Currently on CP

[PeterBarry]

Hi Folks
I am currently walking the CP.
I have just completed stage 3.
It is NOT my intentional to give daily updates as I am pretty tired at end of day. However when I see som thing that I think needs to be passed on I will do so. (As yesterday re closure on Sunday's of alburgue at azumbuja)

Today 2 items( maybe 3)
1 as you leave Azumbuja you approach railway station. There isan arrow pointing to the right on the east side, the side you are on, as you have not yet crossed the railway tracks. This point to the main road N3. This is confusing as it should point across the railway tracks tothe west side.
In other words cross the rail track by the bridge a the station and get arrow ffrom there on other side. I followed the A3 for a bit and turned back. I met 3 others later who followed the N3 all the way to Santarem!!!

2. The Santarem hostel referred to in Brierly guide is full for the next 8 days.
I am at the N1 hostel and apartments and suites. Big church on main roundabout. Go to right and straight on rhs. €15 for dorm bed with towels and wifi and brekkie if you need it. Very pleased d. It's not a plug I am just so relieved. Brand new building.

3. Please stock up on water and food from Porte de muga. Long walk with nothing tillSantarem 13 Km. later.
Hope this helps.

Peter B

 

[Pilgrim-S-414]

Bom Caminho Peter!

 

[Mike Savage]

Bom Caminho!

 

[marbuck]

Thanks for the updates, we intend to walk from Lisbon next April and appreciate any information.

 

[La Barre]

Thank you, I am sure I would have followed the wrong arrow if you had not stated it so clearly.

 

[Ria Mattheus]

Hi Folks
I am currently walking the CP.
I have just completed stage 3.
It is NOT my intentional to give daily updates as I am pretty tired at end of day. However when I see som thing that I think needs to be passed on I will do so. (As yesterday re closure on Sunday's of alburgue at azumbuja)

Today 2 items( maybe 3)
1 as you leave Azumbuja you approach railway station. There isan arrow pointing to the right on the east side, the side you are on, as you have not yet crossed the railway tracks. This point to the main road N3. This is confusing as it should point across the railway tracks tothe west side.
In other words cross the rail track by the bridge a the station and get arrow ffrom there on other side. I followed the A3 for a bit and turned back. I met 3 others later who followed the N3 all the way to Santarem!!!

2. The Santarem hostel referred to in Brierly guide is full for the next 8 days.
I am at the N1 hostel and apartments and suites. Big church on main roundabout. Go to right and straight on rhs. €15 for dorm bed with towels and wifi and brekkie if you need it. Very pleased d. It's not a plug I am just so relieved. Brand new building.

3. Please stock up on water and food from Porte de muga. Long walk with nothing tillSantarem 13 Km. later.
Hope this helps.

Peter B

Thank you so much Peter for the updates - we wil start walking the CP on Aug 16 from Sintra! Very helpfull!

Enjoy! Bom Camino!

 

[Camino Iris]

Peter,
I will be walking the CP leaving from Lisbon on 9/4. This is wonderful information. Thank you and please keep it coming!
Anyone else out there starting on or near 9/4?

 

[PeterBarry]

Hi Me again

Stage 4 into Golega
2 routes old and new.
Old was flooded so anew one was marked.
However the mayor of golega in his infinite wisdom
Decided to Change this again.
You now actually switch or traverse from one across to the other which adds approx 3km to journey. Little can be done without a detailed map but it is a 34 km stage not 31!
Try telling that to a 74 yo fellow pilgrim walk g alongside!
Great fun.
Albuergue in Golega is cool out.
Signs from just inside the town €10 dorm €15 private em for 2
Elenour is hospitalaro although maybe gone soon.

Happy days

Peter B

 

[PeterBarry]

Folks, oops
My earlier post rear row on east side of railway Stn pointing right should say left.
Apologies. However the point being ignore it and cross the railway tracks!

Peter B

 

[PeterBarry]

Tomar to Alva iere. Beautiful stage long day but nice scenery.
Syed in alburgue Panheiros. €10 private room€250 for brekkie.
Really good. Landry downstairs.

Alvazaire to rabacal again a lovely walk. Nice scenery
There are a number of dogs on this route out on the way
Small but determined. Of 3 pilgrims who passed all nada. Problem with the dogs staying at alburgue(only one) in Rabacal.
€15 reasonable. No super market here.
Peter B

 

[PeterBarry]

Rabacal to Coimbra
Nice walk plenty to see.
No market in Rabacal so no brekkie until Conimbriga.
Cafe there.
Before that in Poco there was a large dog issue.
The further out from Lisbon it seems the more dogs are loose
On the streets.
One resident chastised for challenging his dog running after me saying I was not being fair to his good dog who nearly caused an accident and was not being fair do me.

Alburgue at Santa Clara in coimbra outskirts is. Must.
€8 for bed with sheets and pillow slip.
Opens t 1400 closes at 2200.
Clan and we'll run.

Hope this helps
Peter B

 

[PeterBarry]

Anadia to Albergaria
On approach to serem de cema be careful to take main
Bridge over the river. That's the big huge bridge. The arrows point down to a smaller bridge now blocked off and broken.
Had a bit of a problem here and very nearly lost my way completely. So large bridge and there is a walkway on it

Hope this helps someone

Peter B

 

[anniethenurse]

FYI - there is another albergue in Santarem - close by the church at the Santa Casa de Misericordia and it is €5 for one night. Not many pilgrims stay there because they do not know about it!
http://todosloscaminosdesantiago.com/albergue-santa_casa_da_misericordia_santarem/

 

[Barbara06]

Hello Peter,
How do you deal with the loose dog issues ?
I am interested in your advice as I will be starting this camino around end of august and I'm scared of dogs.
Thanks

 

[annakappa]

Hello Peter,
How do you deal with the loose dog issues ?
I am interested in your advice as I will be starting this camino around end of august and I'm scared of dogs.
Thanks

You should buy a 'dog scarer'. They are fantastic, as the animal doesn't like the, unhearable sound to humans, but to them, they just simply run away.

 

[Barbara06]

Hello annakappa,
What is a "dog scarer" ? where do you buy it ?
Thanks

 

[marbuck]

You should buy a 'dog scarer'. They are fantastic, as the animal doesn't like the, unhearable sound to humans, but to them, they just simply run away.

Everything I have read on 'dog scarer's' tells me they don't work. What brand do you use annakappa?

 

[annakappa]

Everything I have read on 'dog scarer's' tells me they don't work. What brand do you use annakappa?

No idea what brand. We bought in Santiago a couple of years ago. I can assure you that it works!

 

[annakappa]

Hello annakappa,
What is a "dog scarer" ? where do you buy it ?
Thanks

It's a small gadget that you point at the offending dog, press a button and it sends out a sound that we can't hear, but dogs do and they hate it. They simply run away!

 

[marbuck]

I want one, not just for our next Camino in Portugal but for here on Tamborine Mountain. The dogs and their owners make walking here not very pleasant.

 

[annakappa]

I want one, not just for our next Camino in Portugal but for here on Tamborine Mountain. The dogs and their owners make walking here not very pleasant.

That's actually why we bought it! For when we are out walking at home. Plus to scare away one 'pain in the neck' dog, that keeps howling in the middle of the night outside our house. One press of the dog scarer button and he's gone!
First saw one in Portugal, when walking with my brother. We were really impressed - and still are!

 

[fraluchi]

We bought the "dogchaser" in a sports (hunting) store near Plaza Galicia in Santiago de Compostela.

 

[treefrogtoes]

Thank you so much Peter for the updates - we wil start walking the CP on Aug 16 from Sintra! Very helpfull!

Enjoy! Bom Camino!

Would love to know we route you are taking from Sintra, is it coastal?

 

[treefrogtoes]

Peter,
I will be walking the CP leaving from Lisbon on 9/4. This is wonderful information. Thank you and please keep it coming!
Anyone else out there starting on or near 9/4?

I will be arriving in Lisbon 9/4 bu† will be starting my Camino in Tomar on the 7th...we may cross each other?

 

[treefrogtoes]

Hello Peter,
How do you deal with the loose dog issues ?
I am interested in your advice as I will be starting this camino around end of august and I'm scared of dogs.
Thanks

I have a plastic whistle from REI, which should scare off other undesirable folks as well- and the trekking poles may help you shoo some away.

 

[PeterBarry]

Hello Peter,
How do you deal with the loose dog issues ?
I am interested in your advice as I will be starting this camino around end of august and I'm scared of dogs.
Thanks

I have walking sticks which I place directly in front of me.
I don't swing them or nothing threatening and then move forward. If this do s not work I pick up a ston ( large) and scream to high heaven at the dog. And walk fast right thru them.
If the owner emerges I threaten them with police.
Only to do all of the above once.

Hope this helps
Peterb

 

[PeterBarry]

Hi folks
Am now in Ponte de Lima a beautiful town.
A lovely approach under a natural canopy of overhanging trees.
Alburgue is out the other side of town across the old footbridge.
A lovely walk today.
Since Porto I have got a number of blisters.
I don't kally get them. The Roma roads or cobblestones are not easy to walk on.
Just on the way out of rates opposite the alburgue I bought a set of gel insesmfor €5. The are helping but have changed the shape of my shoe. ( never happy). But I don't think I could have died be today ( Barcelos to ponte de Lima ) without them.
They are a necessity.
No real issues strew days. Just pay attention as many of thearrows are hidden by overgrowth from trees and bushes.

Take care
PeterB

 

[PeterBarry]

Hi again
Now in pontevedra.
Nothing of any significance to report as such.

The cobble stones have stopped, thank god.
Also I did not change my alarm time havincrossed into Spain.
This meant that I was walking I the dark for over an hour out of TUI. There are confusing white arrows which are difficult to Dermine from yellow in darkness.
So now I get up an hour later.
The stages are less than 30 kms now so it makes little difference to finish time.

3 days to Santiago getting almost giddy!
PeterB