We all had a great night’s sleep at the guest house, waking early to start hiking while we still had some coolness in the air. We quickly ate the remainder of our pizza for breakfast then called for an Uber to return us to the spot where we left the trail. No cheating by cutting out areas!

We were back on the boardwalk just after 7:30 with a delightful temperature and the sun just coming up. Right off we spotted more flamingos but they were rather far out for decent viewing. However, Mandy, with her zoom lens manages to get some great shots. She is such a birder these days! She’s quick to pull out the camera for a good shot.

We started seeing many more people on the boardwalk, mostly cyclists and runners but also a good number of walkers. We got more of them willing to greet us with “bom dia” (good morning) and a few recognizing us as pilgrims even greeted us with “bom caminoh”, the Portuguese version of the classic “good Camino” wish. It was good to see so many of the folks of an age, more like me.

We finally ended the boardwalk section going through a bit of town where we could stop for coffee and I had another pasteis de nata. Not quite as good as yesterday’s. But I did chat with a couple of other pilgrims at the cafe, finding that they were “slack packing” it – walking with just small day packs and having their bags transported for them. Well, everyone hikes their own hike.

The route became better marked the further we went along, which is typical once you get out of a major city. We stopped along the way to show off my Camino ring from my first Camino, which says “Ultreia”. On the routes one is often greeted with the Latin word which is generally meant as “forward” or “onward”. I continue to wear it often, especially when it helps spur me on during my day.

The route was often surrounded today by large swaths of a giant reed and another section where we were surrounded by a combination of bougainvillea and white oleander.

We found our way to a local supermarket where we got fresh baguettes and vegan cream cheese along with fresh peaches. Made for a delicious and filling lunch which we ate sitting in the shade and tending to my now 3 blisters! You’d think with the callouses I have under my bunions that wouldn’t be an issue. But no, with the heat and sweat and the pack load, though much lighter than Mandy and Karma’s, it still created blisters. The good news is the kids are great about taking breaks, pulling off packs and taking off shoes and socks. It really helps. And so do blister bandages.

After lunch we unfortunately had to walk a few km on a very sketchy shoulder along a busy road, the N10. Cars and trucks zipped by requiring keeping a sharp eye out. But after that we were rewarded with a lovely paved path that was decorated with many charming murals behind the benches.

But the best rest was in Alhandra where we found a fun swing to enjoy the view of the river. Plus! We met another pilgrim, Christian, from Denmark! I was so pleased to be able to speak with him a bit in Danish, much to his surprise.

While my legs and back are doing well, we opted for not stretching things too far today due to my feet. We walked into a small town called Vila Franca de Xira, where at first we passed what must be the local bull ring, but then many charming small streets with tiled homes and even the businesses were decked out.

We luckily found a room at a local hostelry for the night. We all got showered and washed out a few things and ready to find dinner. Tomorrow – Ultreia!

Today, another hot one at 78 degrees. 11.7 miles walked.