Porto to Villarinoh – Monday, June 10

It was a humbling start to the Camino. Mona and I opted to hop a cab out of Porto to cut the miles on pavement and asphalt. The days are going to get progressively longer  (20+ miles) and I’m a little worried about a heel issue that popped up right before the trip. Meloxicam and stretching have been very helpful. The walk was nice with full sun and a cool breeze with temperatures in the 70s.  The walking was flat and gradually transitioned from residential to farmland. We stopped at a couple cafes for snacks and a restroom. We stayed at Casa Da Laura a small albergue and had a meal of with a group of pilgrims. These groups are always eclectic and interesting .  A department of defense communications specialist from Boston, Keith, the sous chef from California , Jon, a retired detective from Los Angeles with his wife Rosemary and son Ben were some of the unique vocations represented. The meal was simple, hamburgers with egg, fries and a simple salad. Ice cream bars for desert. We crammed four people into a double room and got a solid 7 hours of sleep.