May 3rd , Argh, what a day, got up this morning feeling like an elephant was on my back , I don't quite get it as this isn't my first rodeo, I cant seem to find my rhythm, and can't get into a good cadence. As I wobble along like a walrus I sometime doubt myself but that won't last long. My feet are hot and my toe nails are 60 shades of Grey, that in itself is crazy ', because I have hiked in these very shoes for over 500 miles before this trip, the only change has been I replaced the inner liners. So I need to look at that. Got going early this morning, all 4 of us John, myself, andrew and ibuprofen, after about two hours Ibuprofen left, must have missed a turn.
Then the rain came, time to put of the wet gear,oh that's right, I didn't bring any as I wasn't going to need it.

Took a break in a river village called Vilafranca.  Then moved on to what's maybe the worste section of this Camino, it was highways and main roads forever, boring and torture on the feet. On the way to our night stop in Azambula, we ran into a guy on a bicycle, turns out he is the guy who paints the Way signs for the pilgrims.he warned us about the boring part ahead, then talked about the Camino how there was two Camino's, the physical one and the mental one, and there is no shortcut for the true pilgrim, great, now a dose of guilt too, I guess I wasn't going to taxi that part after all.

The Way marker and all round good guy, I told him we couldn't get credentials in Lisbon, so he gave us some that he was carrying, the Camino has a way of caring for the pilgrims they say.

Got to Azambuja ,and pulled my boot inner soles,cut the section out from behind the toes forward,,we will see. When I took a leak, I noticed the color and realised I was also very dehydrated, this is because I have not put water in my pack bladder ,as I'm trying not to carry the extra 4  pounds on my neck,  tomorrow that has to change.

May 4 th,,,,, woke up and hit the trail by 6 am, was drizzling again and I thought I had the answer, I had my SCCA windbreaker which I wore over my race suit on cold days at the track, next time I'll use it as a wind breaker as designed,, as it sure as hell won't keep out water, if anything, it stores water.

The rain held up for awhile as the sun came up, it was country side and farms, so much better than the day before, I seemed to relax now that I was out of the city, and my pace picked up. The wild poppies were out everywhere, and not a sole in sight , pretty peaceful

after 3 hours, the rain picked up

And we were lucky to find a cafe where we had coffee and a ham sandwich while we let it subside. I was starting to feel good, my feet didn't hurt so my spirits picked up. Then I didn't care about the rain so much, as I had been wet for so long now that I'm sure my lap times in the swimpool have improved

A Way marker just before

Santarem, our night stop, and a good shot of happy (which is long for. Dry) john crossing on top of the flood dyke along the Rio Tejo in the town of Valada.

Approaching our night stop,

we have a 1000ft climb into the town

After 20 miles today, I didn't need that, but I think I'm finally finding my stride,my body realized what we are doing and its starting to feel good.

I stopped half way up the climb to drink from the old Roman fountain, the water

is sweet

How sad ,we just pulled in and I felt like a million bucks, just to be told that 5 pilgrims had just died two days ahead of us, hit buy a car at night along a country road. Brings you back to earth in a hurry.

My thoughts are with them and their families, as Im sure are all the pilgrims on the Way.

I need a hot shower, find Ibuprofen again and indulge a little. I think my mojo is back and Im ready to take this on. God speed those who lost their lives, and bring on tomorrow.