Tuesday 26 September

 An easy pack up in the dry and we head off south again. We decide to head for Batalha which has a UNESCO World Heritage site Monastery. We park in the supermarket and stock up and then walk to the monastery. It is superb. It was commissioned by King Joao 1 in 1385 with a few additions over the next hundred years or so. It dominates the small town and is so impressive with its white sandstone against the clear blue sky in the heat of the day. High ceilings, stained glass, cloisters and an unfinished chapel. After coffee we head on to our campsite near Nazaré. We find a good spot under the pine trees and enjoy a late picnic lunch. We cycle to the beach at Nazaré (up and down) where we sunbathe and read for a bit. The waves are enormous even here. It’s the next beach northwards where records are broken. There are red flags and the busy lifeguards won’t even let anyone dip their thin the water for risk of freak waves. The cycle home is challenging but thankfully quite short. Sausages and lentils for supper listening to the cicadas sing.