A few last thoughts before Porto….

It is late on Wednesday in Dublin and in any other day of the week, it is a work evening. I would probably be asleep with an early rise ahead of me for work. It’s different this week and it has been for quite some time as the clock has been slowly ticking down. I am two days removed from another jaunt on the Camino de Santiago. I thought I would write now as I probably won’t have time to write before I (and my pilgrim buddies) fly from Dublin.

I mentioned on my Facebook page that I am struggling to find words to say how I feel right now – anxious, energetic, gracious, but I reckon everything will fall into place once I hit Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto. The three of us have a plan and we hope to stick to it barring any mishaps. For me, I just want to switch off, enjoy the scenery and appreciate the simple things. As I have said in a previous post, I want to enjoy the journey and appreciate Santiago when I arrive. It is not my first time in Porto having being here for a night in 2019 after walking from Lisbon. 2019 seems like a lifetime away and I will need a refresher when I arrive. I am looking forward to receiving my first stamp in the Sé Cathedral.

On leaving Porto, you have so many options – take the Central Route through the countryside; take the Coastal route through the city or the Senda Litoral from the river. We have chosen the final option although there is the temptation to catch the bus to Matasinhos. Senda Litoral is more or less the same as the Coastal Route. From Porto, it follows the coast until Vila do Conde after which it goes the same way as the Coastal Route with the main difference the Litoral literally sticks to the coast. From Redondela, we will meet pilgrims from the Central Route and I am eager to see how busy it gets then. I remember walking from A Guarda in May 2018 with my brother and we saw maybe three or four pilgrims a day until Redondela. Traffic slightly increased from then on in but not to the level of the Camino Francés.

My pack (above) is new – it has the lowest capacity for a pack that I have bought before. The weight of my pack is 6.5kg. I have a packing list if you are interested, you can find it in my previous post. I have decided to bring a collapsible pole also which I have fit in the pack. Three things I am glad I am not going without are below:

Journal and Pen – I will never stop writing after a day’s walking on the Camino. Even a few bullet points, and a description of the day. It doesn’t have to be for too long – Heaven knows you have enough to be doing.
No plastic bags – trust me, other pilgrims will thank me.
It may sound trivial but Revolut is a God send! Note to self – remind bank that I am going away!

Myself and the brother at Soutoxuste in 2018

I will be posting the odd photo on my instagram account if you want to follow me and I will do a write up when I return. If you are planning to walk from Porto or are interested in the Camino in general, enter your email on www.clearskiescamino.com and you will receive an email when I post.

If you have any questions also, let me know in the comments below and I will come back to you.

Bom Caminho!

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