Author: Linda

Doors – June 7, 2023

  • Portuguese Central Camino: Day 8 / Moreira da Maia Cruce to Rates
  • Distance: 16.6 miles / Total 107.5 miles
  • Ascent: 1,169’ / Descent: 1,233’
  • Time: 8 hours 30 minutes
  • Weather: 65 – 70 degrees / overcast. Two 15-minute light rains needing poncho (very hot to wear)

Doors…ports of entry.

Modern Stainless Steel.
Doors with nothing behind.
Hercule Poirot would approve.
Carved Wood Doors.
Church Doors
White Outling

New Way – June 6, 2023

  • Portuguese Central Camino: Day 7 / Porto to Moreira da Maia Cruce
  • Distance: 7.8 miles / Total 90.9 miles
  • Ascent: 252’ / Descent: 212’
  • Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
  • Weather: 70 – 75 degrees / overcast.

Today begins a new section of the Portuguese Camino for me. A short day albeit it all road, all traffic.

Morning rush for electric scooters .
A Porto Tiled Church
Bright Spot
Symmetry

Memories – June 5, 2023

  • Portuguese Central Camino: Day 6 / Porto
  • Weather: 60 – 65 degrees / blue skies with clouds

I remembered the walking tour guide from 2022 but didn’t remember soon enough his persona as a stand-up comedian want-to-be. I tipped him, aborted the tour, and salvaged the afternoon. I wowed myself by finding the shop that sold cork placements seen in 2022. A happy VISA moment.

Tiled Train Station
Tiled Train Station
Cork placemats bring package for the trek. (Luggage service from Porto to Santiago 💫)
Boat for hauling port.

TOF – June 4, 2023

  • Portuguese Central Camino: Day 5 / Sāo Joāo to Porto
  • Distance: 22.4 miles / Total 83.1 miles
  • Ascent: 1,820’ / Descent: 2,269’
  • Time: 10 hours 15 minutes
  • Weather: 60 – 65 degrees / foggy, overcast.

TOF or Time on Feet is a running term for a slow easy long run. The weather condition was perfect for walking…foggy morning, overcast day, temps low 60’s. I wore double shirts most of the day. It was an impromptu decided to condense two days of walking into one day.

The backdrop is Porto.
Plaza in Porto.
A well deserved rest at The Gallery Hostel.

Sunflower – June 3, 2023

  • Portuguese Central Camino: Day 4 / Albegaria-a-Nova to São Joao
  • Distance: 14 miles / Total 60.7 miles
  • Ascent: 1,370’ / Descent: 1,112’
  • Time: 7 hours 30 minutes
  • Weather: 60 – 70 degrees / foggy, overcast becoming blue skies with clouds

Sunflower yellow…

Sunflower Yellow
Sunflower Yellow
Sunflower Yellow
It just wouldn’t work in Sunflower yellow.

Just Rewards – June 3, 2023

  • Portuguese Central Camino: Day 4 / Albegaria-a-Nova to São Joao
  • Distance: 14 miles / Total 60.7 miles
  • Ascent: 1,370’ / Descent: 1,112’
  • Time: 7 hours 30 minutes
  • Weather: 60 – 70 degrees / foggy, overcast becoming blue skies with clouds

Long walking on asphalt was paused by a walk through Eucalyptus Forests and crossing a Medieval bridge. Just rewards.

Eucalyptus Forests
Eucalyptus bark naturally peels.
Medieval Bridge
Pastry and cappuccino, just rewards.

Boy Toy – June 2, 2023

  • Portuguese Central Camino: Day 3 / Agueda to Albegaria-a-Nova
  • Distance: 13.7 miles / Total 46.7 miles
  • Ascent: 948’ / Descent: 626’
  • Time: 6 hours 45 minutes
  • Weather: 55 – 75 degrees / overcast

All-in-one boy toy. Grabs limb, trims branches off limb, removes bark from limb, cuts limb into uniform segments, gathers and piles trimmed branches.

All-in-one boy toy.
Better than a Transformer.
Segments neatly stacked.