First of all…I FEEL GREAT! Today was day 6 on the Camino, and we did our longest day yet - 27 km (16+ miles) from Seixas to Valença, just shy of the Portugal/Spain border. That puts our cumulative total up to about 135 km, and we are officially past the halfway point to Santiago de Compostela!
We have settled into a nice routine, but we aren’t keeping a rigid schedule either. Typically we are arriving at our albergue in the early afternoon so that we can check in and relax for the afternoon. Arriving early usually means snagging a choice bottom bunk!
In the afternoon, we sort our packs and get organized for the evening and next day. The first couple of nights, I was completely unpacking and repacking. After a few days of that, I’ve gotten much more organized which leads to a much smoother start in the mornings.
Then based on need and availability, we might do a little laundry. Charlotte has been kind enough to hand wash a few things for me from time to time, and the other night we splurged on a whole load of washing (and drying!) at a coin laundry! What a treat!
We’ve had a few pilgrim meals at the albergues, but if not, we’ll strike out on our own. If we had a big lunch, we’ll do a light “grocery store dinner” (a long-standing Christovich road trip staple!). Otherwise, we hit the town for some local food.
Then it’s usually time for a hot shower and we hit the sack. Sleeping has been pretty comfortable - for example, tonight we are in a room with ten bunks, but they all have curtains for privacy, the mattresses are good, and so far, I don’t hear any snoring! Maybe we’re all just so tired that nothing disturbs us! I’ve actually been sleeping really well.
Since we go to bed early, we usually get up early too. Some places have had some simple breakfast items, but we have typically just been hitting the road by 8:00 or so and then stopping for something along the way. Stopping for coffee is a big pilgrim activity where you run into people you’ve already met or meet some new pilgrims. It is also a good time to get the packs off our backs. I’ve found that I get uncomfortable if I go more than two hours at a stretch, so a 9:30 or 10:00 coffee break is just perfect.
Along the way, we have all sorts of support and encouragement. Here’s one example.
Let’s hope we don’t need one of these!
And I think I posted this the other day.
The locals often shout a friendly “Bom Camino” or “Bom Dia” to us, and we see encouraging signs like this one from time to time as well.
They look out for us on the road too!
We have been on a good schedule that has us completing most of our planned walk each day before lunch time. If we’re within 5 km or so of our next albergue and there’s something more substantial available, we’ll have a big lunch and usually a beer or two! We found some amazing Indian food today!
Then it’s time to check in to the next albergue and reconnect with people we’ve met along the way or meet new friends. Some of the stories of why people are here and what they are experiencing are amazing!
Tonight is our last night in Portugal. We are staying at an albergue that is within the bulwarks of this fortress that looks across the Minho River to Spain!
Our last sunset in Portugal.
See you in Spain tomorrow!
