Just a Little Further

It was a cold, damp night at the Estabulo de Valhinas and we slept poorly. There was no breakfast available in the morning, so we left early, quietly closing the gate behind us. A light morning mist hovered over the newly planted fields providing an ethereal look to the local landscape.

There’s something timeless about the Camino Portugués—the quiet rural paths, the steady rhythm of footsteps, the sense of moving toward Santiago. But if a medieval pilgrim somehow appeared beside us today, he’d barely recognize the experience. The route is the same in spirit, yet radically different in practice.This is a story of two Caminos: one shaped by uncertainty and faith, and another by GPS, café stops, and glowing yellow arrows. The Old Camino: Faith, Risk, and UncertaintyCenturies ago,…

The route has taken us beyond the cities and towns and into the country now. We’re walking through small villages, past farms and vineyards on country roads. We left the lovely Leonchic mid-morning on yet another sunny day. We were on the Camino as soon as we stepped out of the door, half way up a cobblestone hill. We continued on up, heading towards Vitorino dos Piães, our destination for the day.After a mile or so, we came across the Portela of Tamel, a landmark for pilgrims with a church and…

After a good night’s sleep and a great breakfast (did I mention the scrambled eggs?) at the historic Top ‘Otel, we headed off across the Ponte de Barcelos, a medieval bridge dating from 1325 that crosses the Rio Cávado. High on a hill above the river is a huge stone edifice that we assumed was a fortress or perhaps a monastery or church. The Camino path headed in that direction and we soon discovered the enormous Gothic building was the ruins of O Paço dos Condes de Barcelos… The Palace of the…

Everywhere we’ve traveled in Portugal, one image keeps appearing: a brightly colored, stylized rooster. It shows up in every souvenir shop—on key rings, fridge magnets, Christmas ornaments, and jewelry—each piece offering its own take on the same distinctive figure.Now that we’ve arrived in Barcelos, a charming town in northern Portugal, the rooster feels even more alive. It’s not just a souvenir here—it’s part of the landscape. Statues stand in its honor, murals bring it to life on walls, and…

The path to Barcelos was 13.3 miles and we never strayed off the Camino. It seemed like a long day and we were hurting a bit, but pushed through with nary a complaint. Sometimes we chat while we walk. Other times, we get into our own heads and day dream. Either way, it’s one foot after another and before you know it, you’ve walked another mile.Sometimes we were on highways, sometimes on dirt roads or along forest paths, but mostly on cobblestone roads through small neighborhoods and villages.…

Walking the Camino de Santiago is an incredible experience—but it’s also a serious physical undertaking. Day after day of long distances puts your feet under constant stress, and if something goes wrong, it can quickly derail your journey. The good news: most common foot problems are preventable with a bit of attention and the right habits.The biggest culprits? Blisters, minor injuries, bruised toes, and those dreaded blackened nails. None of these are inevitable. Here’s how to stay ahead of…

All packed up and ready for the day, we walked to the São Bento station and caught the Metro leaving Porto for the trip back to Vilar do Pinheiro where we joined the Camino once again. We passed through suburban villages, mostly walking on roadsides. Drivers seem aware of pilgrims and walkers, and slow down when they pass. Sometimes there’s a sidewalk… a very, very narrow sidewalk that comes and goes.

Following the Camino should be easyThere’s a quiet confidence that settles in after a few days on the Camino Portuguese. The rhythm of walking, the early morning light, the sound of our hiking boots on the cobblestones—it all starts to feel natural, almost instinctive. And with that confidence comes a subtle assumption: the path will guide us.Most of the time, it does.The yellow arrows—some faded, some bright, painted on walls, carved into stones, stuck to signposts—become our silent…

We Uber’ed from our hotel in Porto to the exact point where we’d left the Camino yesterday and picked up the path once again. Still in the city, we passed through industrial areas and small neighborhoods. Flowers are blooming everywhere. The path led under a canopy of golden angel’s trumpets. Following the yellow arrows designating the Camino isn’t rocket science though some are faint or in a place you might not expect. There are constantly Camino assurance markers along the path. Getting into…

The scallop shell is the enduring symbol of the Camino de Santiago, appearing everywhere along the route—painted on signs, embedded in pathways, and worn by pilgrims themselves. In Spanish, the physical shell is called concha de vieira, or, in the context of the Camino, simply vieira or concha de peregrino—the pilgrim’s shell.Its rise as the emblem of the Camino is not tied to a single origin story, but rather to a blend of practical use, cultural tradition, and spiritual symbolism that has…

We were up early in anticipation of arriving in Porto and walking our first steps on the Camino. The Whitbys made the 50 km (30 mile) drive to drop us off at the Flix bus station in Coimbra. Lots of hugs and our first wish for a ‘Buen Camino’, and we boarded our bus for the 1-1/2 hour trip to Porto. We made our way through the maze of the huge TIC bus/train station in Porto and David ordered an Uber on his phone (isn’t that amazing?) and within minutes, we were heading to our hotel downtown.It…

When they learned we were walking the Camino, old Canadian/British sailing friends we’d met in South America who now live in Portugal, contacted us about getting together when we arrived in Portugal. The Whitby’s offered to pick us up at the Lisbon Airport, transport us to their home in Figueiro dos Vinhos, two hours away, feed us, entertain us, and let us de-jetlag at our leisure. A very generous offer which we were only too happy to accept. Despite the long delay at the airport, Catherine and…

If you’ve ever found yourself walking along a quiet country road, wondering how many footsteps came before yours, you’re already halfway to understanding the magic of the Camino. The Long Story of the Camino de SantiagoThe Camino de Santiago—often simply called “the Camino”—is not just a trail, but a vast network of ancient pilgrimage routes leading to the shrine of Saint James the Greater in Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, in northwestern Spain.Where It All BeganThe story begins in the 9th…

We were packed and ready when our Uber arrived exactly on time and whisked us away to Terminal 3 at Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport. Our check-in at British Airways was quick and easy. We checked our backpacks and made our way to the Sapphire Club Lounge, one of the perks of David’s new credit card. What a way to start a trip! Wow! From the champagne bar as we checked in to our reserved table in this posh club, we were impressed. A lavish buffet was on offer along with an open bar…

Our fitness watches show different mileages even though we walk the same distance. Time to calibrate…

The countdown clock is running out. In fact, by the time you read this, we may already be on our way.

I’d never seen nor read Henry V, so when I saw an ad for a free ‘Shakespeare in the Park’ performance by the Henry V Shakespeare Company, I marked it on our calendar.

Unlike walking the Via Francigena, there are lots of apps for the Camino Portuguese that will, hopefully, keep us on the path, connected, and reasonably well-fed. Given all that digital help, we’re still optimistic that we’ll get lost a few times…

One week from today, we board our British Airways flight in Las Vegas, bound for Lisbon, Portugal via London Heathrow. We’ve been in ‘scurry’ mode trying to get things done before we head out for five weeks to walk the from Porto, Portugal, to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Comparatively speaking, it’s a short pilgrimage walk of ~160 miles (260km), and we’re very excited to walk it.

We enjoy cultural and ethnic festivals… Scottish Highlander fests, Greek Fests, Italian Fests, St. Pat’s parades, Chinese New Year… so when we picked up a flyer for the Japanese Haru Matsuri (Spring Festival) recently, we put the date on the schedule.

People often how (and why) we live in the driest desert in the U.S. …

No April Fool’s Day pranks from us today, but I thought I’d dig into why we celebrate April Fool’s Day in the first place, and then suss out some of the best April Fool’s Day hoaxes, pranks, jokes… whatever you prefer to call them… of all time.

On March 31st, 1889, 173 years ago tomorrow, France unveiled Gustave Eiffel’s magnum opus at the 1889 Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair) in Paris. The centerpiece of the exposition took two years to build and commemorated the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.

We always try to pack light for a long trek - and sometimes we even manage it…

Tucked behind an industrial area, this is not exactly where you’d expect to find a bird preserve.

At home, we get caught up in the daily routine of chores and errands, and we sometimes forget to take a breath. As corny and saccharine as it might sound, we thought we’d give it a try. It’s become an end-of-day ritual to ask each other… ‘So what was a ‘good’ thing today?’ It doesn’t have to be big or monumental… just something that brought joy, amusement, or satisfaction. It’s a surprisingly gratifying and heartening exercise.

Today is Extraterrestrial Abduction Day, and we plan to celebrate…

With all my complaining about no marching bands at Henderson’s St. Patrick’s Day parade last Saturday, David and I attended the Las Vegas Brass Band Concert on Sunday at the Clark County Library Theater, and we got our share of brass!