Today I had a lazy day. My feet needed a rest and I had a fair bit of nerve pain in my shoulder from carrying the rucksack and previously from slipping on the front door step and landing on awkwardly on my arm back in November. It’s really feckin sore after a long hike and I can’t even hold a pint in my hand without losing my grip.
Anyways I checked out of one hostel and went basically to the street behind me to check in to a hotel room for the same price as the hostel. Hotels in Uk and Ireland are ripping us off completely!
Went to explore Viana do Castello and found it a very pretty town- see pics below
I was feeling miserable today and got a strong feeling of wanting to go home. I didn’t understand why. Apart from missing my ladies and family at home there was something else bugging me. So far the Portuguese camino wasn’t a patch on my experience on the French Camino two years ago. The pilgrims seem fewer and more reserved. Maybe I was blessed and picked with a bunch of brilliant characters on the French Camino, or maybe because I had already done a camino and arrived at Santiago previously. The desire left me today. After a couple of calls to my wife Marissa, my daughter Jamie Lei and my best buddy Scalesy, I am going to batter on tomorrow and reach Moledo. I had planned to go to Caminha just 4km further but its really expensive there so no!
Just a few weeks ago on a 20km trek through Gortin forest I met a local man who had lived in Spain and told me to visit Moledo because it was special. I take these little conversations as signs that I am meant to do. So Moledo it is.
I done a bit of research on shoes for camino and the Merrell Moab 3 walking shoes were highly recommended. I bought a pair for this camino but as the sole is very solid my feet have taken a battering on all the cobbles on this camino. This morning I went to a endurance sports store and the fella that owned the shop had me trying on all sorts of trail running shoes and giving first class advice. Eventually I settled on the Asics Trabuco Max 4 as they are bouncy as hell, fit like a glove and are going to absolutely destroy any cobbles tomorrow.
I can always use the Moabs for any mountain trails I may encounter.
Stevie made it to Moledo today and is crackin on to Oia tomorrow so I have a bit of catchin up to do, but don’t worry this old turtle has legs that go long and far and a mind that can overcome anything so the newbie will be caught before Santiago 🥾🥾🥾🥾🥾
Early start tomorrow so gonna finish these three ‘cartons’ of red wine and wish you all a peaceful sleep tonight!
Obrigado & Boa Noite
Gman
El Camino de Santiago 