Wet Walking
I woke before the alarm again this morning and looked out the window. The rain was coming down steadily and wind was whipping through the bushes. The forecast was for temperatures to remain in the low 60s. I almost resigned myself to taking a taxi the 12 miles I was supposed to walk today.
A hot breakfast would have been nice on a cold rainy morning. But, that wasn't what I got. The gentleman who set up service at my table was very nice and delivered five different types of bread, some jam, and two pieces of ham and cheese.
I used multiple weather apps and checked out the radar to determine if I would be leaving the hotel on foot or in a taxi. Ultimately, I decided I would tough it out and save the cab ride for another day. There was a light drizzle as I hit the streets.
Markings for the Camino were fairly good across the city. I passed several churches, one of an unusual color. I also passed a few wash areas as I walked the trail. Yesterday I saw a woman actually using one as I passed through a small village. It was obviously very physically demanding as she went through a pile of clothing.
Probably 90 percent of today's journey was on or alongside roads. In the rain it was actually a mixed blessing. The trucks and cars sprayed me with a mist as they passed, and what wasn't paved under my feet was mud.
In four hours of walking, I went through three pairs of socks to keep my feet dry. I'm more than 220 miles into this journey without a blister. I'm going to remain conscientious about foot care to avoid getting any moving forward. It wasn't until the last 40 minutes of my walk that the sun began to peek out through the clouds. Up until that time I cycled through donning my rain gear six to eight times.
With rare exception, the locals have been delightful and sweet and welcoming. Today I interacted with what hopefully is the exception. While I was getting myself squared away at a covered bus stop, a delivery van appeared to deliberately aim for a puddle to splash me. The driver moved to the far side of the right lane, pressing up against the curb. As I saw him coming I stepped forward so the splash passed behind me. Maybe it was just a coincidence. Regardless, if I had been sitting on the bench I would have been a lot wetter and a lot colder.
There wasn't much to see today. I took a picture of a funny food wagon because I'm a child.
Grijo did not offer many options for hotels. Mine, for the night, was a little more than a mile off the trail. The plan was for me to arrive at the monastery and then call to get a ride. The car arrived just as the first raindrops began to fall again.
The entry into town was less than scenic. At least I didn't have to cross any major highways or jump any barriers. There was no opportunity for reflection and introspection on the Camino today. Distractions from traffic, navigation, and dealing with the elements drew most of my focus throughout the day.
When I arrived at the hotel, the proprietor offered me a glass of local port. It hit the spot before I hit the shower. While the layout of my lodgings is a little unusual, I was delighted to see that I have both a hair dryer and a towel drying rack. It's always a nice thing to be able to pack dry clothes into my bag.
There was another break in the rain, so I walked to a grocery store about 15 minutes away. Since there was no food served at my hotel I had to pick up lunch and dinner. It was interesting to see several displays of salted fish laid out in stacks near the fresh fish. I picked up two beers to enjoy later. It wasn't until I had opened one of them that I realized I had purchased the non-alcoholic variety. I need to learn a little more Portuguese.
Tomorrow’s walk is only about nine miles to get into Porto. The forecast is for rain again. I'll wake up in the morning and do my research, trying to time my departure to stay as dry as possible.