Saturday 13 October 2018

Arrifana circuit ...

After yesterday's sedentary day, a proper walk is called for and the Vicentina Arrifana Circular, despite previous experience, turns out to be longer than anticipated on a rather warm day ... heady herby perfumes for the first stage, coffee at beautiful, surfy Arrifana, ozone and seascapes for the second, tough enough on soft sand tracks ... at Armoeira and low tide, an exciting river crossing, despite safety signs advising against ... below waist high at its deepest ... an hour on the road back to the hostel ... good training for proposed long stage to Zambujeira do Mar on Monday ...

Before which, a warm encounter at the market, recognition from the Dutch woman running the fruit and veg stall, a reminder of her Christmas present in 2016, a purple sweet potato, with instructions on how best to cook it (boiled in its skin and spooned out with a little oil and salt) ... and a lesson on the value of small acts of kindness, since she has forgotten about the gift, having given it from the heart ... how many smiles, cheerful greetings, sharing of food and stories have been offered without expectation of reward and yet resound throughout the universe?

Today's philosophy is with Mona, from Germany, on holiday from her work as a midwife, with a childhood in a Protestant Christian cult, resonating with K's phrase: Truth is a Pathless Land ...

At the hostel a family from Germany with four small children check in to liven things up and just maybe quieten things down later ... though first they need feeding ...

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