. I was walking over sand dunes. It was so windy today and I had a head wind. No wonder people flock to Portugal to surf. I have not been able to wear my hat for three days, even with the chin strap. I got tired of chasing it down.
Look at this fence.
My first peek at the Atlantic Ocean. I wondered if I sent a message in a bottle and it went straight through would it land in New Smyrna Beach where my mother and Frank live. I looked on a map and straight is more like even with Washington or maybe even New York. I would have to go to Southern Morocco to have a chance to be even with Daytona area.
I made it to Sacres and my hotel is right at this cove.
Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum. I still prefer wine.
I am sure I have some relatives checked in here.
What a funny sign for a restaurant. It made me laugh.
Look how beautiful this cove is just before sunset. It doesn't look as cold and windy as it felt. BRRRRR!
This is a Statue of Infante Dom Henrique or Henry the Navigator who was behind the golden age of Portuguese exploration in the 15th century. His support of explorers led to Portugal becoming the richest country in the world.
I had such a fabulous dinner at Armazem.
If you are wondering how I am surviving with only 3 euros left of my cash? Every night I order bread and cheese as an appetizer. Then I put it in my purse for lunch the next day. This part of Portugal has the best cheese I have ever eaten. Believe it or not, it is so good that I am not tired of it yet.
I ordered the sea bream which was grilled and my server expertly de-boned table side. Delicious. It was served with boiled potatoes. I never met a potato I didn't like. These were served in melted butter. Make your tongue slap your brains out! So bright and sorta early, with the cheese in my pack, I head to the end of the earth tomorrow. I suspect it will be the most beautiful part of the trip. The ocean sits beneath high cliffs.
Until tomorrow..goodnight!
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