Camino Portugues Coastal | Day 3

Póvoa de Varzi to Marinhas 25.11 km

Woke up at seven and locked myself inside the Albergue, a rookie mistake that would cost me half an hour out of my day.

The low-level fog and the cold temperature made the walkout of Póvoa pleasant. Joggers and early risers trickled out onto the streets. I was glad to be back on the wooden walkways feeling static for what the day would bring.

At only 212 km away from Santiago I was expecting the Camino to be a little bit more crowded, but maybe its too early in the season.

I saw the first of many windmills in Aguçadoura. it was time to share the path with cyclists going in both directions.

The abundance of seaweed is typical of northern Portugal, and as a result, it's used as fertilizer on the nearby agricultural fields. Walking by greenhouses and watching the farmers work their plot of land was a nice break to the routine.

a second windmill meant I was past the gulf course and it was time to rejoin the beach for the last push to the popular summer destination of Apúlia. The mills were used for centuries to grind grain. Presently, they serve a better purpose, tourism.

Lunch with a view and I followed the N-13 road to the Luis Felipe steel bridge from 1892 in Fao. The coastal route takes you through the center of Esposende, but I opted instead to stick to the river's bank following Jet skis splashed around the waterway.

a snack gave me the boost I needed to make it to the albergue in Marinhas 2.5 km away. I met two other pilgrims, and we enjoyed steaks for dinner before calling it a day.