Category: Caminos

• Portuguese Camino: Day 32 Padrón to Santiago
• Distance: 15.9 miles / Total 439.7 miles / 707km
• Time: 6 hours 30
• Ascent: 1,630’ Decent: 796’
• Weather: 60 degrees overcast, misting, light rain

My tribe of pilgrims can simultaneously walk and take selfies. When the urge strike, we yell “selfie” and come together posturing for a photo. We are drunk on the thought Santiago is so near. The kilometers slip by like sand in an hour glass. Infinitesimally slow in the beginning and instantly gone in the end.

• Portuguese Camino: Day 32 Padrón to Santiago
• Distance: 15.9 miles / Total 439.7 miles / 707km
• Time: 6 hours 30
• Ascent: 1,630’ Decent: 796’
• Weather: 60 degrees overcast, misting, light rain

We stand in the plaza before the towering Santiago de Compostelle Cathedral. We are giddy with the arrival. What we most want to do is hug one another, drop our backpacks, and take photos. It’s the same for all pilgrims. Our bonds will not be forgotten.

• Portuguese Camino: Day 32 Padrón to Santiago
• Distance: 15.9 miles / Total 439.7 miles / 707km
• Time: 6 hours 30
• Ascent: 1,630’ Decent: 796’
• Weather: 60 degrees overcast, misting, light rain

As though we are possessed by magical strength, we storm towards Santiago. Pack mentally keeps the pace up. Feet pain and café con letche urges are ignored. We just want to be there.

• Portuguese Camino: Day 31 / Caldas de Reis to Padrón
• Distance: 12 miles / Total 423.8miles
• Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
• Ascent: 855’ Decent: 889’
• Weather: 66-70 overcast

The appeal of green…

• Portuguese Camino: Day 31 / Caldas de Reis to Padrón
• Distance: 12 miles / Total 423.8miles
• Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
• Ascent: 855’ Decent: 889’
• Weather: 66-70 overcast

We look like zombies one trailing behind the other. Weariness is prevalent. The closeness of Santiago is at hand. Tired pilgrims are chomping at the bit.

• Portuguese Camino: Day 30/ Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis
• Distance: 14 miles / Total 411.8 miles
• Time: 6 hours 45 minutes
• Ascent: 893’ Decent: 875’
• Weather: 60-77 overcast

Leaving this for this…

• Portuguese Camino: Day 30/ Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis
• Distance: 14 miles / Total 411.8 miles
• Time: 6 hours 45 minutes
• Ascent: 893’ Decent: 875’
• Weather: 60-77 overcast

All jammed up and ready to go. Yes, that’s jam on buttered toast and café con lethe for breakfast eaten AFTER two hours of walking. Carbs, fats, sugar, and caffeine fueling four more hours of walking. It’s impossible to walk on a fuller tummy.

• Portuguese Camino: Day 29 / Redondela to Pontevedra
• Distance: 13.7 miles / Total 397.8 miles
• Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
• Ascent: 1,380’ Decent: 1,345’ Weather: 60-77 blue skies

With countless churches dating back centuries, it is easy to become saturated in their opulence. For me, there is too much to see. My quiet times in these revered places of worship are distracted by much artistry.

• Portuguese Camino: Day 28 / Redondela to Pontevedra
• Distance: 13.7 miles / Total 397.8 miles
• Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
• Ascent: 1,380’ Decent: 1,345’
• Weather: 60-77 blue skies

An elegant stone arch bridge lead to charming steep hills. It is as though the hills were dipped in concrete. Stone houses were stacked on top. Not a patch of earth to be seen. On slopes like these, earth would have long since wash away. It is well worth the climb.

• Portuguese Camino: Day 29 / Redondela to Pontevedra
• Distance: 13.7 miles / Total 397.8 miles
• Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
• Ascent: 1,380’ Decent: 1,345’
• Weather: 60-77 blue skies

Not conforming to 8:45am daylight, I’m off at 6:00am in the dark. There are always others walking with headlights shining too. Joyously I ran into a UK couple. Their son travels to meet them today. He has new underwear for each parent. They are rapturous over the prospect of this gift. Perhaps I should have had children.