First Day of Walking: Porto to Joudina

Our first official day on the Camino is complete! We walked from Porto to Joudina, Portugal, where we’re staying for the night. The place we’re at is peaceful and cozy, which is I deal for a one-night stay. It’s actually geared toward Camino walkers like us, so we knew we’d run into fellow pilgrims here.

We covered 6.36 miles in about two and a half hours so not bad at all for Day One. Once we made it out of the city, a refreshing breeze kicked in and made the walk much more enjoyable. Along the way, we stopped for some energizing drinks (Pepsi and Coke to the rescue), and had lunch at a little Camino-style café that stamps pilgrim passports. For those who don’t know, collecting stamps is part of the Camino de Santiago tradition. You need at least two a day to officially complete the journey. We went above and beyond today and got three! We passed through cornfields small suburbs in cities with traffic so today was nothing short of exciting!

Now it’s 8:44 p.m. and we’re winding down in the common area, Elizabeth is reading, while listening to the evening birds, and I’m watching the sun set and writing the blog for the day (My dad has been requesting timely updates). It’s a beautiful, peaceful way to end the day. Tomorrow is going to be a serious challenge: 17 miles. It feels a bit impossible right now, but with snacks, good energy, and determination, we’re hopeful. We plan to start early, around 6:00 a.m., and break it up into smaller chunks of about six miles each. If we pull it off, it’ll be our longest walk yet!

Wish us luck, send your prayers, and stay tuned…this journey is just beginning!

20-Mile Day: Joudina to Barcelos

Sorry for the delay—it's been a tough few days! What was supposed to be a 17-mile trek turned into 20, a surprise we discovered around mile 15. Mentally and physically, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But with encouragement from my sister and her husband, we pushed through.

The challenge became a testament to how far Elizabeth and I were willing to go to meet a goal. Along the way, we met some amazing people—Marta, a solo backpacker from Poland, and Antonio, a kind local who shared water from his fountain. We had a funny exchange trying to communicate in broken Spanish, and parted ways with a laugh.

When we finally reached Barcelos, we collapsed on the hostel floor for a good 20 minutes, squeezing in some much-needed stretching. Our bodies were sore—but no regrets. The stunning churches, scenic mountain views, and kind strangers made it all worth it.

Rest Day After the 20-Miler

After yesterday’s 20-mile push, today was all about rest and we needed it. Even after just walking a couple of miles in the morning, our bodies were stiff and struggling to loosen up. I let myself sleep in while Elizabeth went to a local Catholic Mass just down the road.

Later, we met up for a relaxed lunch and decided to stroll down to the river. The sun was out, and the banks were full of locals enjoying the warm weather. We found a spot to lay out and soak it all in, even considering a swim. I dipped my legs into the cold river, which turned out to be a perfect remedy for my stiffness. The water was so soothing and helped my muscles begin to recover.

In the afternoon, we headed back to the room for a nap and some downtime before dinner. We kept it simple: reheated our lunch from earlier that day and watched a bit of TV for a laid-back evening. Then we wandered out to get some gelato (because recovery deserves a treat), and called it a night.

The next morning, we laced up our shoes and began our 13-mile hike toward a town midway to Ponte de Lima.

13 Miles to Ponte de Lima

We started our hike around 9:30 a.m. Along the way, we met an American from California who walked with us for a bit. She decided to stay behind to buy new shoes before continuing on, so we parted ways.

After that, we walked about six miles and stopped for lunch at a café along the trail. Later, we went swimming in a small pond just off the path. It was really fun—lots of people were there, and we got to hang out and chat with some locals and fellow pilgrims like us.

We continued our trek for another seven miles or so before finally reaching the hostel where we were staying. After dropping off our gear, I walked to the supermarket to grab a few essentials while Elizabeth did laundry and hung our clothes out to dry.

That evening, we had a great dinner—at least, it seemed great at the time. Unfortunately, about four hours later, I woke up with a very unhappy stomach. Not long after, it was clear I had food poisoning. Not fun.

To be continued...

Morning of food poisoning: …continued— Ponte de Lima

I had a very rough morning, but Elizabeth was very helpful and trying to soothe whatever she could with whatever we had…Which was little to nothing. Luckily, I always travel with four of my favorite essential oils and one happened to be peppermint, which is great for nausea so I was in luck and that really saved me as far as the nausea.  In light of this situation we decided to not walk today to let me get a day of rest because I was severely dehydrated from the morning events. We took an Uber 15 minutes to the next town. Which was a shock after it usually taking more than four hours to reach the next town by foot.

I felt better when we got to Ponte da Lima after we went to a Cafe and had some very bland breakfast (which was nice on the stomach) , although great pancakes. Then I got some anti-nausea medication and am now resting in the room while elizabeth is reading outside of our hotel and next to a café in the park area.  We have each other’s location so we can check on each other if we’re separated on times like these. Other than this morning, the trip has been awesome. We have a day of rest tomorrow which came in very nicely because of the food poisoning. This will be a great day for me to just really really hydrate and take care of all my illnesses and then after that, we walk 11  mikes to Rubiães, Portugal. One of our last stops before we cross into España !!!

Rest day- Ponte de Lima

Our rest day was great we basically did the same things but while I rested for the first day elizabeth element and saw the beautiful city. After that day I was ready the go out and see for myself. So the next day elizabeth woke up early and decided to hike back wards a couple of miles to see some places we didn’t get to walk due to my food poising—oopsies— but all is well she hike about five miles and eleven miles through the city so she made it up. After that she showered and we walked around the town took some photos with my camera to really capture the beauty of the city. We fell in love with it— the weather, the people, the tradition and the mountain ranges so rounding them— to say it was our favorite would be an understatement. Highly recommend for all ages. There is also a river that you can kayak or paddle boat down. It was an amazing two nights. That night we prepared for the next days hike which was highly anticipated. A man who had done it previously this year let us know the downside of our hike. He informed us of the elevation that we had no idea about, to our surprise he said it was dreadful and to take breaks. From that advice we started thinking— a lot— by the time we got back we were already getting in bed for the next morning trying to get as much sleep as we could.

Ponte de Lima - Rubães, Portugal-

We had a great time on our hike today. A total of 11.56 miles with 1,775ft of elevation. We hiked a huge mountain that we looked at until we arrived at the base and hiked up, it was amazing to say the least! We enjoyed every bit of it, from the views the trails and the people, the Camino didn’t disappoint today! We prepared last night with some fruit, cookies and nuts for the journey today. Gathering supplies from local vendors, we set a good foundation for an exerting day. We woke up before our alarms with anticipation, knowing that the mountain was awaiting us. We got ready— in silence like we usually do because it’s too early in the morning to be conversing— including; packed our gear and made sure we got items from fridge in small kitchen outside our room.

We had a buffet style breakfast  where I enjoyed some chia seed yogurt with a slice of what we think is pound cake, dates, dried apricots and some coffee to fuel myself properly. We then set off on an amazing walk through the city one last time and over the bridge where we entered mostly forrest the rest of the way.

As we made our way up the mountain we passed many different people from all over. We saw bikers, hikers and locals through the journey today. All of which spoke to us and asked us the simple questions we could communicate to each other. As we made our way down the mountain we stopped for lunch at a cafe— the first and last for miles— and then we set off only to find another bar. So we stoped there for a quick beer— recommended by a guy we met in Ponte de Lima— and enjoyed our time in the mountains.

We arrived at our hostel in a total 4 Hrs & 51 mins. We are now enjoying some time swimming in the pool that is so refreshing our bones could melt. At 6:00 pm a shuttle will be waiting for us to take everyone at the hostel to a restaurant where we will eat and be shuttled back. We have 12 miles tomorrow to enter Spain so we are going to get some rest tonight and try to leave early to beat the heat!!

Rubães, Portugal 🇵🇹 -> Tui, Spain 🇪🇸

We had a tiring but rewarding day. Filled with lots of breaks for water or espresso, we did it but-by-bit and kept our pace. We started around 7:30 had a pastry and coffee at a café down the street from our hostel then set off on foot for a 13 mile day. Not bad compared to our other segments, but we weren’t expecting the lack of shaded areas to walk under. So we battled the sun the best would could by breaking every 2 1/2 miles or until our bodies needed energy. We had the best lunch at a hostel/restaurant about half way to Valencia. We stopped there for one last espresso then finished our hike through the old fortress of Portugal and crossed the bridge into Tui, Spain. We climbed the hill to the top to get our hostel which was right in the middle of everything. We had some quite time to relax by ourselves, while Elizabeth’s went to reflect in the Cathedral next to our hostel while I read and called a couple of family member across the pond! We met up at the bar I was sitting at and enjoyed the best espresso martini I’ve ever had….Truly. We chatted and laughed about different things, then walked about 20 feet to a restaurant where we had the best meal! Overall today was a successful day and we are excited to finally be in Spain! I can speak more Spanish than I can Portuguese so this will be a nice change for me personally. Tomorrow we set out for 9 miles to Porrino for one night!

Tui -> O Porriño, España 🇪🇸

We had another great day on the trail! We saw our friends from England several times today and met new people as well. We took several breaks although we tried to leave early before it got hot, we couldn’t out run the heat. Our day was not that eventful just another day walking, which in a sense is the hardest part. When nothing exciting is distracting you from the pain in your feet or no views to reiterate why you are doing this. It’s solely mental strength when you get to the boring parts. Thank goodness for music and audio book, because I would be so bored without them.  As we made our way to our next town we couldn’t help but think about our journey is half way over. Time flies but not when your walking, I wild say it had gone by fast but honestly it feels like the correct amount of time. Your mind is very present and aware of the time that you are spending in walking it doesn’t wonder much. Tomorrow we walk 9 1/2 miles to Redondela for a two day break after four straight days of walking, which we will use it to the very last minute. We plan on taking a taxi to Vigo for some beach time so we can relax and swim while our bodies reset for another four days of walking.

OPorino —> Redondela

We had another day of walking with beautiful views and even more beautiful people. We met some great people at some stops along the way making the journey even more meaningful. A tribute to the people we have met along the way— the stories you shared were heartfelt and unique to you alone. With those stories I’ve learned to long for more life adventures and experiences and learned to love the plot twists along the way. We have another day of walking tomorrow to look forward to and more people to meet.

Rest Day in Vigo, Spain ☀️

After four solid days of walking, our bodies were more than ready for a break—so we treated ourselves to a well-earned rest day in beautiful Vigo, Spain. We hopped in a taxi for the 20-minute ride from Redondela and started our beach day the best way possible: with the most incredible breakfast of the trip.

We found a spot that served Nutella pancakes with ice cream on top—yes, you read that right. Elizabeth and I were in total shock when it arrived, but it was absolutely delicious. It had been forever since we had ice cream for breakfast, and honestly, it felt like the perfect little indulgence for our rest day.

After breakfast, we wandered around the town of Vigo on foot. I picked up some much-needed skincare and hygiene items, and then we decided it was officially time to head for the beach. Since we were giving our feet the day off, we grabbed a cab to a beach club just outside the city.

We sipped on wine and beer, changed into our swimsuits, and then made our way to a quieter, more secluded part of the beach. It was everything we needed and more. The beachgoers around us started getting into the water, while Elizabeth and I happily napped under the sun (well, shade for her). We spent the next five blissful hours just relaxing, soaking in the ocean air and letting our muscles recover.

Eventually, we made our way a few blocks to look for a taxi—but of course, they were all suddenly busy right when we needed one. Classic! After a short wait, we finally flagged one down and headed back into the center of Vigo for dinner. The meal was amazing and the perfect end to the day.

We caught a taxi back to Redondela that evening, full, relaxed, and ready to take on the next stretch of our journey to Pontevedra. Days like this remind us how important it is to rest, recharge, and appreciate the little joys along the way.

Redondela → Pontevedra

We started our hike early this morning to try and beat the heat—and luckily, the weather was on our side. It never got too hot, and a steady breeze stayed with us almost the whole way, which made a huge difference.

Today turned out to be full of surprises. One in particular was a hill that really snuck up on us. It was much steeper and longer than we expected, and honestly, it felt more like a mountain. Maybe they call it a hill here, but we’re calling it what it felt like!

We stopped at a little café along the way and enjoyed a croissant and some coffee, which gave us a much-needed boost. Not long after, we ran into some horseback riders. This part of the trail seems to attract everyone—cyclists, riders, walkers. It’s fun to see so many people enjoying the outdoors in different ways.

A highlight for me today was meeting a sweet feline friend on the path. He let me pet him, and it was honestly such a comfort—I’ve been missing my cats a lot lately, so that little moment meant more than I expected. It was nice just to feel that connection again.

The heat wasn’t bad at all today, especially thanks to our early start. Tomorrow's another big day, and it’s hard to believe we’re getting so close to the end of the trail. It feels surreal, but we’re also incredibly excited and proud of what we’ve accomplished so far. Just a few more steps to go!

Pontevedra → Caldas de Reis

The walk to Caldas de Reis was beautiful and fun. We started seeing a lot more people on the Camino today—now that we’re under 100 km from Santiago, more pilgrims are joining the route. The stories we've heard along the way have been fascinating, and the people we've met are truly inspiring.We walked for a while with a group of kids about our age who were also doing the Camino. We ended up talking for a long time, sharing thoughts about the future and realizing that none of us really knows what we're doing with our lives. That shared uncertainty made us feel more connected, and it was comforting in a way.

Most of the walk was through forest paths, which made for a peaceful and shaded day—something we were very grateful for. While we passed through a few towns and trail entrances, the wooded areas were the highlight.

Pontevedra ended up being one of my favorite cities on the trip. Its beauty stood out—the architecture, the colors, the shops, and the people all blended into something really special. We only stayed one night, so we tried to fit in as much as we could after our walk. It wasn’t a long amount of time, but we had a great lunch and an even better dinner (seafood!).

I’m super excited for tomorrow and can’t wait to see how the second-to-last day of the Camino de Santiago treats us.

Caldas de Reis → Padrón

Lots of coffee and lots of wind today. For being the second-to-last day, our energy seemed to fly right out the window. We had to rely on caffeine to keep going—thank goodness for cafés!

We made the most of them, stopping whenever we needed a boost, which turned out to be almost every hour. Usually it’s a Coke or a quick break, sometimes even stretching to two-and-a-half hours, but today it was all about the coffee.

Despite the low energy, the day itself was beautiful. The weather was amazing—honestly, I’d consider it one of our best days walking. I started to feel some pain around mile five, and Elizabeth started around mile six, but we kept pushing to reach our final stop of the day: Padrón.

Now we’re just one night away from our final day of walking on the Camino de Santiago.