Between the sprinklers again…

And yes, it happens to me again. For the third time, I’ve set up my tent between the sprinklers. I have a talent! And that while I had carefully checked for hidden sprinklers. But yes, there they were, hidden. And well hidden too.

Sprinkler with a long return time

This time I have to laugh terribly. You might as well laugh at your own mistakes. This sprinkler, however, has a long ‘return time’, let’s put it that way, namely 37 seconds. Enough time to quickly get out of my tent, zip it up again, and go investigate, because I want to know where that thing is. How could I possibly have missed it? And indeed, it is a very small black thing that disappears under the grass after it has done its job…

Total relax on the horizon

Woke up early, but today I’m taking it easy. My cart is full of healthy food, so I don’t have to worry about that, and there’s a camping spot by the same river, about 10 km away. It’s the last warm day and I’m off to the river beach. Total relax.

Integrating

The trail is beautiful again, with breathtaking views and stunning autumn trees, see also @visitmanteigas. Along the way, there’s a nice little bar where the village men have their aperitifs before dining at home with the wife. Although I planned to have a soda, I mainly see them drinking rosé. That’s quite tempting. I join in. Integrating is always good. Unfortunately, it costs me a fortune, because I have to pay exactly €0.60. No typo.

The weather has a surprise in store

It’s warm, I’m looking forward to my little beach and taking a street route instead of a hiking path to get there faster. But when I’m done cooking and devouring 750 grams of vegetables at yet another empty campsite, I have some catching up to do. The weather has another surprise in store. Suddenly, the wind picks up fiercely, yellow autumn leaves fall on my tent and into my coffee, there’s thunder in the distance, and rain is pouring from the sky.

No beach umbrella

The afternoon at the beach turns into an afternoon under the beach umbrella, which is now serving as an umbrella against the rain, on the empty terrace of the campsite. Well, just like life itself, you never know what you’ll get on your plate…

Overnight stay: Valhelhas