End of the world: Cabo Sao Vincente
We are getting up at 6:00 and we will see the sunrise again and the moon. Today we go to the last stop before America!
I tell them about the Food Truck Die Letzte Bratwurst vor Amerika. all the way at the end of the world! They have funny stamp and you get a certificate. After that point we need to walk back and start going north. The trail ends in Vila do Bispo. This is not a coast town, so we will need to walk away from the coast. We are not finished in town, because I reserved a place 2,5 km further away, in the village Raposeira. I really liked the little wooden bungalows for two people and the vegan restaurant.
A primary school in the Algarve! Looks totally different than the mostly closed primary schools in Central Portugal.
Average
I just hope the trail would be gentle for Jaap-Willem today. The path to Cabo is nice, and rocky. Looks like another planet with strange things behind a fence that was totally broken. You could walk on the footpath next to the street, where the bike path is, but the walking route is inside the dunes. We see the light house from far and when we approach, we see that all is still closed, we are too early. It is 10:00 and the letzte Bratwurst opens at 10:45. We are not going to wait but I ask for a stamp, which they give inlcuding the certificate for the girls. Dissapointed the girls walk back. I promise them to make it myself if we have a kitchen and the time, coming days.
We walk a long way in the dunes on rocks coming out of the ground everywhere. Quite difficult but it is flat. We come across one small climb, not very difficult and Jaap-Willem says:
“If there is another higher climb I cannot do it.” His muscles were aching and completely acidified”.
OMG, I just think: “If? or When?”. Since yesterday was the most difficult path, I try to be optimistic.
The last part we are on a a long never-ending path without a lot of shadow. Luckily this is good for Jaap-Willem. The girls are not so happy with these long paths, but we sing limericks and do word games. The girls like to get up again at 6:00 because the heat is not so comfortable. Let’s do 6:30 then tomorrow!
I remember when entering Vila do Bispo, we rested in the cafe and crossing the road there is a Aldi. The next game was: What would you buy if there is a supermarket…?
“Gum, gum and more gum”.
So tired they were on this hot path, so much energy they regained in the Aldi, where they both got a package of gum, I buy magnesium tablets for Jaap-Willems muscles and I buy 6 liters of water and bread for tomorrow. And I forget that we are not there yet. Luckily we pass a pharmacy so Jaap-Willem goes in quickly for a creme to soothe his muscles.
Sleeping @…
We need to walk 2,5 km to our hostel in Raposeira on the big road. So the stress is not really gone because the cars pass us fast. The last km are always heavy, and also this time it takes way too long. But when we arrive in our wooden bungalows, Eef says that she really likes small places like this, and they immediately sit down and play, they feel at home in their private bungalow. We have a swimmig pool too.
We wanted to eat in the vegan restaurant, but it is closed. So disappointing. I cook something quickly for the girls and they are good to go to bed after a card game!
In the big living room and kitchen there are a lot of people. Dutch and German pilgrims, and some surf dudes. A Dutch pilgrim walked the opposite way and tells us it was steep and very tiring although it is only 16 km. It is clear for Jaap-Willem, that he will skip tomorrow.
Bus or Taxi
A Dutch man also walking opposite way, didn’t walk because he had many blisters, he asks me if he could walk on his sandals. Today you could but with all the stones, it is not easy. But no, not on our Day 3, no way! He tells me that he got an Uber, so no problem for Jaap-Willem to go to the next stop tomorrow.
Eef is worried and says:
“But I really don’t want to go by bus”.
Cinta replied:
“No, not you, we are walking, only dad goes by bus.”
We will have a relaxed day tomorrow! Just 16 km and a few climbs!
Girl Power
Jaap-Willem and I go to the village and from the three restaurants, the local restaurant cafe is open. Not very friendly service, I knew from last year, and now we experience it again. Very typical here: in some places you are amazed by the friendliness of the people, and in others, you cannot believe how stiff they are.
Facts of the Day
Waking up: 7:00
Start walk: 7:45
Blisters: 0
Pains: The girls have sensitive feet, Jaap-Willem heavy muscle ache and sore muscles
Falls: Eef made sliding on her but
Climbs: No
Caminho (boring long straight flat paths according to the girls): Yes
Steep climbs and descents: No
Arrival time: 16:00 (but we walked 2,5 km more to the hostel)
Time to relax after the walk: Yes
Swimming in the ocean: No
Swimming at the swimming pool: Yes
Shared bathroom 20 meters further upstairs
Read about this same stage in my walk with Willeke last June.
