In 2018 and 2019, Bina and I thoroughly explored the coastal route of the Portuguese Way of the Camino de Santiago. This is the trail that goes north up the Portuguese coast from Porto, crosses the Minho River into Spain at Caminha, and then proceeds along the Galician coast to Vigo, before deviating inland to finish in Santiago de Compostela. The 2019 walk added a segment or side trip known as the “Spiritual Variant.”
We weren’t finished with the Portuguese Way yet, however. Still beckoning was the central route, which veers inland from Porto and passes through Barcelo and Ponte de Lima before reaching the Minho River at the old fortress town of Valença. Crossing the river to Tui, on the Spanish side, this trail continues north to Redondela, where it unites with the coastal route for the final leg into Santiago.
The Covid pandemic of 2020-21 put our plans to walk the Central on hold. It wasn’t until the spring of 2022 that we felt ready to resume our Camino saunters. By this time, we were actually living in Portugal, in the Algarvian town of Tavira, which made logistics easy. We could drive our car right up to Porto and start walking; no need for international flights.
We had to proceed with caution, however. Bina had sustained two fractured ribs in an accident at the end of 2021. While she thought those ribs had healed sufficiently, we wouldn’t know for sure until we actually hit the trail. Hedging our bets, we planned this as a “partial” Camino: walk 122 km from Porto to Valença in June, and then finish up the journey from Valença to Santiago (118 km) at a later time.
That, at least, was the plan.
Two Clines Traveling 