August 4, 2015There are days when I suddenly want to throw down my bike and yell, "Wait a moment, I'm not Catholic or even religious! What am I doing climbing a up a mountain to see another pilgrimage site?" Today it played out pretty much that way. At the lowest...
The Descent from Peneda Geres
August 3, 2015The ride down from our village in Peneda Geres was breathtakingly beautiful. We passed through a couple of lovely villages set on the edge of the deep valley surrounded by ancient terraced slopes. Theses are just a few of the signs that this area once...
A little stone house in Branda da Aveleira
I am standing beside a cow pie in the only spot with any cell coverage in our village. Just moments ago Gord had to have a signal so that he could continue his 349th consecutive streak learning Portuguese on Duolingo. August 1, 2015Yesterday was was the toughest...
Galicia after the Camino
July 30, 2015It turns out there is much more to discover in Galicia after the Camino to Santiago is finished. Galicia is a verdant garden of Eden. Unfortunately there is a reason for that green lushness: rain. It has been a bit wet the last two days but our trusty...
Day 19: Santiago de Compostela
July 27, 2014Gord and I followed the Camino route all the way into Santiago today. It was an absolutely stunning ride but much more challenging than the 68 kms would have been on the road. Luckily I seem to be getting into shape, which allowed me to power up...
Day 19: Santiago de Compostela
July 27, 2014Gord and I followed the Camino route all the way into Santiago today. It was an absolutely stunning ride but much more challenging than the 68 kms would have been on the road. Luckily I seem to be getting into shape, which allowed me to power up...
Day 18: Valença to Pontevedra
July 26, 2015Oh it was hard to leave Portugal, but also thrilling to enter Galicia again. The first kilometres in Spain were just magical. The beauty resumed after we made it passed Porriño with its ugly industrial section and competing arrow wars. Certain members of...
Day 16 & 17: Ponte de Lima to Viana do Costelo & Viana to Valença
ILooking over to Spain from Valença. July 25, 2015Gordon: Today is the feast day of St. James, the patron saint of Spain. We are intentionally two days ride from Santiago, to allow the crowds to clear so we can get a place to stay when we arrive...
Day 14 & 15: Vila do Conde to Guimarães, Guimarães to Ponte de Lima
July 24, 2015We have been having much too much fun to blog. When you have a husband like Gord, humour tends to stick, even to the serious moments. As he explains, "trolls are funny when they are not being creepy."The view from our bedroom in Ponte de Lima. For...
Day 13: A few more favorite things. Porto to Vila do Conde
July 21, 2015Ruth: The Port was lovely, and the Bacalao, as Gord mentioned, surprisingly good, but the crown of favorites so far would have to go to the pastel de nata. To say they are a dessert underestimates their wonder. Move over creme brûlée, cannoli and, yes,...
Day12: a few of our favorite things
July 20th, 2015Gordon: Prior to our arrival in Portugal we had read in our guide book that the Portuguese prepare bacalhão (dried, salted codfish) in 365 different ways, one for each day of the year. However, we expected that this was a relic of the past, and...
Day 11: Albergaria a Velha on the coastal route to Porto 80km
July 19, 2015Gordon: Our reliable friend Pocket Earth found an excellent route for us today. It has a feature that allows a route to be developed with minimal change in elevation, which is a real boon for cyclists. The route suggested for today's ride into...