Porto to Vila Do Condo

 Today has been the longest single days walking of this entire Camino. I deliberately arranged it as such to make the remainder more managable in its daily distance.

We have walked 30.2km, incorporating 50000 steps, from the Cathedral in Porto to the fishing village of Vila Do Condo. Day one of our 11 day trek. 

The walk took us down the River Douro in Porto to the rivers mouth where it empties into the Atlantic ocean. A nice stretch following the main road  through the lesser know parts of the city. 

Dear old crispy trying to organise a taxi because I had confiscated her phone. She didn't get one

From here we turned North and followed the coast up through Matosinhos and several other small villages finally arriving in the town of Vila Do Condo. Most Peregrinos start their Camino at the port of Matosinhos saving the initial 11km walk from Porto itself. We felt it important to start at the steps of the Cathedral in Porto and finish at the Cathedral in Santiago. A full Camino with no shortcuts. At Matosinhos I suffered equipment failure in the sense that one of my trainer insoles gave up the ghost and collapsed. Fortunately We found a local cobbler who fixed the aforementioned failure for the princely sum of 2 euro. Not before I had developed a hotspot on my foot but hopefully before it developed into a blister.

The walk has been mostly flat along beach boardwalks and the narrow cobbled streets that weave their way through the coastal villages. The Ocean has been our constant companion and will remain so for the next 8 days. The views have been amazing.

We have seen and chatted to other Peregrinos who are all obviously following the same route. Im sure our paths will cross constantly as we all wind our way northwards. Passers by are constantly greeting us with A friendly "Buen Camino" and there is a definite sense of commaradarie and mutual purpose.

We got into our lodgings at around 1830, showered and out for tea.

We have loved it but are now tired and ready for an early night. Tomorrow is a shorter day of about 20km so should be a doddle. Crispy has been a soldier and is definitely  up for the remaining challenge.

Arriving in Vila Do Condo. After a long days walk.

Bare and Crispy signing off. Vila Do Condo, Portugal