Stage 7 - Wind and hiking frustration

Exclusive guest post by Martin

Today, unfortunately, another solo stage from Carrapateira to Vila do Bispo (16.5 km and 610 m in altitude). I started early, too early as it turned out, breakfast options weren't available until 10:30 a.m.... so we left without coffee. This section was significantly more mountainous, steep ramps had to be overcome down to the beach and back up to the cliff. But one thing is becoming increasingly annoying... the merciless, ice-cold wind (although wind doesn't begin to describe what's going on on the coast). By kilometer 8 my motivation was gone and so I struggled on, complaining loudly. The constant whistling in the ear and the fight against cooling down were really grueling (we even had to wear gloves). The photos actually give a false impression of the weather, they were small windows of sunshine that opened up.

Despite all the complaining about the wind and weather, it was still a breathtakingly beautiful landscape that I hiked through today.

But I was still very happy to have finally arrived after a tough final sprint, in the windless café where Christina was already waiting for me.

What will happen tomorrow? I can not say it yet …