More Rain & More Miles!

Today we hiked from Porto through quaint fishing villages and over sandy boardwalks to Vila do Conde- over 17 miles! The sun tried to peak out a few times this morning but mostly it rained and by the end of the afternoon it was gusting and pouring like crazy. The huge waves crashing on the rocks were scary yet exhilarating to watch as we hurried along. Did we question our sanity for being here walking this pilgrimage in this weather? Maybe! But taking a break and eating a scrumptious lunch of fresh local sardines and sea bass and a traditional Portuguese soup (with turnip greens?!) helped us back on our way. We headed back out garbed in ponchos and hats and we did our best to tuck our chins down and keep going. Rain is predicted tomorrow also but we are getting good at this (we think)!
Meeting other pilgrims along the way has been so inspiring- we met people from Michigan, Australia, Switzerland, France and Germany along with the friendly Portuguese. A kind fishmonger in Matosinhos chased us this morning to give us a Pilgrim’s shell and it’s so sweet to hear the encouraging,
« Bom Caminho » to which we’ve learned to respond, « Gracias Igualmente! »Les mer