Lisbon to Santa Iris de Azoia

So, the Pyrenees this is not. In fact, in comparison to the 810 km we walked last year, this was the hardest walk we have ever done. The photos really say it all – it started well. We got up at 6am,were out of the hotel with a packed breakfast and headed off to the Cathedral where the Camino starts. Interestingly the route for the walk to Santiago is the same as that for Fatima for about the first 100km and so we were surprised by how few “signs” there were along the way leading out of the city. The signs (an arrow or a shell) we were very used to seeing along the French Camino were almost non-existent for the first 10 km which made getting out of Lisbon city interesting. However we managed to navigate ourselves out and headed towards the very spectacular newish part of Lisbon constructed for the World Cup. Everything was going well – scenery amazing, perhaps too much in the day packs, plenty of water, good to go. Then we turned off the promenade and basically headed into one of the industrial areas of Lisbon, which seemed to go for ever. That piece was over and then we came off the asphalt and headed onto the rural paths that we usually enjoy. We realized today as the temperature started to climb, how lucky we were to gradually walk ourselves into shape in the cool of the mountains last year. The temperature today kept climbing, there was almost no shade and we were feeling it. I pulled out the trusty poles and got a pace on thinking “get this over and done with”. It was then that I wondered what the “bing bing” sound was in my pack – this is the new phone with the as yet unrecognised message tones. The message was from Lori behind me that she was stopping for a break. So, I headed back and we both were looking the worse for wear. Knocking back the water, adding Hydralyte and Staminade we “pulled ourselves together” and headed on again. This became a pattern for what ended up being a very long day. Walk a bit, find a tree, drink and go again. 27Km has never felt longer. Interestingly, the difference between last year’s walk and this year is the complete lack of people on the path with us. We would have seen close to 100 walking with us on our first day last year (I exclude the Japanese with all the gear and no idea – they don’t count coz they went home on the first day). Today we have seen five others with us TOTAL. However, when we finally did find a cafe (and bought them out of water) we still were given the standard greeting for people walking the Camino – a “buen Camino” salutation as we left. So, we made it to the end of our first leg…finally. We are staying in the most ridiculous hotel which is positioned roughly where the Nickel refinery would be in Kwinana….but we DONT CARE…the Airconditioner is on minimum, socks and jocks are washed…water tanks are in the fridge for tomorrow and it’s feet up. So tomorrow looks even more challenging – 34 km and predicted temperature of 35….I’m hoping Lori doesn’t read this tonight – she thinks its going to be 29…..hmmmm.