2025 - Day 14 - Albergaria-a-Velha to São João da Madeira - Our last long day - and not bad a walk.

Scores on the doors 19.66 miles - 31.64 km, 8:15 hours walking with stops, 594 meters up 494 metres down

After quite a good nights sleep (at one point turning on the A/C as we were both sweltering) we were up and ready to face the day ahead but first we had a self service breakfast, with a pot with our room number in the fridge and a wooden crate with our number on in a cupboard.  We soon tucked in, with the smiley lady who serviced the place for its owners, on hand to make sure we were OK. Lesley caused her amusement by wishing her boa tarde at 08:00, causing her to look at her watch, so I had to quickly dive in with a bom dia, and there were smiles all round.  After breakfast we finished packing and were ready for the off, heading out of town on a day when we crossed and recrossed a derelict railway in the process of being restored about a dozen times.  At a couple of points se we’re supposed to walk beside it but because of the track restoration the path has been redirected.  In the morning we had a couple of very pleasant forest stages where there was evidence of previous terrible forest fires with blackened stumps and holes in the ground formerly occupied by telegraph poles.  On tarmac, our way took us through suburbs, quiet villages and the cultural heart of one community. The views to the left were stunning looking over to the Atlantic and the Ria de Aveiro.  After being on the path for over 8 hours going up and then going down we finally got into São João da Madeira and two tired and footsore pilgrims found their hotel.  Although long and hard, it was a much pleasanter walk than that of 2 days ago. And we even found an open church offering a pilgrim stamp.

After showers and some research of eating options we decided to go to “Beer place” a craft beer bar which served food.  Lesley went for a Portuguese burger and I had a Francesinha these were washed down with beer, in my case some Mary Jane IPA brewed by Mary Jane here in São João da Madeira.  While Lesley had some Portuguese Stout, then we’ll Feb it was back to the Hotel to sleep.