Vila Franca de Xira

Vila Franca de Xira
I am not sure I understood that this trail was going to be 30 miles. My watch and phone ran out of charge before finishing.

This was the first day. I found this wikiloc app which had gps data for hiking routes. I did not realize that some of the gps data did not follow the camino routes. Also followed perfectly straight lines which probably corresponded to someone losing power or gps signal so the gps graph fills the gap with a straight line which might lead to a brick wall or middle of a crop field.

I started out with a new back pack which didn’t fit properly. My back muscles were aching after 100 yards. I stopped for breakfast 3 times before getting out of Lisbon.

There was a lookout tower along a bay that I stopped to see. 5€ to take the elevator.

Emily originally from Kansas, a travel writer noticed my LSU hat while walking. We just spoke about where we were from. She was walking with Roberto from Italy.

I stopped for lunch (kitkat bar) and Emily invited me to sit with her and Roberto. This is her 4th Camino and my 3rd. I mentioned started to blister my feet and ill fitting back. She told me I was crazy for going all the way to Vila Franca the first day being longer than a marathon. After talking a while she told me she could tell I was from Louisiana not just because of my accent, but because of my whole approach to the Camino. She and Roberto helped me adjust my back pack before leaving. I also ran into 2 ladies from Belgium who were also surprised to see me continue. They were all supposed to find an Albergue (hostel) to stay at this stop. After a couple miles of walking I stopped for another lunch and Emily, Roberto and Belgians came by. They could not find a vacancy so they continued walking with me so now we are all doing a marathon. After a mile or so we parted ways as I was following an X sign which Emily alerted me was the wrong way, but on my map it looked more direct so I took it and left them. I was a little concerned with the endless looking dirt path and then a gate. There was a little walk around the gate and after a while I started seeing Camino arrows. Vila Franca was not coming quickly.

When a few miles from Vila Franca my phone was almost out of charge. A girl walking with a backpack noticed my LSU hat. Bethany from Michigan. I was surprised she said she also started from Lisbon. We decided to walk together even if our paces were different so I could get help without my phone and I could help keep her going. We could not believe Vila Franca was taking so long. We got in town and I told a Police officer where we were going and he told us the nest route but it was still 2k (1.2 miles). Was really glad to make it to the hotel. After cleaning up I tried to walk around town but it was too far to get anywhere the way this road was fenced.

Longest backpack day I ever had. I took an unplanned rest day with a blister on my left small toe and on my right heal. I picked up compeed from a pharmacy which is a skin like texture bandaid.

I had bought a ticket to a bull fight but it was for Sunday and it was Saturday. I was planning on leaving Sunday morning. I was at the arena trying to give the ticket away and the first customer was one of the bull fighters so there is a photo of him and I during the festival on Saturday.