Day 11 , 12 , 13 & 14 Camino Portuguese to Santiago

 

Today's day 11 and it's from Guala to Jo Jose Montterio I think is how you pronounce it. And that's about 29 kilometers. And again, I started very early at 6:00. 

 Day 11 25 September 2025

Day 11 and basically it's from Albergavia-a- Valha to Sao Joao da Madeira and that is about 34 kilometers to Porto.  So basically it was only about 29km . Ended up doing 30 km to the hotel.Managed to have breakfast this time with a a roll with cheese, a tin of cap, cold cappuccino, and an apple. Again, um got to about 8 9 kilometers before I found a cafe, had coffee and a small tart with custard in it and I think coconut. Hopefully  I'll get to the 20 kilometer mark, have a break, and then hopefully just the last stretch to the town for the night. I'm hoping to basically find a post office this and maybe mail back some of my clothes and my walking sticks as I haven't used it at all.

 It was quite a pleasant walk.Still got hot towards the end. Again I saw Edward about 6ks from the end  .We had a break at a small bar before walking the last few kms . He had stopped and I was moving on. Again started very early 6 am and had no issues. It was reasonably good walk. I also basically shipped back 2 kilos of my clothes and my walking sticks from the post office and it only cost €40, so that was worth it. The pack feels a lot light, and I wasn't using any of those clothes. So, I'm happy about that decision. And I wasn't using the walking sticks, so I think that was the right thing to do. Again, no injuries, just soreness generally. I am hoping to get to Porto by 3, get my second passport/ credential,  because I'm running out of space and I'm hoping then to be able to get to the hotel, get some laundry done, and rest and then have tomorrow, my birthday free to just relax, do the Samatha meditation zoom group. Then walk around for a bit and then start again on Sunday morning. The last leg, which will be part coastal and then part central. Other than that, it looks pretty good. I think the lessons are to travel as light as possible. Just like life, a lot of stuff, baggage we think we need, we don't and not worry, not think too much of anything. and just let everything go. It's really just the space and the moment, which are really good lessons. The lesson learned yesterday at the post office was just to be patient. They took about half an hour, 40 minutes to sort out the costings and packaging, but that was fine. So, I think this walk's been pretty interesting in so far as all the lessons I've learned so far are reinforced. They're not new. And more importantly, all humans are the same. And that's what I'm seeing in  walking.

 

 

 Day 12 ,13  and 14 September 26 , 27 and 28 September 2025

This is technically day 12 of my walk. I arrived on Friday, day 12, I walked into Porto, just after 3. It was a good walk. The weather was great. I met Edward about 5 km out.  I ended up doing 36 kilometers. Beautiful and the entrance to Porto , Walking over the bridge, was amazing and I got some good photographs. I really enjoyed that. Got to the Cathedral and it was crowded with tourists as usual. Managed to get my credential. Got to the hotel without any difficulties or  actually service apartment. Got in and then I had a full two days rest. I used that opportunity to do the bus tour round Porto. I managed to do the Samatha UK 7:30 am meditation zoom  session with Peter Harvey. That was very good. Got 40 odd minutes of meditation in and then did the bus tour. Then I walked to Decathon which was a bit of a rush to get a jumper because it was turning cold and I got one for about €25 which was good value I think. I then booked myself in for my massage which was really good. It helped as I had a really sore back and I think there were a lot of knots in the muscles. And it was just nice to have a relaxing 1 hour. Hurt a bit. The guy who did it was obviously quite strong, but at least I managed to get the massage in and it was €55,  with €5 discount from 60. And then had lunch,  and then I went for a 1 hour Fado concert uh which was really good. Managed to tape some of the music. I enjoyed it. Had Japanese for dinner. Got an early night. Then the next day, which is the 28th of September, which is a Sunday, I started off at six t.There was a weather alert because there was a low depression sitting off Portugal which I think is part of hurricane Humberto off the Bermuda or islands near America. It had basically moved towards America rather than heading towards Europe which was a good thing. There was a lot of rain overnight but when I started my walk whilst the roads were wet and it looked like the rain had stopped. That was good. So, I enjoyed that. The  temperature was great and it felt a little humid, so that was good. By the time I hit the coast,  CNN Portugal was already filming the u huge waves hitting the coastline. So, that was interesting.  Today's walk  is Porto to Vila do Condo which is about 33 kilometers from Porto. It was a great walk. I started up pretty early at 6:00am . So I saw the sunrise. The weather was a little windy and wild. Slight drizzle but nothing much.  Pretty much the coastal route  along the coast. and I got in just after 3pm. So it was pretty good time. Found a hotel without any difficulties.Had a rest. Got dinner from the supermarket  it wasn't that great, but  had to do and  I had soup for lunch anyway, so I think I've had enough. carbs in.  I've got enough drink. So a good easy start and I plan to walk along the coast for the next 4 days to  C A M I N H A and then from there turn inland towards Tui and then for the last 4 days basically heading inland and to Santiago. That's the plan. The last day is going to be a hard day with over 43 kilometers of walking, but I think that's manageable if I take my time. Other than that, it looks like a really good start. Hopefully, I get in early and um have a good rest. I also had a call from Junaid from Singapore it was nice to chat to him and I'll try and meet up with him on my way back. 

 

September 25 Walk  to Sao Joao da Madeira 

 

 

September 26 Walk into Porto  

 

 

 

Rest Day 27 September Porto  

28 September walk to Villa do Condo