The rain didn’t let up all morning during our eight kilometre walk from Chafé to Viana do Castelo this morning, so our phones stayed mostly tucked away. We wish we could have taken photos of the fishermen in their long, narrow boats with their very long rods with nets on the end as we crossed the Ponte Eiffel, but we were getting wet from the rain and from the heavy traffic splashing by. It was fantastic to check in early…
The Spot Hostel Ofir in Fão was a favorite place. Sandra, the host, was wonderful, and the hostel had a homey feel with a kitchen free to use and a pool. Before we left, I made sure to leave a note in the guestbook, knowing firsthand how much these comments mean to hosts. We said our goodbyes to Kelsey and Colin from Canada, Machik from Poland, and Fanny from Taiwan, with hopes we’d see them along the way. It was…
Today unfolded without drama, just the usual Camino challenges. We walked about 21 km and felt pretty good at the end of it. The weather was good, too, with only a light drizzle for about ten minutes first thing this morning. It stayed cool and cloudy most of the day, with the temperature eventually reaching a pleasant 20°C. We tried to shorten the distance we’d planned to walk by taking a short train ride from Vila do Conde to Póvoa…
It wouldn’t be an adventure without some twists and turns. Dave and I certainly had a few of those today. Thankfully, “All’s well that ends well,” and we’re grateful for that. After tapas and vino at a tiny grocery/eatery place next door, we’re now back at Pousada de Juventude in Vila do Conde, more than ready to unwind after this eventful day. Our morning started with light fog and a perfect 16°C temperature which is great for walking. The mist…
Despite last night’s rain warning, we woke to just a light drizzle—enough to freshen the air with the scent of eucalyptus but hardly requiring the rain poncho I threw on just in case. The skies soon began to clear, and we were blessed with blue skies for much of the day. The smoke that had blanketed everything during our Douro River cruise yesterday was just a haze in the distance. Instead of walking through the industrial areas along the river,…
Dave and I are thrilled about our upcoming Camino, which promises to be a unique adventure. I’ll arrive 24 days ahead of Dave to serve as hospitalera at Refugio Guacelmo in Rabanal del Camino from September 1-15 with my friend, Janine from Australia. I have to admit to feeling nervous about travelling alone, but am sure the butterflies will settle down as soon as I see Janine’s smiling face. We became friends during COVID when walking “Camino For Good” Virtual…