Distance travelled today:
15 miles on foot
Day3: Pedra Furada to Portela de Tamel
Our journey continues. With sore feet (me) and aching back (Tony), we set off from our Albergue on what could have been quite a 'down' day.
It was very hot, and there was no breakfast on offer today, so by the time we had reached the next village we were ready for something to eat.
Unfortunately, in the tiny hamlet of Carvalhal there was only a bar, and it was several more kilometres to the next place. Fortunately, the kind young man working there recognised us as 'pilgrims' and offered to make us a sandwich, delivering it moments later with fruit juice and coffee; we were very grateful.
We continued, through beautiful countryside and along quiet lanes lanes until we reached Barcelos, quite a large town with a pretty centre.
Once again, we stopped for refreshments and to rest our feet for a while, enjoying the pretty streets and market stalls before continuing through Vila Boa and towards Ribeira.
Here we stopped again for refreshments; it was whilst we were enjoying another sandwich that a fellow pilgrim approached, hot and bothered. He introduced himself as Rolf, a German, who had walked 38km and was struggling with the heat. We were another 7km from the nearest Albergue with most of that uphill, so, at his request, Tony booked him a taxi. Later, at the Albergue, we were reunited and he repaid the favour with a couple of beers over a chat and dinner. He also told us that the first three days on the caminho were the hardest - here's hoping 🙏
A little earlier, on that final uphill stretch, just as I was really beginning to regret not getting in the taxi with Rolf, we caught up with a pair of walkers who stayed at the same hostel as us last night. They were a mother and son duo from Brazil called Phillipe and lvanda, and we started up a tentative English-Portuguese conversation. That conversation (his English being about as competent as my Portuguese) probably saved me, as my brain was so busy thinking about communication that it didn't have time to worry about my throbbing feet; another kindness, intended or not.
One of the things I was looking forward to on this journey was connecting with like-minded people. Today, it might have been the difference between making our destination or not.
Big thanks if you were part of my journey today - you made a difference x
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