Day 5 Santarem to Golega

 

We were on the road by 0430 despite me only managing three hours sleep, sadly today was destined not to be a good day, we soon picked up the camino markers that we had been following our entire journey.

As we moved on through the suburbs nothing seemed to tie in with the guide book yet the yellow arrows continued.

After 5 miles or so I instinctively knew something was wrong but we carried on following the signs out into the country.

We stopped for a break and Yotty pointed out that the front of his shin was hurting, I remember Jeremy having the same problem last year when we walked the Camino. I knew in my heart what the problem was, Shin Splints, we were in the middle of nowhere we had not got a clue where we were .

We pushed on in the belief that the signs must be right, Yotty limped on and I was getting worried on both fronts.

What was going on with these snails? I think there was a party going down.

We came across this fellow offering comfort to Peregrinos, he stamped our Credencial.

I showed him our guide book and where we wanted to go and he pointed in another direction to the one we were going in, he could not speak English, we knew that the blue arrow pointed to Fatima and the yellow to Santiago and the camino split around Santarem.

We went into the next village, sadly I could not get my phones gps to work to pinpoint our position. Eventually Yotty managed to get his phone working and then I knew we were following the wrong camino; it had split in Santarem and we had missed the sign and we were following the Fatima. Yottys shin was getting worse so I made the decision to walk onto the next village and get a taxi to Golega.

We eventually came to a cafe that was closed next to a school and Yotty managed to get a taxi company number and I got the school headmistress to phone for a taxi.

Much to our relief twenty minutes later our taxi turned up and I could have kissed the drivers  ....!!

I needed to get Yotty sorted .

We waved goodbye to the Headmistress and then headed onto Golega. It is worth pointing out at this time that we have found the Portuguese people so friendly and welcoming.

Time for dog on a blog and what a beauty, Lassie eat your heart out.

25 kilometres later we arrived at our hotel, we checked in and I got some ice for Yottys leg .

Look at these beauties to add to Yottys woes.

I think we both knew that the game was up in the short term and maybe the long term for Yotty, so what we have decided to do for the next three days is for me to walk and Yotty will go ahead of me by taxi and we will take a view then, to say he is devastated is an understatement, this is a punishing walk that takes no prisoners, my right knee feels like a gearbox where the syncromesh has gone.

It was only 11 o'clock so we settled in for the day.

This really is a lovely hotel and the best we have stayed in so far with the added bonus of no railway line behind!!!

I left Yotty at the hotel and looked for my way out of town tomorrow as it would be dark when I left. It was lovely to see the camino signs that I am used to.

Golega is a beautiful town.

We went into the church and asked for a bit of help.

I went into this to confess only to find it was the broom cupboard.

Not sure what this was all about.

This is a completely different camino for me, I enjoy the fact I have only seen 1 other walker so far, it is far less commercialised, the food is better, the people so are so welcoming, could do with a few less roads, but you cannot have everything.

I feel so sad for Yotty he has given it his all, he has walked through terrible pain and displayed real grit, what is it about me and shin splints? First poor Jeremy last year and now Yotty. I hope we have caught it soon enough and he will be able to continue shortly.

I intend to be on the road by 4 tomorrow, it is still very hot.

Stats for today walked 12 miles

306 miles to go to Santiago

No Portuguese Tarts thus far,so total still stands at 21

I lied Barney had one at the airport.

Grand total 22 Portuguese Tarts .

Another Tart update we snuck into town,we were desperate for a fine Tart,sadly we could only find one, we shared it,we both agreed it was the best so far.

Grand Portuguese Tart update 23 .