To Esposende

Our walk to Esposende today was basically flat as we hugged the coast and dodged lots of vacationers enjoying these last few days of summer. There were many happy people out enjoying the beaches and the little cafés. We were waved to and greeted with “Bom Caminho” by people strolling or biking- it felt so good to be welcomed like this! Several of the villages we passed are celebrating end of summer festivities so there were lots of lights hanging and flags and streamers strung up. Today was another one hiking on the boardwalks until end of afternoon when we walked on some dirt and gravel roads and passed small vineyards, fields of corn and trees heavy with apples. Earlier in the afternoon we passed the masseiras which employ unique agricultural methods including seaweed fertilizer and troughs dug deep in the sand- seeing farmers with tractor loads of dried seaweed was certainly interesting and different! There were ancient windmills to see and several pristine soccer fields and then a random golf course/ we saw handmade pilgrim shell displays and rock piles- surprises were everywhere today! We are getting our credentials stamped at churches we pass and there were some beautiful ones on our path especially the Templo do Bom Jesus de Fão and the Capela de Nossa Senhora de Lapa. Entering Esposende we crossed over the Cávado River via the long Ponte De Luis Filipe bridge. I have a blister on my right toe but Luke is going strong- today was 17.5 miles and after pizza in the charming town square we are headed to sleep-Read more