25 September 2016, Sunday, day 25, Pontevedra to Caldes de Reis, 23 kilometers. Hotel O Cruceiro Center Fitbit: 65 stairs, 13.58 miles, 31,085 steps Today, last nights rain had stopped and the moist air created some fog and low clouds as we passed over the old bridge leaving Pontevedra. Brierley accurately describes today's walk."One third of this stage is along natural pathways through woodland along gentle river valleys which we share with the rail line. ..Approaching Caldas de Reis we hop on and off the N-550 but the stretches are short and level with good sight lines...there are few bars or cafes." It was mostly on secondary roads and wooded farm tracts with a few stretches along busy N-550. Many vineyards were along the route. We stopped at the very old church, Igrexa de Santa Maria ... read more

September 23. Friday, Vigo to Redondela, day 24, Hostel Antolin Fitbit: 12.39 miles, 28,359 steps, 58 stairs. Garmin 12 miles. After our rest day in Vigo on 22 September listening to the vibration hammers doing renovations at Hotel Junqueira, we were happy to have breakfast and be back on the Camino. We had planned on spending this day visiting the Islas Cies just out of the bay. They can be seen offshore in many of our photos. But the trip did not seem too inviting, as it is an overcast day, so we did not go. For our rest day we sat downstairs in the hotel bar and worked on blogs until lunchtime, then walked to the El Corte Ingles for their cafeteria and did some shopping. Much to the delight of the other three we ... read more

20 September 2016, Tuesday, day 22, Oia to Baiona. Parador Baiona. 12.03 miles The Hotel A Raina was managed by a deaf couple. The mother of the son helped as well. The hotel was lovely, simple, clean and the service very good; there was nothing more that we wanted or needed. So disappointed I did not get a picture of them all. So wonderful to see people who are doing so well in spite of their particular handicap. Today we re-learned how to sign good morning. Baby Signing Time does help the old as well as the young. Just google it. It is the sun rising. Breakfast began at 7 :00 but sunrise is not until after 8:30 so we met at 7:30 for breakfast. The mother had fresh tomatoes from her garden. A treat served ... read more

18 September 2016, Sunday, Vila Praia de Ancora to A Guarda , Spain. Day 20. 12 miles TCHAU or DESPEDIDA to PORTUGAL -- goodbye Portugal We will miss Portugal! And what will we miss? How to fix cod in, at least, 100 different, delicious ways: saying the greeting, "Bom Dia" which has such a cheerful, jaunty tone: beautiful, beautiful beaches well maintained: the fact that the crazy drivers actually stop for pedestrians in crosswalks: lovely, helpful people. We have had such a variety of experiences. Jo and Harlan have 'soldiered' along the entire Portugeuse Camino. In addition to doing portions of the Camino I have also done the 'meet the locals' route and both have been enlightening as well as entertaining. What will I NOT miss: The streets papered with cigarette buts and carpeted with dog ... read more

16 September 2016, day 18, Friday. Esposende to Viana do Castelo. 16.79 miles. This will be another day trying to follow the arrows as we have no detailed notes or Brierley guide. Fortunately, Moira has a more current edition with some coastal route maps. We pass a cafe with a cat enjoying the sun. Then a black lab dog walking a 2 inch wide wall with its owner watching closely from the porch. We see the kiwi that grow in northern Portugal like grapes from trellises. And the taxi post man poses by his motorcycle as he makes his rounds delivering the mail. We pass along a forest path where we find a monument from the region of Esposende to the Coastal Portuguese Camino. It has a shape like the country of Portugal with Lisbon and ... read more