Campo de Geres

It is a bit of a confusing bustrip from Braga but in the end we end up in Campo do Geres. At least at a junction there is a sign for a camping and we get there out of the bus with no problem. It is very hot and the campsite looks very large on the map but that seems to be a bit of a disappointment; the best places are taken and we are looking for a picnic table.

There are two further down and we decide to drag one away to the other spot under the oak trees, but that is not easy. We put up our tents and that's a good thing because it gets busy with other campers around us. We drink our beer and it gets a bit chilly; after brushing our teeth we go to our tent. It is very quiet and I fall asleep immediately.

I wake up suddenly and I look at my alarm – it’s 2330 and it sounds like a circus outside; three groups of people are talking with each other, laughing, shouting. It gets even worse - the neighbors started a game of "hints" which would last until very late and the other neighbors are up too late as well. In the end it is half past three when it finally gets quiet and I can go to sleep.

Despite everything, I wake up around six o'clock in the morning. Pete makes coffee and tea for us and then we eat our porridge and some yogurt.The campsite is near the famous national park Da Peneda Geres and we walk towards the reception for a map with some hiking trails on it that we have seen yesterday. After packing some stuff and buying lunch we start our hike today through the national park.

We walk towards the village where we were dropped yesterday by bus and ask directly where the actual path begins. The man does not know exactly but says that if we take this road towards the mountain we will arrive at the lake without problems. Immediately the road climbs up steeply past some houses that are under construction and it is already hot and we are sweating in spite of our small bag.

A few trails run dead and coincidentally we find a path that goes to the top of the mountain. Once there we have a view of the reservoir (we see the dam) and the forest below it even though it is dry and arid. Unfortunately we can’t find the trails to the authentic Portugese shepherd-houses that suppose to be here somewhere in the park. 

We walk down the hill towards the artificial lake via a rubbish dump in the middle of the forest. Back and then another path that ends at an abandoned wooden house. I was hoping to walk through old shepherd villages before we went here, but you really have to go deeper into the park.

We arrive at a certain moment on a paved road and follow it until we see a touring bus at a parking place and are now close to the water. walk down a gravel path and see the children below and take the path along the other side. A bit further we finally walk into the forest and you immediately feel the difference in temperature in the shade of the trees.

We sit here first row and enjoy our fresh bread and the view over the lake and the ladies who seem to enjoy themselves along the lake. The path is very narrow here and we decide to go back tot he campsite. We arrive at a major car junction and walk towards Campo de Geres. Unfortunately our neighbours woke up as well although they are not so loud as last night.