Patina de Santiago Portugues Finale

Patina de Santiago Portugues
Day 12
Caldas De Reis to Santiago de Compostela

Distance: 37km
Time on board : 3 hours

Yes!! Finally arrived in cathedral Santiago de Compostela where St James walk his way to here and buried. Many pilgrims walked, cycled or even rode on horses. But only one did his way on long board. That is me, the first skater to skate 600km all the way to Santiago.

Final Checkpoint Santiago de Compostela

Started early morning with my German cyclist Franz. I stuck to my main road N550, direct and shorter while he rode on the Camino way. But we bumped into each other many times, as the Camino sometimes lead to main road. Along the way, met up with a group of Spanish cyclists. Today is uphill climb, 500m elevation gain squeezed in 37km.

We all finished the journey at same time. Can't imagine the emotions when I arrived at cathedral. But nothing beats the journey endured. The ocean views, the forest roads, flower fields, uphill climbs. All these make whole trip worthwhile.

Got interviewed by Galician news as I skated into the plaza, obviously, no one ever do that.
http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/…/adrian-peregrino-singapur-hi…

A journey paid with sweat and determination is Priceless

For Photos

https://www.facebook.com/worldonboards/posts/730184387084641

Patina de Santiago Portugues Day 11

Patina de Santiago Portugues
Day 11
Tui to Caldas de Reis
Distance : 75km
Time on board: 6hours

Original plan is to slowly relax and skate 50km to Pontevedra then make my final assault to Santiago tomorrow. Along the way I met my German cyclist Franz who I meet in my first few days of the way. He is going to caldas de reis 25km away. And cos Santiago is up in the Mountain, so it is better to have shorter distance, save energy for final climb.

Follow him to Santiago way, which I don't normally take cos I get lost. Along the way I meet another group of cyclists from Spain doing the camino. I overtake them on uphill, when downhill they easily sped past me. Then I went on my way.

Somehow On Pontevedra, they caught up with me. Means I am faster with my short direct route.

By the caldas reis, bumped into Franz again so we agree to share a hotel room and make our final assault to Santiago tomorrow!!!!

Patina de Santiago Day 10

Patina de Santiago
Day 10
Viana de Castelo to Tui (Spain)
Distance: 56km
Time on board: 4 hours 17mins

Finally arrived in Spain after crossing the bridge across the Minho river. Good bye Portugal. It is a quite pleasant skate in Portugal.

Reflection of the day.
It is not the destination, I am looking for. Is small things I pass by while skating that makes me want to skate. Passing by a field of flowers or skating by a ocean road. Appreciate the little things in life.

Patina de Santiago Portuguese Day 9 Porto to Viana Do Castelo

Patina de Santiago Portuguese
Day 9
Porto to Viana Do Castelo
Distance: 50km
Time on board : 3 hour 47mins

Rained again today, woke up late. So I took metro to Vila Conde to meet up with Antonio Teixeira, Portuguese LDP and esk8 board maker. We skate down the beach to povoa varzim, where he show me his skate area. He kindly gave me his bearing, as mine has rusted amidst skating in the rain for past few days.

Journey was good except the fickle minded heaven. Lord can't decide whether he want me to skate in rain or heat. When I put on my jacket, it turned sunny, when I took them off, it rained.

Finally saw the Camino sign, the yellow clam shell. Means I am on the right way. Meet with a group of dutch cyclists who finished their camino , on their way back to Porto.

Found my albergue at viana de castelo. Tomorrow I shall leave Portugal and enter Spain. Time to say gracias, not obrigado

Patina de Santiago Portuguese Day 7 Aveiro to Porto

Porto

Patina de Santiago Portuguese
Day 7
Aveiro to Porto
Distance: 78km
Time on Board: 4 hours 49mins

Took a ferry from Fort Barra, 10km away from Aveiro, to Sao Jacinto. It is the best decision I made in this patina. Quiet road, with Aveiro lagoon on the right, nature reserve on the left. It is a dream, I could skate on this forever. At torreira, there is a bike path by the beach. I was going at fast pace of 19km/h and above, even road cyclists doing this circuit, were amazed.

Hit Espinho by 1pm and since i got lots of time, i tour around the place. Nice beach facing atlantic ocean. Antonio recommended me a bike path from Espinho straight to Porto. With tailwind pushing me, I clocked my speed of 23km/h for full km. Just 5km to Porto, it rained again. This time, it is no pussy rain. Wait for awhile, rain is not stopping, I pushed on to Porto

Now I have passed more than halfway point of 590km journey to Santiago.

Church by the Beach

No traffic Road

Patina de Santiago Portuguese Day 6 Coimbra to Aveiro

Patina de Santiago Portuguese
Day 6
Coimbra to Aveiro
Distance : 62km
Time on board: 4 hours 11 mins

First day of raining in Portugal. Still it is a pussy rain, tiny droplets of water. Coming from a tropical country of Singapore where rain is a storm, this is nothing but a irritant.

After skating uphills for 3 days, finally I arrives into flatland. Once I reach Mira, it is coastal flat all the way. Facing Atlantic ocean, definitely I have to deal with wind. But it is still better than climbing hills

On flatland, I can skate at my usual speed of 18km/h, reaching my destination Aveiro just before lunch time, just in time for Euro match Spain vs Czech. Finally get to catch all 3 group matches. Hopefully, rest of the journey will be this good.

Aveiro is Venice of Portugal. With canals and gondura, it is a good town for stopover.

Patina de Santiago Portuguese Day 4 Fatima to Coimbra

Patina de Santiago Portuguese
Day 4
Fatima to Coimbra
Distance : 87km
Time on Board: 7hours 35mins (actually 6hours, I already reached Coimbra)

Enjoy the journey, rather than destination.

From Fatima, is downhill for 15km. Weather is cloudy and windy that I have to wear my jacket and skate.
Then ascent up and descent down again to Coimbra.
Smooth ride today. Take my time to enjoy the journey

Patina de Santiago Portuguese Day 1 Lisbon to Santarem

Patina de Santiago Portuguese
Day 1
Lisbon to Santarem
Distance: 80km
Time on board : 5 hours 48mins

Searching for Santa Claus in Santarem. Began the day navigating my way out busy Lisbon. Managed to find a bike path from sta apolonia. Got a good 13km of bike path before entering N10 road with all fast crazy Portuguese drivers.

Relied on Google map to help me find secondary quieter road but often it leads me to cobble stone road or atrocious roads, which I end up walking. Got few lucky good quiet road. One of them lead me to German cyclist, cycling to Santiago as I do. Too bad he don't speak English or Spanish. I don't know how he survived in Portugal. Well that is the fun of it. Intro me a cheap albergue/ pilgrim lodging at 5 euros in Santarem.

Last 20 km become a climb and final 2 km is hell, Santarem is at top of hill. Met up with German cyclist again at albergue. Finally Got my Santarem stamp.

Patina de Santiago Portugal Day 2 Santarem to Fatima

Patina de Santiago Portugal
Day 2
Santarem to Fatima
Distance : 67km
Time on Board : 6 hours 33mins

Finding Fatty Ma / Fei yi Ma in Fatima. Forgive my pun.
Fatima is actually not part of my original route. But it is of significant spiritual importance. Changed my plan from tomar.

Fátima is a place of pilgrimage for many Catholics in commemoration of the apparition of the Virgin to three young shepherds (Francisco Marto, Jacinta Marto and Lucia Santos, later Sister Lucia of Fatima) in Cova da Iria. On the 13th of every month (and more so on 13 May and 13 October), thousands of people will make their way to Fátima.

Supposed to be a relaxed short 57km and arrived early to explore Fatima. Instead I got lost most of time. I tried Google map direction to take quieter roads. Instead it lead me to trails across nature reserve. I end up walking quite abit. Sometime the map pinpoint me wrong turn, as result, I miss many turns. Should have taken busy but direct N3 road. Well, there is no getting lost. I just take a fucking longer road. Slowly take my time to smell flowers and appreciate the nature around me.

By 3pm, i am still crossing mountain roads. Run out of water, to conserve energy, I still end up walking 5km along the road until I reached at dinosaur park, where I finally can buy my water supply. Realised why I am so slow. Wind damn strong, blew my scarf and gloves off the table. All along I been facing headwind. Rehydrated myself, make my final push to Fatima. Will rest another day in Fatima.

There is no shame in walking. Only shame in quitting.

I don't pray for tailwind
I don't pray for downhill
I don't pray for smooth road
I pray for strength to overcome obstacles.

Fatima

Patina de Santiago Portuguese Day 1 Lisbon to Santarem

Patina de Santiago Portuguese
Day 1
Lisbon to Santarem
Distance: 80km
Time on board : 5 hours 48mins

Searching for Santa Claus in Santarem. Began the day navigating my way out busy Lisbon. Managed to find a bike path from sta apolonia. Got a good 13km of bike path before entering N10 road with all fast crazy Portuguese drivers.

Relied on Google map to help me find secondary quieter road but often it leads me to cobble stone road or atrocious roads, which I end up walking. Got few lucky good quiet road. One of them lead me to German cyclist, cycling to Santiago as I do. Too bad he don't speak English or Spanish. I don't know how he survived in Portugal. Well that is the fun of it. Intro me a cheap albergue/ pilgrim lodging at 5 euros in Santarem.

Last 20 km become a climb and final 2 km is hell, Santarem is at top of hill. Met up with German cyclist again at albergue. Finally Got my Santarem stamp.