Today your legs mostly act as brakes. There is much more down than up, and after a while you’ll feel it in your knees and toes. Your mind, on the other hand, is at ease. You walk, look around and let the kilometres come. Enjoy it.
The route drops down to the Douro, the river that shapes this whole landscape. On the other side you climb back out, thankfully without any real calf-burner. You’ll be on the move for a good 6 hours, so there’s plenty of time for a coffee stop.
Santa Marta de Penaguião lies among the vineyard slopes of the Douro region. You walk into town, put down your rucksack and take off your shoes. Your toes have earned it.