The heat is zapping us completely. We got up early and skipped breakfast again, opting for a cheese sandwich and an apple take away. The walk took us again through a couple of villages and lots of industrial areas with one small section that “felt like the Camino” – wheat fields and poppies. It really is such an incredibly different walking experience in this heat. I am almost longing for a day when my boots can fill with water like last year. We anticipate another couple of days of heat like this and hopefully a cooler change on the horizon. There were still opportunities to laugh especially when we found a railway station with some shade (almost no trees for shade on this section of the Camino) and sat down to eat breakfast and work out which way was best to go to get to our next stop – the photo says it all. Lori diligently does a Lori, reads two books, consults the paper map and uses the app that we were given “to be sure to be sure”. Meanwhile, I look up at the train schedules and a train taking us to out destination was due in 20 minutes….tempting – we both looked at each other willing the other to say yes, but no we persevered and have made it to Azambuja on foot. Along the way we have bumped into a six more people heading to Santiago and mercifully they all looked as drained and exhausted as we did. We have discovered that even a service station can provide relief from the heat with a semi chilled bottle of mineral water – interestingly we could also have chosen to have a pulled beer…an idea I can’t see becoming a norm in service stations in Australia.
On arriving in Azambuja we discovered that all the streets have had huge wooden barriers put up and are covered in mixture of sand and grit which is all part of the running of the bulls festival. It’s Sunday and people have all set up bbqs outside and tables and chairs are everywhere as people are enjoying a Sunday BBQ with the added bonus of a bull race directly in front of them. We are waiting for some cool and will head out to find somewhere to eat – which could be difficult considering the festival. Well, another 30km day ahead tomorrow and temperatures in the mid 30’s… a challenge.
Is there any reason why the first Camino pilgrims chose the slightly inland route which now appears to be through industrial areas? Surely you can self-flagellate just as well on a more scenic “as the crow flies” coastal route.
Hoping today wasn’t too hard-going or too hot and that you found some shade – the cooler temperatures are coming.
I’ve worked it out Allan and Lori. Fatima is on your current route not the scenic coastal route so continue to self-flagellate on your way for the amazing two-for-one deal.
So you need to know that Lori did a side trip to Fatima and she has double PI’s for us all!
One of those journeys that I am glad that I am travelling vicariously. I hope the weather is kinder to you soon