19.4 miles from Santarém to Golega

Today was miles and miles of more farmland. I found some enjoyment in it after a couple of the farmers waved and struck up conversation with me. They spoke some Spanish, so we were able to hold a conversation of mixed Portuguese, Spanish, and English. I even accidentally snuck a little Tagalog in there when they said something I couldn’t understand and I said “ano?” 😅 we talked about the Camino and they were impressed that I would want to walk such a long way. 

I took a wrong turn and ultimately made my route an extra ~1/2 mile longer. I was distracted by a shaded path and a field of wildflowers and butterflies. I’d say it was worth it - my feet might not agree. 

The last 4-5 miles were pretty tough - today it’s 75-80° and very sunny. I normally welcome this kind of weather, but it’s a lot different without the option for shade and an extra 20lbs on your back. I was also walking on a busy highway, had drank the last of my water, and could feel a blister coming on my left foot. I was so relieved to see the signs for Golega. 

Golega is the horse capital of Portugal - everything is horse-themed and they have festivals to honor and showcase the Lusitano horses, native to Portugal.

Unfortunately, I’ve started having some sort of reaction on my feet. They aren’t in a terrible amount of pain, but they look very irritated. I went to a pharmacy and got some ice and antibiotic cream, but the pharmacist recommended lots of rest. I’ll be taking a cab to tomorrows destination (another 20 miles away) to hopefully visit a doctor and get a better idea of what’s going on.