LP and VQT

 Posted by VQT Another rainy morning then it cleared up and then it poured rain for a short time.   Today is a very short day and a short day is really needed after yesterday’s slough in the rain.  Our friend Alessandro, who’s many decades younger than me, talked about how hard yesterday’s walk was when he joined us last night.  So a short walk today was perfect.   Photo: Krystain and VQT.     Met Krystain from Poland walking out of Âncora.   T Photo: VQT walking down Camino part.   Photo: a lonely donkey with the sea in the background.  Photo: Arthur, Jane and VQT.  I walked part of today with them.   Photo: iron sign of a boot at the shoe repair shop. 

 Posted by LP Photo - blue skies and fluffy clouds over the beach at Vila Praia de Ancora Yesterday the weather definitely changed for the better only a short while after VQT arrived (totally dripping wet) Today is the end of Portugal for this trip, we cross into Spain and stay in A Guarda 

 Posted by VQT  All the restaurants by the sea were closed except the one where I met LP when I walked into town like a drowned rat.  Our hotel wasn’t open otherwise I’d have gone there.  So we went into the square by the church to find dinner and vino tinto and Camino magic occurred.  Photo: seagull on top of monument.   Photo: Church lit up with lights.   And Alessandro was walking across the plaza and joined us.  Made our day!!!   Seriously was a such a pleasant surprise.  We thought our Camino group had all moved onto the next city.  A very pleasant ending to a wet and otherwise challenging day.  

 Posted by VQT Left our hotel at 7:40.  Went through the usual frustration of finding the way out of town.  Camino is almost always well marked except in cities.  Ended up walking with a Bulgarian woman who lives in Germany along with several other lost & confused Camino people.  Part of the problem today is you can walk one of two routes - coastal or inland - the Camino markings didn’t distinguish which route they were for.  I wanted to walk the inland route.  It took a while but finally was on the correct route.  Then the rain started.  The Bulgarian woman went into a cafe and I thought I’ll stop at the next one - there wasn’t a next one!  Eventually stopped at a small open church where two high school girls were selling drinks, protein bars etc to raise money for a trip to World Youth Celebration (I think) taking place in Korea next summer.  Got to sit down - that’s one of the problems with walking in the rain there’s no rest...

 Posted by LP Photo - Green doors and windows on a green tiled house (taken a couple of days ago…..you can never have too many photos of green doors!) VQT is bravely walking in very heavy rain - last heard, making good progress despite the horrible conditions  LP took a taxi to destination and is sitting in a ocean side cafe - lots of tourists (non Camino) running for cover  Taxi driver said this much rain is not typical for August in this region, nonetheless much more rain is forecast 

 Posted by VQT Photo: wayside tiled map of this route.  Photo: Roadside niche with stone pilgrim.   Another rainy day.  Our Camino weather luck has left us for now.   Headed to Vila Praia de Ancora.  It’s about 18 km or just under 12 miles.   Photo: elevation profile from guidebook.   LP is taking a rest day.  VQT is heading out into the rain because walking in the rain was so much fun yesterday - not really but I’m going.