Caldas de Reis 3rd April

Today was a glorious walk. It was mostly flat and amongst forests and small villages. There were lots of small vineyards or really, plots of grape vines all trained high so we walked under them at times.

Leaving Pontevedra we crossed the Bourg Bridge. It has shells on the supports and is the the bridge built in the 12 th Century that replaced a Roman bridge. It was called the old bridge and that is from where the name Pontevedra comes.

There were lots of pilgrims today and at one stage we got ‘swallowed’ by a huge group. We were just rolling along happily most of the day until lunch time.There were lots of crosses today. They are very old and the statues are very warn. Some look quite pagan.

I received an email relating to a formal complaint from the body corporate in my apartments about Alfie and barking, so that jolted me back into the real world. After a flurry of emails with Hazel, my sitter and Nick my son, I hope we have a solution till I get home. I love my little dog but I can’t have a barking dog disturbing the neighbours. My dilemma is that I love travelling and he is well looked after but he barks when he is left on his own. I may have to think of him and consider re-homing him with some one who never goes away. I have only had a complaint when I was away.

After lunch somehow we all got separated. Irene and I had a pit stop and Anne continued on. I thought I would gradually catch her so I continued. Irene continued after me but left her sticks behind and had to return to get them. As we walked on I checked in a cafe but didn’t see Anne and I didn’t see Bill and Irene behind me so I just kept walking and finally met Dennis from St Andrews on the Peninsula near Melbourne. He and his friend Danny had been riding for four days from Porto and were now walking the rest of the way. They are also with Portuguese Green Walks so were staying at our Hotel. Because I was wearing the tshirt today and Anne too, i thought they might have seen her. When we came to descend a hill Dennis said he had bad knees and would wait for his friends Danny and their new friend Raphael, a Spaniard who now lives in Ireland.

I continued on by myself and was so busy talking with two young American girls from Texas that I walked right over the bridge. I still hadn’t connected with the others so I decided to stop at the nearest cafe, grab a drink and snack and send them a text and also look for the hotel. By the time I checked the book and looked up I realised I was sitting across the river from our hotel! It was almost the same time that I got a text from Bill wondering where I was. They had just arrived.

Our hotel had a thermal water swimming pool and we were soon into it for a swim. It was about 38 Degrees so not super hot but just lovely to be in. Irene would have preferred it warmer but she still had a bit of a soak. We had all booked feet massages and Anne was first to go followed by Irene, then me. It was a great treatment, starting with a soak in alternating hot and cold water, then a massage with a menthol (Piernas liger – light legs) in a circular motion. It was very cold but had the desired effect of loosening up our legs. It cost €19.80 for 30 mins.

We joined the two Aussies for drinks and I finally had an Herbois liqueur over ice. It is a traditional Galician yellow liquor that is slightly herbal in flavour. It was a generous portion. I was keen to have a wander about town but Anne was nursing a sore ankle and Irene was too tired. We killed time until 8.30 when we could go into the dining room.

The food had been reviewed as good so we had expectations of a pleasant meal. When we went into the dining room we selected a table with a menu but were hustled away to the area over the river. We could see it flowing fast beneath us. Bill kept making cracks about us falling into the river when the structure gave way. He was in a mischievous mood. The meal came quickly. A lovely pumpkin soup, things were looking up! Then the main course was a disaster. Bill and I had chicken wings and roast potato slices.They were quite tasty but Irene and Ann had monkfish in a buttery, globby sauce. It was quite disgusting. The piece de resistance however was dessert. Irene and Anne had ordered what they thought was fruit salad but turned out to be a bowl of fresh fruit! Two huge pears, three mandarins, two massive kiwi fruit and a banana. The look on their faces was priceless.

After our 22 km day, a long swim in the thermal pool and dinner we retired to our bungalows. Another big day but we are counting down.

Author: fleetfootkath

I am a keen walker and traveller. I love to explore and learn about new people, places and cultures with a sense of joy and gratitude for this fortunate life. I believe walking is a wonderful way to really connect with the present and the beauty of the world that surrounds us. It makes me happy. View all posts by fleetfootkath