DAY60: Higuera de la Sierra-El Garrobo

 

Day 60, I put my heart into every step, as if I am living each day to the fullest. I believe that an eco-friendly lifestyle that casts aside ego will surely lead to world peace... I will never forget that thought.

After 15km of riding on the up-and-down N433, I took a snack break.

The organic tomato crackers were quite tasty.

It's like dried tomatoes on a baguette, and it's salty. I've never seen this kind in Japan, but it's addictive. If I put it on ramen noodle, it would be like tempura.

As soon as I started to walk uphill, my pace slowed down. My heart rate also increased.

The temperature was 33 degrees. It was forecast to reach 38 degrees by 4pm.

At 3:30pm, I hcovered 40km and checked into a hotel in El Garrobo.

A facility with a gas station and restaurant.

The temperature rose to 38 degrees, and I was out of breath and my legs were shaking as I climbed the slope.

I'm taking in fluids and salt, but the heat is still tough.

Days where I barely speak a word. I speak to Spanish speakers in English at the supermarket cash register or hotel reception.

*Today's Photos

*YouTube Movies

DAY59: Galaroza-Higuera de la Sierra

Departing from the hotel in Galaroza at 7:30am.

Another day on the N-433. The road continues to go up and down.

Arrived at Aracena at 10am. Found Lidul for the first time in a while. Time to shop.

As I got closer to Sevilla, the number of medium-sized towns increased. I took a snack break behind Lidul.

At 2pm, I reached today's goal of Higuera de la Sierra, but since hotel check-in was at 3pm, I killed time by strolling around the town.

The temperature was 32 degrees. The heat made me dizzy, so I tried to avoid running in the afternoon as much as possible.

Since I was running about 30km every day, the day was over in no time.

After 2:30pm, I arrived at my lodging at the top of Higuera de la Sierra hill after running 29.6km.

The owner, Rafael, who lives in Sevilla, greeted me with a smile.

Although it was compact, it was nice and convenient to have everything, including a kitchen.

I decided to just rest in the afternoon.

*Today's Photos

*YouTube Movies

DAY58: Aroche-Galaroza

This time I learned that one wrong decision can be fatal.

What do you do when the GPS and Internet, which are indispensable for modern people, become unusable?

It may not be a problem for people who live in the city, but I think that people who walk in the mountains and travel abroad need to think carefully about it.

This is not limited to when you are lost, but you don't realize at the moment when you "fall into a trap," but there are always times when you think "I should have done that there..."

Some troubles such as being scammed or having an accident can be avoided by making prior decisions.

Day 58, I slept soundly in a room surrounded by civilization.

I thought it was great to be alive! I savored the happiness of being protected by various people and things.

Today is 38 degrees again, and I will move forward a little. I won't be on the trail for a while (lol).

Started from Aroche at 7:30 a.m.

The hotel is at the top of a hill, so I brake tightly as I go down the steep slope.

Today, I'm only on the N-433, so it's highly unlikely that I'll get lost.

10:30, Cortegana. This was supposed to be the finish line on August 3 (if I hadn't gotten lost).

To my delight, I found a large supermarket for the first time in a while.

I can enjoy shopping because I'm alive. Egg tarts are the best!

After passing El Repirado, it's another 4km to Galaroza.

The temperature is already 32 degrees. If there was no shade, it would be so hot that I would burn my whole body.

This level of heat is normal in the Mojave Desert in the United States.

I guess if your body takes it for granted, it doesn't feel so hard.

The ability to adapt to the environment is quite important.

2:30 pm, check in at the Hostal Tribio hotel in Galaroza.

I do my shopping at the supermarket right next door.

I finished my run before the temperature exceeded 35 degrees.

The gradient isn't steep, but a gradual uphill climb that continues for several kilometers can be quite tiring.

I am so grateful and moved that I was able to finish today's run safely!

*Today's Photos

*YouTube Movies

DAY56&57 Encinasola-In the middle of nowhere-Aroche

 

Aug3

Left Encinasola just after 7am. I immediately headed for the trail. Spain is a place where you are guided to follow a very steady path. I entered the trail lightly, but I ended up experiencing hell for about 13km.

At first it was mostly downhill, but then it started to climb up a steep scree slope. The heat also made it hellish. In the end I was on a path like an advanced ski resort course, and the surface was soft and fluffy. The trail was beyond the limit of what the buggy could climb, so I carried the duffel bag that was on the buggy first and walked, then pushed the buggy up the trail. This was the last resort for the buggy.

There was almost no shade, and there was only one.

I was overjoyed when I finally got onto the road, H-211. However, the national road I followed after that, HV-2112, was a tricky one. The GPS was cut off along the way. There was no internet connection either. I lost track of the path I should take.

I connected the Wi-Fi router many times, and when I was able to connect, I started walking, but I just kept going around in circles. I kept walking until around 7pm, but I got tired and gave up and set up my tent in the mountains.

I had some water and food, but I didn't gulp down the water, I just drank it little by little.

In the middle of the night, I was worried that I might get lost.

I thought about making a rescue request. But it needded internet connection to do it.

I remembered my wife Piapi's teaching, "Don't panic."

Even when eating the food I had brought with me, I stubbornly followed Piapi's teaching, "chew your food well." Since there was only a limited amount of food, I thought that I could save water by tasting it, chewing well, and releasing saliva.

I greeted the morning with the conviction that I would definitely come back alive by myself.

Aug.4

I started moving at 7am. I couldn't deny the possibility of getting lost, but I didn't give up on the conviction that I would definitely come back alive.

I was confident that I could manage with the water and food I had brought with me, but the heat was making things even worse. The morning temperature was about 13 degrees, which was quite cold.

I ended up going around in circles in the same place as yesterday, but luckily I was able to get back on the same route I had taken. It was about 9km to the fork in the road.

From here I headed for Aroche, the nearest town.

A car stopped along the way to give me some water, and a local cyclist stopped to take a photo with me.

In the heat, my mental and physical strength was reaching its limit, but I managed to make it to the hotel in Aroche on the hill and take a hot shower.

To celebrate my survival, I had a meal at the hotel restaurant.

*Photos

DAY56

DAY57

*YouTube Movies

DAY55: Amareleja-Encinasola(Portugal)

Left Amareleja just after 6am. After spending two days there, I headed for Encinasola, Spain.

At 9am, the sun started to shine through the cloudy sky. Route N386 runs through a similar landscape. There is nothing around except pastureland.

I took Route N258 to Barrancos. This was the last town in Portugal.

The town itself is on a hill. There is a cinema, but no large supermarket.

There is a lot of greenery, and the roofs of the houses are all red.

I got on Route HU9101 and re-entered Spain!

1:18pm local time. Farewell, Portugal!

At 4pm, I finished the last climb and checked into a hotel in Encinasola.

I had to put my watch forward one hour after entering Spain. I would lose an hour.

A fairly decent hotel with a bar and restaurant. It is the only hotel in the town.

I went out to town in the evening just as the supermarket reopened. 

There were hardly any people walking around.

*Today's Photos

*YouTube Movies

DAY54: DayOff @Amareleja

The first and last camping trip in Portugal.

The temperature outside when I pitched the tent last night was 35 degrees. It was probably over 40 degrees inside the tent.

There were no mosquitoes, but there were quite a few flies flying around.

I chose a shady spot, but as the sun went down, the fly sheet was hit by the setting sun.

The sun set around 8:30, and even at that point, it was like a sauna in the tent. I couldn't stay still for more than 10 minutes.

It was so ridiculous that I would get dehydrated and suffer from heat stroke in a tent (lol).

The sun went down and the temperature gradually dropped, but I didn't stop sweating until around 10 o'clock, and it felt like all the water in my body was turning into sweat.

I bought three bottles of 1.5 liter-water at the supermarket, but by morning I had drunk a little over two bottles.

It was around 2 a.m. when the sweating finally stopped and I got into my sleeping bag. The mattress was soaked with sweat.

I remembered a similar experience I had while traveling through the Midwest when I ran across the US.

There would be toilets and water in a campsite, but this is a corner of a park, in the woods, and there is nothing.

In the middle of the night, you can hear the distant howling of pet dogs here and there. Before sunrise, you can also hear chickens crowing...

Because I was far from the national highway, I couldn't hear the noise or vibration of cars, but the conditions were too bad for a good night's sleep.

The sun rose at 6:30 in the morning, and when I got out of the tent, it was so cool!

At this point, I didn't have the energy to run today. There happened to be a vacancy at a hotel in the town of Amareleja, so I booked it online.

46 euros is a bit expensive, but I had no choice.

I took down my tent and went to the supermarket in town.

I bought water and food and sent an email to the hotel to confirm whether I could check in early.

After 9 o'clock, the temperature started to rise and the sun started to shine so hard.

Even in the shade of the trees, it was hot and thirsty without any wind. It was the same even if I wasn't running.

Thankfully, I was allowed in at 12:30pm, despite the check-in time being 4pm.

Solar do Encalho, which has a restaurant on site, is located in the quiet town of Amareleja.

I took a shower and washed my clothes by hand. During the day, they dried in 20 to 30 minutes.

This summer trip made me truly appreciate the value of civilization...

In this scorching sun, a roof provided shade, and the air conditioner allowed for a cool breeze.

A refrigerator allowed for cold drinks, and a shower allowed me to wash off my sweat.

These are all things that we use in everyday life, but traveling teaches us that we can't take them for granted.

This week is going to be tough with temperatures exceeding 35°C across the board.

*Today's Photos

*YouTube Movies

DAY53: Reguengos de Monsaraz-Amareleja

Started at 7am. It was cloudy in the morning, but the sun came out soon and it got hot, 35 degrees in the afternoon.

I continued on the national road today. I didn't reach the town of Amareleja, so I finally did some shopping at a supermarket. I stocked up on plenty of water.

Then I searched for a park where I could pitch a tent for several kilometers and decided on a corner of the Merendas de Amareleja Park.

This was my first camping since pitching a tent in a park in Biarritz, France. This was close to the Spanish border, and this might be my first and last camp in Portugal.

The sun set around 8:30, and the temperature was not dropping anytime soon. If I didn't drink enough water, I would definitely get dehydrated and get heatstroke.

It was going to get hotter from here onwards, and there were no accommodations in the town without tourist attractions. That meant I would mainly be camping in tents.

I shouldn't run in hot areas during hot seasons... (lol).

*Today's Photos

*YouTube Movies