Rota Vincentina The Fisherman’s Trail - February 25, 2026 ~ Day 4 Zambujeira do Mar to Odeceixe

Daily Information  Planned Distance:        19.8 kms Actual Distance:          19.8 kms  Actual Elevation G/L:   240m (200) m     Cumulative Information  Actual Distance:              82.5 kms Actual Elevation G/L:       705 m (622) m Stage Description - Stingy Nomads Highlights & Challenges «  Highlights * Praia dos Alterinhos - an unspoiled beach right after Zambujeira with a cave (at the end of the beach) and interesting rock formations, the only beach on the route today.  * Breathtaking views along the trail, rugged cliffs, pristine beaches, pine forests, wild flowers  * Praia de Odeceixe - a stunning view over the beach Challenges * Walking in deep sand from time to time * A couple of steep but short ascents «  Best day so far in my opinion. Perfect weather again…some easy walking…some tougher climbs down/up small ravines…fantastic cliff walking with a stretch that was a wee bit exhilarating…had a nice chat with one new walker…one minor splat 🫟 for yours truly. What more can one ask from a 20km walk? Back to last evening where I tried a Portuguese delicacy « cuttlefish » It was delicious…similar to squid 🦑 I would think. So glad I ventured  and tried it out! Always enjoy trying local delicacies when travelling.  For those who enjoy learning new things this was found on Wikipedia. « Cuttlefish eat small molluscs, crabs, shrimp, fish, octopuses, worms, and other cuttlefish. Their predators include dolphins, larger fish (including sharks), seals, seabirds, and other cuttlefish. The typical life expectancy of a cuttlefish is about 1–2 years. Studies are said to indicate cuttlefish to be among the most intelligent invertebrates.[4] Cuttlefish also have one of the largest brain-to-body sizeratios of all invertebrates.[4] » Ok maybe not the cutest creature 😂 Fries, cuttlefish, salad = delicious! The day started with me ordering « tostada queso » for two except I was supposed to order « tostada mixed » which would be ham and cheese. Sooo…we both received the largest grilled cheese sandwiches known to mankind! Then we set off walking and quickly had some of the toughest minor scrambles down/up a successions of ravines. One has to simply approach this carefully…placing footholds in the right spots and hoisting the old body up and over a few trickier spots. An example of what we « overcame » The early morning views were again outstanding…there was a little « dust » in the air as described by the weather app. Along the way we came across Rebecca from London England who had stopped to put some Compeed on a blister. A little later both Leonard and I had nice chats with Rebecca. She now works in Bristol in a hospital as a Speech Therapist having graduated a year ago with her Masters degree. A keen walker she was interested in knowing about other walks « twist my arm why don’t you ». Incredibly on the Camino Norte Rebecca walked 50km one day and with her mother on another path 58kms. Geez my max is 47kms on the PEI Island Walk. Rebecca, Horst joined us at the most incredible rest stop about 10kms in…the views are spectacular  The walking was very mixed today sand dunes, forest, clifftop, boardwalks, muddy, rocky etc. My kind of varied walking…the inland forest walking was so peaceful. We had a few stream crossings…all of them basically picking our way over stones. Here is Leonard navigating one of them including a short 10 second video (I hope!) I unfortunately had a little trouble getting through one area. After successfully walking the « plank » so to speak a branch « jumped up out of nowhere » 😢 and tripped me. Immediate surgery required for a bleeding 🩸 scratch and later Ibuprofen for a sore thumb. Ok now to the exhilarating clifftop stretch…my picture doesn’t really do it justice fivennwhen we reached it the last thing I was thinking of was taking a picture. Yes it looked safe…thousands of people have walked here…however the path was narrow and the right side was well… So maximum concentration required…walk with care…left eye squarely on the path…3/4 right eye also on path…other 1/4 right eye allowed to wander to the right. Leonard estimates 50 meters tops for the stretch…I say 500 meters…so let’s reasonably saw it off at 450 meters. 😊 Of course it really was no big deal…no problems at all. Photos taken after passing so not really indicative but you can probably fill in the rest… That’s a wrap for today. We have actually completed the original Fisherman’s Trail from Porto Covo to Odeceixe. Tomorrow a longer 24 walk…I also think Cliff top walks will not be as prevalent in days to come. A few additional pictures from the day.