We each must walk our own Camino!

Rianne’s decision to take a taxi into Porto was the right one for her. She is a determined woman and a fighter and anyone over 60 does well to listen to the rythum of their own bodies. Nevertheless it was a sad one for us for now we would have to walk without her! 

As we left the warmth of the hotel in the morning around dawn there were grey clouds in the sky heavy with rain.

On our way out of town we passed this hopscotch area and wanted to play, but our BBF said not at our age!

The route was again predominantly on roads and not on country trails. It was also up hill. 

These grain storage sheds are similar to the ones in Galicia and we saw quite a few over the day’s walk. 

It rained off and on which made the walk somewhat more tedious than it would otherwise have been. This poor toad did not survive crossing the road and had been squashed flat by some car we think! 

This scarecrow could be see from far away and seemed to be doing a good job!

We crossed a river via an ancient bridge and then saw a screw system for lifting the water out and up! 

The rain came again as we left the ancient bridge  and now followed some minor roads through villages! 

The roads were often narrow and cars did not always give us a wide berth, which got our BBF quite angry.  

After almost 7 kilometres we stopped for breakfast.

This church was open so in we went. The glass doors on the inside all said, silencio, which we assume means keep quiet. 

Our BBF now seemed to take a perverse delight in filling the volume of the church with his voice when he sang the Pilgrims’ hymn. An elderly gentleman was in the church when we first went in. As the singing proceeded the priest popped his head round the corner by the alter and quickly disappeared again, emerging briefly again as the crescendo came with the last verse!

As we were leaving the elderly gentleman gave us a thumbs up! 

After another climb we saw the sea on the horizon again, but then it was down amongst the traffic!

We have now seen one of these establishments on each of our Caminos!

In one village we walked through we came to another small laundry washing tubs. 

Not this one a smaller version and in it was a woman doing the washing. Sadly she would not let us take a picture, but had Rianne been with us we felt woman to woman we would have got the picture!

Part of the Way now was along the ancient Roman road for about a kilometre or so. 

More grain stores were seen between showers. 

These little houses are in fact letter boxes!

Many of the houses in this village had a large Rosary hanging from them. 

After another climb we saw the sea so blue and clear. Our BBF takes great comfort from seeing the Atlantic Ocean and knowing that he has sailed across it a number of times and come safely home again.

Then after 26.6 kilometres we were there! The Albergue in Griju, our stop for the night. 

To our BBF’s delight he now met Colette and Christine the French ladies again and big hugs were given all round. A German and a Dutchman both whom we have seen before were also in the Albergue! 

A suitable bed was found for us but it looks as if it will be a cold night. The French ladies invited our BBF to join them for a meal in the Hospitalero’s home which we understand will be after the Mass in the Church, which is at six. So now we are sitting here waiting for the time to come! Buen Camino! 🐻❤️