Well, that was quick. After getting one sello in my credential, it appears that I'm done. 
.
I left Porto in mist and light rain Tuesday, in good spirits despite the weather as it was forecast to clear up in a couple of days (and it has). My pack was 2 lbs too heavy due to some consumables that would go away as the days progressed but I figured it was no big deal. I planned to turn off towards Vilar do Pinheiro to stay at Santa Marinha but missed my turn and overshot by a couple K then turned around and found the turn. By then I had severe pain in my left heel, and Tuesday night I could barely hobble to a restaurant a half block away. Despite ice and stretching it didn't get better overnight so I made my way by bus to Barcelos, where I'm ensconced in the very nice Hotel Bagoeira.
On the advice of a friend I'm treating myself for tendinitis - ice, massage, stretching. This morning it was better and I was optimistic that I would be able to take it easy for another day and try again Saturday. However by this afternoon I'm struggling again and couldn't get a half hour down the trail sans pack (as a test). So it looks like it's time to admit defeat and make other plans. As this is likely the only opportunity I'll have to do this, I'm extremely disappointed. And, now I have to figure out what to do until my return home on the 25th. Since I guess I'm just a tourist now and not a peregrinha going on to Santiago by bus doesn't seem appreciate, and sounds depressing since I'd be watching all the pilgrims arrive and wouldn't be a part of it.
As they say, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade - so, does anyone have any suggestions as to what I might do while here? I'm really enjoying Portugal and the Portuguese language so I'm thinking that maybe I should just try to sight see here - maybe a couple of days each in Ponte de Lima and Viana do Castelo? This morning I took pictures at the wonderful Barcelos market, and tomorrow I'm taking the bus to Braga for the day.
I'm having trouble imagining things to do that don't involve walking, since I'm normally one of those people who never stops moving. Maybe that will be my Camino lesson ...
Enough now. Later I'll do another post about lessons learned relating to some training mistakes I think I made.
I was so looking forward to walking through Portugal!
Cynthia
.I left Porto in mist and light rain Tuesday, in good spirits despite the weather as it was forecast to clear up in a couple of days (and it has). My pack was 2 lbs too heavy due to some consumables that would go away as the days progressed but I figured it was no big deal. I planned to turn off towards Vilar do Pinheiro to stay at Santa Marinha but missed my turn and overshot by a couple K then turned around and found the turn. By then I had severe pain in my left heel, and Tuesday night I could barely hobble to a restaurant a half block away. Despite ice and stretching it didn't get better overnight so I made my way by bus to Barcelos, where I'm ensconced in the very nice Hotel Bagoeira.
On the advice of a friend I'm treating myself for tendinitis - ice, massage, stretching. This morning it was better and I was optimistic that I would be able to take it easy for another day and try again Saturday. However by this afternoon I'm struggling again and couldn't get a half hour down the trail sans pack (as a test). So it looks like it's time to admit defeat and make other plans. As this is likely the only opportunity I'll have to do this, I'm extremely disappointed. And, now I have to figure out what to do until my return home on the 25th. Since I guess I'm just a tourist now and not a peregrinha going on to Santiago by bus doesn't seem appreciate, and sounds depressing since I'd be watching all the pilgrims arrive and wouldn't be a part of it.
As they say, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade - so, does anyone have any suggestions as to what I might do while here? I'm really enjoying Portugal and the Portuguese language so I'm thinking that maybe I should just try to sight see here - maybe a couple of days each in Ponte de Lima and Viana do Castelo? This morning I took pictures at the wonderful Barcelos market, and tomorrow I'm taking the bus to Braga for the day.
I'm having trouble imagining things to do that don't involve walking, since I'm normally one of those people who never stops moving. Maybe that will be my Camino lesson ...
Enough now. Later I'll do another post about lessons learned relating to some training mistakes I think I made.
I was so looking forward to walking through Portugal!
Cynthia
