Thomas was intrigued by today’s campsite choice on Spain’s North West coast ‘San Francisco’. He had never toured this area of Spain before and was excited.
As he quickly packed his full camping kit away, he heard a ‘Pardon’. It was one of the German hippies poking his head out from a hole in his tent with at least 40 empty beer cans by the entrance and apologised for the noise the night before. With delight from the hippy, Thomas tried to explain he hadn’t heard anything and that it wasn’t him who complained.
Thomas was now used to sharing his helmet with various creepy crawlies and though he tried his best to clean it had now come toi accept the fact that the Albufeiran ants were here to stay and will be keepi9ng him company all the way home.
Thomas only had 150 miles to cover today, most of which consisted of steep, cobbled donkey passes out of North Portugal and across the border to join Spain’s North West coast then onto the well known Galicia. Galicia is historic coastal town.
Thomas was slightly uneasy about the next destination as there was a government warning issued only a three weeks ago with regards to thieves targeting tourists and even an incident where a Brit had been shot by gangs.
Once Thomas hit Spain’s coast, Thomas turned off and headed inland for only a hundred yards and to his discovered the campsite located up on a small hill making it only a short walk to the white sandy beaches and turquoise Atlantic Ocean. After quietly pitching his tent he hiked through the historic narrow streets into Murus to stock up essentials, then back again. A long walk!
After hundreds of miles of inland riding and camping since Estepona, he found the sea irresistible and stripped off for a swim.
The water was calm and as warm as it looked, situated in its protecting bay and surrounded by mountains.
Thomas then headed back to the campsite to eat where he also got chatting to an Ausie couple who were touring Europe. The couple told Thomas that Australia had not suffered and depression what so ever as business is flowing across from theist very rich Chinese neighbours. The Ausie couple had given up there jobs to travel, knowing they would easily get employed when they return and still earn a good if not better salary.
Thomas wished them well for the remainder of their adventure.
Thomas was tucked up in his tent and just about to fall asleep when there was a sudden gust of Atlantic winds that lifted his tarp and broke its poles in half. Before Thomas had realised what had happened, his Portuguese neighbour had also come out to help and held the tarp tightly with both hands so it didn’t take off like a kite. He kindly flew it back to ground being careful not to take off with it.