5. Etappe Von Odeceixe nach Aljezur

This stage was only beautiful on the first half. When you leave Odeceixe, you follow the river on the left side this time, but through lush greenery and past cattle pastures and medlar trees, then high above the roaring Atlantic with a view of rocks, cliffs and stork nests.

But then the path leads inland, the route becomes increasingly desolate and the sun is constantly burning from above or in front of me, as we are heading south. Since my sunburn from yesterday is alarmingly red and hot, I actually have to keep my arms and legs covered all day, which of course doesn't make the heat any more bearable. But all these apparent exertions aren't so bad because the walking takes on more and more of a meditative character. Despite the heat, despite the pain here and there, it's just good, exhausting but liberating, strengthening, clarifying. Phew, I'm not on the Way of St. James or on a religious, meditative, esoteric or similar journey, but it's just soothing to walk alone.

Oh yes, Doris and I have not been hiking together for a few days now, because that way we can each go at our own pace and have our own trip. In the evening we meet again in the accommodation we booked together and exchange experiences on the route.

I now believe that hiking together has to be tried out together beforehand so that you can be sure that the flow is the same.

Tomorrow we'll be on the last leg to Arrifana. Since there are no supermarkets on the way there or in the town itself, we need to stock up on supplies, especially water, and plan our energy supply carefully before we set off tomorrow. I'm excited to see what awaits us in this pure beach and surfing town.