Walked out of cloudy Lisbon on its famous limestone mosaic sidewalks to the riverfront area where the winds whipped off the waters and blew us around.  Then there was rain…The pavement turned to a narrow path that follows the river. Rain + dirt = slippery ass mud!! 

Impossible for Bill in his flip flops. Fall left into the fast moving river – fall right into flooded fields – so flooded – sounded like a waterfall – looked like a lake. It poured and poured. There was no relief and no town for a far as our eyes could see. 

All of us quietly wondered if the path would run out…. 

4 hours, 2 snapped hiking poles and 10 falls (picture a turtle on its back) we reached pavement and a town. We made it!

44,103 steps – 18.66 miles.
We have hence learned that the first 3 days can be impassable even on a good day and certainly that after 3 rain filled days, because the trail is through alluvial plains and rice fields.

Here’s a video to get an idea: https://youtu.be/1SVXSGVZxtg

We regrouped in Vila Franca de Xira – hatched plan B and are headed to higher grounds in Tomar.