LIVE from the Camino Just strolling along

[ortemio]

After a slow start, stuck at Newark airport for 22 hours, I am finally moving. Florida-newark-porto-salamanca-start.

Salamanca had a festival going, lots of young wipper snappers. Albergue is donativo, clean with a nice couple running it. Great food.

The fresh croissants in rua mayor are killer!

After 33km that felt like. 50km made it to Robliza de cojos, nice, they even gave me a ride to the restaurant.

Now my caminuku :

New showers
New toilets
Two beds
No TP.

Powder coffee
Powder Expresso
New microwave
No cups.

Arrived at San Muñoz today , Saturday, everything is closed. Albergue is hosting a Ukrainian family, lovely fruit pie. Clean 4 beds, raining cats and dogs. Talked the Hann bar into cooking me some food.

Some of my pics are in my findpenguins at :

Orfila | FindPenguins

Orfila traveled in 3 countries. Explore the travels of Orfila on FindPenguins.

findpenguins.com

Just more ramblings.

 

[Simperegrina]

This forum has introduced me to FindPenguins, a new one on me, but I’m going to try it out for my upcoming Camino de Frances

 

[ortemio]

Day 3: Alba de yeltes, wowikazawee, 26km, I would rate the difficulty at a 9 out of 10. Just when you think the hills are over another one comes along. Then you have to share the Camino with a few cows that look mean and your 2nd wind kicks in and you do a few km's really quick.
But the steak and soup at Bar Nilo was well worth it. Albergue has 5 beds, warm shower and a petanca court. Cool.

 

[ortemio]

Day 4 : Ciudad Rodrigo, ,26km, first 10km pure road work. Lots of blackberries and cork oaks. Albergue seemed strange, 30€ with on the go breakfast. Mhhhhm. Oh well it's a bed. Tomorrow 30km to Obispo de ...

 

[ortemio]

Day ?? In Amarante, staying at the Casa da Juventus, 10€ , including breakfast. Many beds and vegetarian menu. The only complain is , last night Friday, they had raging rave going on next door until 2am. Even the earplugs were useless. Not an everyday event but worth asking before reservations.

 

[ortemio]

Ended the Torres in Braga and now starting on the Geira. I must say I liked Braga, so many beautiful sights, a very active scene.

Torres was fun, challenging at times and great weather mostly. Coming out of Guimaraes I noticed a van following me. It turned out to be the guy that I had wanted to strangle at some places in the Camino. This person is the one marking the Camino. He is really into the history and wants to show every church, cross and anything that has to do with the "real" Camino. Very nice person, he is also pushing the Camino de Geira, Leonel Pereira +351 933 426 097, they have a WhatsApp group and offer updated tracks and help along the way. They seem to be very active and friendly. Group named Caminho da Geira. Call him if you have questions.

Today made it to Caldela, albergue was unresponsive after 3 days of calls. Seems the phone number is manned by emptiness.
The beginning is chaotic as it is the confluence of four different caminos and they have different ways of marking the way.

Ciao bambinos.

 

[ortemio]

At Geres Posada de Juventud, 18€ w bkfst. Lots of fog. About 25 mountain bikers passed me today on their way to Santiago from Porto. The trail was very nice. The champignons are beginning to show up. Tomorrow to Lubios,spain.

 

[ortemio]

Day xx ++ :
At Castro Laboreiro the land of the Portuguese Laboreiro dog, large breed, strong and I was warned to be careful of them. So far ok. Not so long a hike today but intense, specially the end. You need a strong heart and lots of water to make that climb, so be careful the view is grand!

 

[peregrina2000]

Day 4 : Ciudad Rodrigo, ,26km, first 10km pure road work. Lots of blackberries and cork oaks. Albergue seemed strange, 30€ with on the go breakfast. Mhhhhm. Oh well it's a bed. Tomorrow 30km to Obispo de ...

I just saw this thread. How did I miss it?! When I saw that you started with Salamanca in fiestas, I wondered if I started last year on the same date, but I checked my FP and saw I was in town for an earlier fiests, it seems, because I started about a week earlier. It was a great time to walk, and it looks like you are having the same great weather.

A question about those blackberries — the ones I saw last year were small and tasteless. Someone suggested it was the drought. Just wondering if you’re getting some juicy sweetness.

Buen camino, Ortemio!

 

[ortemio]

Day ? Cortegada, my wikiloc reported 34.5km, I followed the track from their website. Seems that it has gotten longer?
The big dogs ignored me, no issues, but the little ones went berserk every time...
Some trails were nice but by the end I was too tired to enjoy the river walk. No food as it is Sunday and it's deader than a ???

The blackberries were edible not as good as the ones from home. I worry as the birds did not eat them. But there were so many apples, pears, grapes and figs I had no issues keeping my tummy full.

The one thing that I have become addicted to is their dark brown bread. Wow,! Crusty, mellow sweet taste, great with cheese! My doctor is going to have a fit..

 

[ortemio]

Came across this link with help for routing and stages.

Caminho da Geira e dos Arrieiros ( guia completo )

Aqui vamos falar um pouco de um dos mais bonitos e desconhecidos caminhos portugueses de Santiago que é o Caminho da Geira e dos Arrieiros. Em primeiro lugar gostaria de ressalvar que actualmente (10/2023) é impossível seguir o CGA sem o auxilio de GPS, porque há algumas etapas com a marcação...

www.trilhosecaminhadas.com

 

[ortemio]

At Soutelo : nice little town, nothing Todo. Heading to Estrada. 30km almost to Santiago!

 

[ortemio]

At Estrada , last stage but weather reports ~1in of rain expected today. So feeling guilty I will rest and walk tomorrow, no rain tomorrow.

 

[ortemio]

Made it to Santiago. Wonderful ending felt like a stroll through my hometown. Am having lunch at a vegetarian restaurant named EntrePredras, highly recommended.

Now I have 50 days left to sounter around, not certain what direction to go yet. Viva la Aventura!