500

505 to be exact. I am now at my brothers house in Nigran which is 505 km from Lisbon and 124 from Santiago so bang on schedule to arrive on the 17th God willing. Those of you with Facebook will have picked up that after getting 342 km on the journey my wife Jan had to stop accompanying me. We got as far as Sao da Madeira and we had to call my brother Giles to come and rescue her

Jan kitted out to ride pillion  to Nigran With Giles for a bit of RnR having strained something.

Having bid a fond farewell I continued on my way. Having got used to travelling as a couple it was very odd walking on my own  no one to share things with on the way or help look out for the yellow arrows.

Next stop the city of Porto with its fantastic bridge leading more or less to the door of the cathedral.

Stamp duly taken in the cathedral I found a Hostel for the night.

View from the Hostel over Porto.

Many people start their Comino from Porto. The next few nights found Alburgues full to the seams with people sleeping on couches and on the floor. Fortunately I had a bed each night. Many different nationalities but at this point the predominant language around me was German.

Dinner with some German Friends (fortunately for me nearly everyone speaks English)

A variety of sleeping arrangements  on route:

An old stone built farm house.

And a beach hut.

From Porto onward you can choose to follow the inland Spiritual route or the more recently developed coastal path. With Giles house right on the second path that was my choice.

I crossed the river Minho from Portugal to Spain by small river Taxi.

Up the Spanish Coast now. It’s odd how some things just side swipe from nowhere. Out of the blue from nowhere I came down with a urine infection. Once again Giles car to the rescue getting me out of hours medical care for antibiotics and back to health. 

One of the Churches at Baiona, coastal town near Nigran.

So 505 down, last week coming up and 124 km to go.