No passersby

It’s so peaceful here. I sleep with my tent right by the path, and in the fourteen hours that I’ve been here, no one has passed by. In the distance, I can hear some dogs barking, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there are people living here or that they’re around. Often, there are sheep or other livestock with a few dogs to keep things in check.

Fire danger

I’m making coffee on the large rock in front of me. This way, there’s no danger of fire, because although it’s green here, there’s a lot of dry grass among the greenery. Just like the eucalyptus trees, that is very fire-prone. Unfortunately, fires occur frequently here.

Unmatched contentment

I’m still floating along on the immense feeling of happiness and peace from the past few days. What a tranquility in my mind. An almost unparalleled calm and contentment. The world is truly beautiful this way. Sometimes I get the feeling that this shouldn’t be allowed. It feels almost selfish, with so much misery and unrest in the world. I know that’s not the case, and yet… Some things just keep gnawing at me. Am I getting off too easily?

Finally a supermarket

In the village of Orca, there is a supermarket for the first time in five days. I mainly buy a lot of fruit. I found it quite challenging to survive on one apple a day. Before I even leave the square, I’ve already eaten two pears and a banana. Wow, so delicious!!! And soon I’ll have a few hundred grams of vegetables and fish on the menu. I’m preparing it for a modest Protestant church, an exception amid all the Catholic ones. Time to enjoy again!

Orchards, orchards, orchards

I’m looking for a camping spot near the eleventh historic village of this GR22: Castelo Novo. This time, the village is not high up, but in front of a massive mountain ridge. Before I get there, I have to walk for miles through various orchards. This is big business here. The fruit has already been picked, and there is hard work being done on pruning the trees. It seems to be mostly workers from South America.

Sleeping next to the chapel

Tomorrow, I’ll quietly explore Castelo Novo. For now, I’ll set up my tent just outside the village, next to a small chapel, hoping to enjoy another good night’s sleep.

Stay: Castelo Novo