23 May 2014
Total distance walked 518.5 km
Average daily distance 23.57 km
I forgot to put in yesterday’s post that Fernanda first took in a German pilgrim who was in dire need of help and had been turned way by all she approached. After first also saying no, Fernanda had a chnge of heart and took the woman in, which became the start of her hospitality to pilgrims from all over the world. She thinks that in the intervening years she has put up somewhere between 25,000 and 30,000 pilgrims.
It was good to see the American family again yesterday. But if I keep up my distances I don’t suppose I shall see them again. Leah, Sharon and Anil, it was great to know you. I wish you a truly great camino with no more unexpected diversions!
I set off before breakfast was served this morning and was met by a brightening sky, dry weather and a slight chill in the air. I even put my gloves on for half an hour. It was a fabulous morning and I walked along through woodland and farmland to a chorus from blackbirds, a cuckoo and a woodpecker. I love to see the vines growing on frames that pass right over the roads – it looks so pretty.
I came across these very odd structures for hanging hay from – I saw a few along the way.
For a while the trail took the form of every pilgrim’s dream – compacted sand – so nice to walk on after all the cobbles. And all the way to Ponte de Lima the track meandered between woodland and villages – progress wasn’t very fast because I was stopping every few minutes (or seconds sometimes!) to take pics. I didn’t meet a soul during 15 km – apart from a few farmers – it was bliss. You will have to let me know if you are bored with raindrop photos, sorry but I just can’t resist them.
I also couldn’t resist these scallop shells that were hanging by a thread, high above the track, outside the walls of a Quinta.
I was passed by several groups of cyclists today. There seem to be a better class of cyclist on the Portuguese route, they are all extremely polite, give good warning of their approach and and always greet me with a bom dia and bom caminho (not at all like the ruffians on the Frances route!)
This little chap posed for a couple of photos on the outskirts of Ponte de Lima – who can possibly resist the charms of a robin?
The approach into Ponte de Lima is most attractive along a beautifully cobbled avenue of towering lime trees – very majestic, but just as I reached the far end it started to rain quite hard, so I quickly dived into a cafe for a mid morning break.
Once I left the town the track became very muddy and quite difficult to negotiate, with deep puddles running the full width of the path and for many meters.
After a while I came to a long stretch where some kind person had put a layer of sand along the way and soon enough I could thank him for myself.
I came across a pile of mini cobbles, either just taken up or waiting to be laid. These very small cobbles, just a couple of inches across, are perfectly comfortable to walk on. It is the bigger ones that hurt so much.
I’ve noticed that all the cemeteries I have passed all have real flowers on the graves, always fresh and beautiful. No long-lasting plastic ones here.
Once the other side of Ponte de Lima there is a huge climb to be tackled. I thought (once again) that a big fuss was being made of nothing much. The very steep paths were interspersed with a section of flat track and were quite comfortable to negotiate. However once again I was wrong – the actual climb hadn’t started yet, and when it did, there were no flat areas, just 5 km of extreme assent. However it was a stunningly beautiful walk and I plugged into some music to give my legs a little encouragement.
Deep into the woods there were countless pines that had been tapped for sap, but here the sap is collected in polythene bags. When I first saw one, I thought it was a pag of pee that someone had left propped against a tree – although I can’t imagine for a moment why anyone would pee into a bag in the woods. However it soon became apparent what was happening, there were so many of them. I gave one of the bags a poke and it was totally liquid, not at all viscous, which surprised me. They were all full, so I expect someone will come to collect them soon. Do they empty them I to a container or do they seal the bags? So many questions, and I don’t expect I shall get to know the answer.
There were several stone crosses where people had left stones and mementos, and I added a couple of stones, one for my parents and one for Charles.
As I neared the peak at Alto da Portela Grande I came across a flat-ish platform of land from where there was a stunning view down into the Lima Valley. As I removed my earplugs I could hear machinery and then heard a tree coming down. As I walked around a bend I was confronted with my second dumper of the day, pulling the felled trees into place and I had to wait for him to move off the camino path.
The descent was not so steep, but certainly steep enough, on slippery stones and rock. It was good to get to the bottom, whereupon I met with my third camino machine which was hauling huge stones for the builders of another new and beautiful stone wall.
Once again, I was entirely alone – as I have been all day. I rather like it. Although walking through the woods I thought this tree was giving me the evil eye.
A little further on I came across one of the Australian guys from a couple of nights previously and he and another of their party are staying in the same accommodation with me tonight, which was recommended to me by a couple of guys from Fernanda’s last night. They had met on the camino Frances and didn’t want to stop when they reached Santiago so continued to walk the Portuguese route in reverse. This is quite easy because there are arrows all the way beyond Porto that point towards Fatima.
The accommodation tonight is fairly new and called Ninho. It is a little further on from the municipal albergue. There are 9 or 10 beds, some bunks, some singles, a bathroom with two showers and two loos and a nice kitchen lounge area. Breakfast is included and I was invited to eat when I arrived. The cost is 15 euros, which is a bit expensive I think. Linen and towels are included and the owner is very attentive.
I’m glad the Aussies have turned up. The only other person here when I arrived was a sickly German guy who has been suffering with food poisoning he thinks and was not great company.
This has been my second quite long day, but my feet are holding up well, even with all the cobbles and rocks I encounterd today. I am enjoying the longer distances – I like to get going early in the morning and don’t like to stop too early in the day.
Trepidatious traveller - camino blog 
Your feet are doing well on the cobbled areas. Sounds like no blisters and if see you supportive boots in a pic. Have u mentioned in earlier days what type/brand of boot you wear and whether they are Goretex or not ?
The grape vines are lovely and your variety in taking pics is giving me better ideas for next time I walk. Good to see another bird ( your chubby little robin).
Thank you
Annie
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My boots are Merrell Moab ventilators. Comfy straight from the box. A few little blisters but I am sure these were caused by the replacement insoles I purchased.
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hah!!! I was just about to leave a comment and ask what brand your shoes were….(I saw them featured in an earlier photo on this article) Fab thank you 🙂 I loving reading your blog…I set off for this route in September, so this is proving VERY useful with lots of info. I’m well impressed at al you have done! 🙂
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I am responding to comments in reverse order, so ignore my question when I ask when and where you are walking. Glad that the blog is of use to you.
Bom Caminho for September
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Hi there Magwood.Really enjoying your daily posts.Wonder what i´ll do after your arrival at Santiago. In Portuguese, ninho is “nest” and a cobble stone is calçada (second ç being soft).Thats some more useless information i´ve managed to pass on to someone.
Happy trails and all the best
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Not useless info, I had assumed that Ninho was the equivalent of niño in spanish (child), so I have learned something (but there is soooo much that I don’t know….)
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Love your photos. Do keep taking the raindrop ones. So beautiful. I have been enjoying following your journey. Started at around day 19. Would love to do the walk you are doing. Perhaps in a few years when my son is a liitle older. I started following your blog because I met Eli a few times when she came to Brisbane and wanted to follow both your journeys. Sadly she had left you by then. If you see her along your travels tell her hi from Sharon and Wendy in Brisbane. Until then, safe and happy travels.
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Lovely to hear from you Sharon. I have been trying to phone Elly, but haven’t got through yet. Will give her your message when we eventually speak. You have a great friend!
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I want to know more about that first German pilgrim
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I shall endeavour to find out Sandie. Hope you enjoy the footie tonight
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I was going to ask what pine sap is used for, but then decided that I should simply google it myself. Well, various uses showed up (medicinal, soap, resins, etc) But I would still be curious what THAT pine sap was being harvested for. So do let us know if you find out.
Very nice raindrops, by the way.
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Thanks Clare. My Aussie friend from last night suggested that the bags were probably topped up with rain water and maybe that was why they seemed so watery. Such a simple theory!
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I’m impressed with and envious of so much Maggie, your blister-less feet, the beautifully crafted photos being just two. x
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I have been very lucky Annie, and had a good pacemaker for the first half of the journey. If I had walked alone it might have been a different (and more painful) story!
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Thanks for the great blog loving the photos and detail we head from Australia next week walking from Lisbon .did the camino Frances last year,what are the major differences?
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Hi Greg. Less choice of accommodation, and consequently more expensive. Less elevation. Painful cobbles. Fabulous food, especially the pastries, beautiful ancient towns to explore along the way. A lot less pilgrims, although from Porto expect an influx. Both caminos equally enjoyable. You will love it.
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Hi Maggie,
I found your daily posts a couple of days before and since then every morning I look for next one. Me and one of my friends are going to walk the Portuguese Caminho in July so really very-very exciting reading for me.
I adore your raindrops collection.
Bom Camihno!
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Thanks Elza. If May is anything to go by, it will be very hot in July. If you have any specific questions. Please don’t hesitate to ask.
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Interesting how one event changes everything.(Fernanda).
I’m enjoying all your photos, the rain drop or dew drops are my favorites. Glad to hear you’ve made such good progress with co-operating feet. 😀
Dumb question, I know, but don’t you walk in your sleep when you finally lay your head down for the day?
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I probably do a lot of toe wriggling in my sleep, but no walking.
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*grins*
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Please keep adding rain drop pics! They are stunning! Your stamina amazes me Maggie! And doing 10 or more kms on an empty stomach!! Have you always had so much energy? Keep up the great work! Your blog is most enjoyable and very informative!! Bon Camino 🙂
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I don’t like to eat too early and don’t actually get hungry when I am walking. I don’t always feel very energetic, always considered I had a slow metabolism – could easily sit in a chair and eat chocolate. But advancing years encourage me to keep fit. My parents were totally unfit and I am sure they could both still be alive if they had looked after themselves a bit better.
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Love your photos of the raindrops, sparkling like diamonds in the sun. Hopefully you have a story to tell us about why the German pilgrim was turned away even by Fernanda initially. What stories she must have to tell with all those poeple passing through. I am intrigued!!
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I shall try to find out more Maggie.
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