Santarem - a long day

What a great (and tiring) day. Started from Azumbuja in a fog.  Spent the first couple of hours in rapture. Glorious country roads, river in fog. Spider webs all along the canals. Found that special place for a time - awesome. Completed 32km and now warn out. Goodnight.
Staying at a brilliant new pilgrim hostel. N1 hostel in Rua dos Combatentes in Santarem. Nice dinner, clothes washed. Some Vin tintho. Had dinner with another pilgrim, a young Portuguese lady from Holland who injured herself on the long walk yesterday.

Leaving Azumbuja

Leaving Azumbuja

Azumbuja

Stayed last night in a nice Residencial in Azumbuja. 2 other peregrinos staying here. Took some finding, involving the help of a one legged man, Madam Google had this one wrong. Nice afternoon meal. We are eating early afternoon. And then hitting the rack early, as normal dinner time is too late. Had a later coffee at a great bar/cafe full of locals. Really enjoyed that. Was a cool night 6c. Set to be 20c today. Yesterday was part gorgeous, part slog through industrial areas. Would have been tough going in hot weather. Today is a longer stint. Might break it up. Currently about 60km NE of Lisbon. We are still near the Rio Tejo. Had a railway line close most of the day, reminding us of the easier way.

Vila Franca de Xira

Good walk today, after catching a taxi back to where we left off yesterday. Met the guy from yesterdays hotel along the way. He saw us, got quite excited (so did we) and stopped on his way to work to chat. Some scenic, some muddy, some rustic and some industrial. Loved the boardwalk across the marshy rivers edge. Beer o'clock.

Early morning at Santa Iria

Good day yesterday. Covered a good few k's, in lovely conditions. Clear sunny sky. Slight bit breezy for the start. After leaving the cathedral about 0900, we came to some roadwork, asked policeman for directions. Bum steer. We lost the arrows. Asked at a police station who could not believe this pair were walking to Fatima. They did not know other than direct us to Naçoes bridge. Picked the path up again there. Very industrial first part of walk. But nice around the 1998 expo site. Later turned inland along a river/canal. Not well marked so we were always wondering if we had lost the way again. A farmer said we were OK. Ended up at a small town Granja. Had a few beers, consulted Madam Google and organized a hotel and taxi to Santa Iria. Had dinner at a well populated small local restaurant. We catch a taxi back to Granja this morning. Feet and body good, but sleeping pattern is very poor. Heading to Vila Franca de Xira today.

Another beginning

This morning we start our Caminho to Fatima from the Cathedral de Se in Lisbon, near the Alfama region. Picked up a credential for Steve there yesterday. I lit two candles in the cathedral in memory of Stephen Kerr and Gonçalo Coelho, who this journey will be dedicated to.
Pictures will follow. Thank-you Cristina for supporting my searches. Love you.