Camino Santiago Day 3

 

Day three. 17 September 2025 Day  .  I walked from Valada to Santarem It was only 20 kilometers. Started really early at 6:00 in the morning. The sunrise was really nice , an orangey red sunrise. There  was a German father and daughter that started off from the same hostel as myself and we basically walked  most of it passing each other with the Dutch couple that I seen the day before. Again, in terms of fluids, I had half liter of orange juice, a bottle of water, 500 ms, and one donut. And that basically lasted me the four and a half hours it took to get to Santarem. Thankfully, it wasn't too hot given we started at six. I finished at 10:30 in the morning. Got a hotel room. Had Chinese for lunch. It was just too much. I had fried rice and a mushroom soup. Couldn't eat the fried rice. I took it back, but never finished it. And for dinner, I just really had some fruit and nuts. and orange juice. Again, the stomach's basically I think adjusting to the extensive heat.I found it very difficult to just eat too much. But so far the stomach settled. I had a really good rest in Santarem. Managed to get a USB charger so I could charge both  my devices  at once. Just a recap on day two which was rather tough day. Started off at 6:30 am from Franca De Xira. Plan was to walk about 30 kilometers but ended up doing about 35 and got to Valada suffering from heat exhaustion. The stomach was basically not taking in any fluids or food. Struggling.The walk started off pretty well. Did pretty good time. Doing just over 4ks to 5ks an hour. But as it got warmer, there was a section of 10 kilometers without any shade from about 12km into the walk . And that basically caused the stomach to shut down. I managed to get to a bar to have a drink. I accidentally ordered  iced tea which didn't go down well. I had a seven up that did help a bit. Had diarrhea which was not good. The minute I left to walk the final 2.5 kms to the accommodation I started throwing up  but managed to get to the hostel.It was obviously a basic accommodation with bunk beds but at least I got there. I decided not to take the further 3ks to the next  accommodation and  the stomach was basically pretty much closed down. Went to the toilet a couple of times. Couldn't eat much. Just had a bowl of rice with a hot tea and went to bed. Slept for a few hours. There was a father and daughter in the next room  who got up pretty early at about 4:00. They were planning to walk to Santarem as well. So I got up at about 5. I've got ready and left. Today's a much shorter walk.  It's only 20ks and I'm hoping to at least beat most of the heat and have a short walk so that I can recover properly in Santarem as the following day it's 31 kms to Goleja. Generally, I think I'm doing quite well. There is no expectations about finishing, but hope that if I just take each day at a time, I'll be able to work through any difficulties. It'll be good to figure out how to avoid the heat exhaustion and try to keep fluids up when the stomach's shutting down. That would be an interesting issue if I can work that out, I suspect that's the main reason  for my DNFs. Even when it's not terribly hot, the stomach basically with the exertion over a couple of days begins to shut the stomach down, refusing to take food. Everything becomes unpalatable and that obviously perpetuates the difficulty with moving forward. But having said that, I met some very interesting people. The father and daughter combination uh from Germany just outside Dortmund and they're taking a slow walk. The daughter will go as far as Porto. The father will keep continuing possibly or going back. Then there was another German who is doing his third Camino. Chose Portuguese because he didn't have enough time and he's hoping to try and get to Porto at least in the next two weeks. He thinks 25 days is enough time to finish the Camino Portuguese. That means I really would basically just get to Santiago and then fly back to Lisbon to catch my flight back. But that makes it hopeful.  At least today I'll be able to rest, have some more food, and get ready for the next day. 

 

 

Camino Santiago Day 4

 

Day 4 18 September 2025. Santarem to Golega 34 kms .Got up again fairly early at about 5. Couldn't do the hotel breakfast  that starts at 7:00. So I basically had some yogurt. I did have an egg sandwich, but it didn't taste very nice, so I didn't eat it. Again, some cashew nuts and some fruit, orange juice, and then headed out  in the dark. I had to cross the castle wall of Santarem and basically walk down in the dark, which was a little nerve-wracking given that there was no fence line. But managed to get down and now on the fields. Today's walk is to  G O L E G A. It is uh 30 kilometers away. So I'm hoping to try and get most of it done before it gets hot, but at least the last 10ks is going to be hot. So it's going to be slow going and hopefully I don't get any of the issues I got on the second day with the stomach. Generally I don't see too many pilgrims. So, this section is obviously pretty light on with pilgrims. I suspect also that the weather has played a role given that today it's expected to be about 34 /35°. Same thing tomorrow. Tomorrow, Friday, the 20th.

 

 

The temperature is hopefully starting to fall off to the 24s which hopefully will be more comfortable to walk in.  Managed to book a room at an equestrian property that had rooms, most expensive so far at €55. Not probably the best. There's no breakfast.  I also had lunch which was fish and fortunately I couldn't eat the whole meal and then for dinner I just had an omelette with  fries again .Again couldn't finish the whole thing so I'm definitely not able to eat a lot on this trip. Anand my friend from Singapore visited which is a great surprise .We had a long chat and hopefully I'll meet up with him at the end of the journey.So far not had any major issues other than the ability to eat food or eat lots of food, but I'm managing well. Keeping my fluids up, but still probably a little dehydrated.  Yesterday I started off at about 5:45. and got to  Golega at about 1:30 and then had lunch. Waited around for the  reception to open up. I met some Aussies who are walking Camino . They are doing the same trip and have allowed for 26 days. So hopefully I'll get to Santiago with a few days to spare and then meet up with Anand before heading back. But that's still far way off. Today its just getting tfrom Golega to Tomaar which is 31about kilometers.  I'm hoping that as the weather starts to cool, I'll be able to keep up 30 kilometers a day, which so far I'm managing. And the next big town is, C O I M R A, and that's another three days away. And then after that, it'll be Porto. So, it's getting closer.