For Good Measure

Saturday, 10 May Rest day from walking. View from our apartment window. Had a lie in this morning and then cooked eggs for breakfast. Steve went out to the tourist office for info on wine tasting and then did the supermarket shopping, fruit and veg plus bread rolls and cheese. A couple of days we have found it hard to get fresh fruit, etc in the small remote villages and the restaurant meals in some places have been very meaty, e.g. my dinner in Mōes a few days ago. It was served with rice, fries and mushrooms. Needless to say I only ate about a third. Tiled murals we passed on our walk to the port tasting this afternoon up the hill at the far end of town, 3 different types of port each. All very good. Coffee on the way back to the apartment and a tapas dinner.  Tomorrow the walk is uphill to Santa Marta de Penaguião. Weather looks promising. 🌞

 Friday, 9 May Another great day. A fairly cool start and a little rain as we approached Peso da Régua. Wonderful views and fascinating to see the extent of the vineyards. Leaving Lamego. Black dog enjoying a laze in the sun.  We walked past many wineries but think it was siesta time so no tasting for us today. Approaching Peso da Régua. Crossing the bridge to arrive in Peso da Régua. We have a nice apartment here for two nights. We were a bit anxious about tackling today's walk. It was only about 12.5 kms but the descent in elevation was about 500 metres. There were a few steep bits but it was manageable. A five and a half hour walk.

Thursday, 8 May We were pleased to leave the alburgue this morning The concrete building was freezing last night and neither of us got much sleep in spite of the extra blankets. Once we were packed up and outside we were a lot warmer even though the temperature at 8 am was only 7°. Coffee and tostada at the restaurant from the night before, the one with the non operational kitchen and 'no hope of a cook'. Magueijinha is a very small place with no other options. However we are grateful that we got a bed for the night and something to eat. Stopped at the next village for a cold drink and had a picnic lunch later at a riverside rest area. We have been in a quite remote rural area the last few days. Arrived in Lamoges around 2 pm so looking forward to a better diet from here on. Hanging out for fresh fruit and veg, and some good tapas. We have just had nice coffees at a cafe by the Cathedral so things are looking up. Now relaxing with a glass of vino tinto before we visit the Cathe...

Wednesday 7 May What a lovely walk today. Will mostly let the photos tell the story. Finding a way around the water covered path. The pathway has become a small river. Finding our way through while keeping our shoes relatively dry takes time. Photographed through the peephole of chapel below. 7 dog prisoners.😔 Shrine to Saint Antonio in the village of Mezio. A day of wildflowers, butterflies and even a lizard, possibly a salamander. The communal lavanderia in Mézio village. Washing a very dirty sock from stepping in the boggy pathway. We were led to believe we could get accommodation at this restaurant in Bigorne but no. However the woman was very helpful and called us a taxi to the nearest albergue after we had finished our cervesa. About 10 ks walked today. We seem to be the only guests here tonight. Suggested donation €7 for the night. There is a restaurant 100 metres down the road and we have no food with us to cook. A choice of beds and extra blankets. Well we lucked out on dinne...