Day Sixteen on the Central Route of the Camino Portugués ~ Vairão (Vilarinho) to Barcelinhos (Barcelos), 28.8 Km (17.9 Miles)

Day sixteen on the Central Route of the Camino Portugués was a day full of surprises. We continued to gather strong and capable men to help us fulfill our purpose. Rich and I have always attracted people who need help, and I have learned to no longer ask "Why?" but to smile and think, "Bring it on God!" when I see it unfold once again. But this time we were not asked to do it alone. 

"In helping others we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us." ~ Flora Edwards

I call this the Circle of Love. This was to be our recurrent theme on our Camino de Santiago, in the days ahead. 

Map and Stats of Day Sixteen on the Central Route of the Camino Portugués

Here is our map with our GPS tracks, and important albergues/hotels/cafés/grocery stores/places of interest along the way, both ones we visited and ones we did not. 

If you are starting your day in Vilarinho, you can subtract about 1.7 kilometers from the total kilometers for the day, and begin your measurements at the center of town, at the main intersection by the church.

As you can see from our elevation profile of the day, there is a cumulative elevation gain of about 550 meters (1800 ft.), and an equal amount of loss, mostly in the final kilometers into Barcelos. With almost 29 km to walk from Vairão, or about 27 kilometers from Vilarinho, this will take some energy and frequent breaks. There are many opportunities to shorten this day, as you will see as you read along. 

Photo-Rich Travelogue of Day Sixteen, Central Route of the Camino Portugués

We woke up to a misty morning, and the view from our window in the albergue was stunning! I hoped it would be a nice omen for the day! I can't tell you how much we enjoyed our stay at the Albergue de Peregrinos do Mosteiro de Vairão.

The evening before, on day fifteen, Matt had informed us of his desire to set off with us in the morning. As always, we were happy to have company. Magnus chose to sleep in, and we knew he would easily catch up to us along the way. 

We walked back up the hill from the albergue to take a right turn just after the small chapel, to join the Camino on this high-walled cobblestone road, shown below. Here we are, setting off in the low morning light. It was already a gorgeous day and the mist was already clearing.

This high-walled cobblestone road takes a big bend and in about 600 meters, the Camino diverts to the right from it onto a nice path through the forest.

One-half kilometer later the path ends at a T-intersection in Vilarinho and the Camino turns right onto the Rua dos Sobreiros, a narrow cobblestone street, shown below. 

After only a few meters, you come to an intersection where you will see the sign directing you to the left and it's 60 meters to the Casa Familia Vidal Vilarinho, if your pilgrimage takes you there for the night. The Camino carries on straight. 

Several hundred meters later, turn left onto a two-lane, paved road. In another 150 meters or so when this street ends, take the next left onto the N104 and in a few strides you are in the center of town where the EN306 intersects with it. 

There is a café here in the center of Vilarinho if needed, behind the gas station at about 1.7 kilometers from the monastery. It may open at 0700, but ask at your accommodation first. We had bought groceries for our breakfast, so we were all set for the day. 

Just beyond the gas station is the church, the Igreja da Senhora da Lapa. Vilarinho is a small place and we turned right and north onto the EN306 and quickly walked through town. By two kilometers into the day, we were on the north side, leaving town, shown below.

The Casa da Laura is also easy to spot from the Camino, on the EN306 as you are leaving town to the north. Look for the turn by Café Anjo's.

The Camino walks along the EN306 for not quite a kilometer, and along the way you come to a decision point, shown in the distance in the photo below, and up close in the next photo. 

If you look closely in the photo below, you will see someone waiting at the decision point. Can it be that this person is in a wheelchair? WOW!

The young woman in the wheelchair was checking her guidebook to see which way she should go. We quickly reached the decision point, and I, being a nurse with lots of physical rehabilitation experience, introduced myself and started chatting with her. I asked her if I could be of assistance to her. 

The young woman introduced herself as Magdalena, from Austria (no there are no kangaroos there - ha - our inside joke), and she stated that she was trying to select the best wheelchair route. We listened to her decision-making process. She wanted to see the historic bridge on the route straight on, but was worried that the Way following the bridge would be too hard for her to negotiate. The alternative was to stay on the busy EN306.

Without hesitation, Rich, whose own sister was in a wheelchair for many years, said, "Come with us, we'll push you out on the other side!" I looked at Matt for confirmation, and he also quickly agreed that he would help push her. We agreed that running along the busy highway was no choice at all. We would all have to see the bridge!

We set off on the forward route, which shortly leaves the EN306 to the right and proceeds to steeply descend toward the River Ave and the 12th Century bridge. Along the way is the Monumental Gate to pilgrims, below. 

(Had we gone to the left at the decision point, the cobblestone road eventually crosses the EN306, to take the path down the hill and through this gate. This is the shortest and the best option on foot. Check the map above for the route in orange.)

Magdalena whizzed down the smoothly paved Rua da Ponte de Ave in no time at all and wheeled herself onto the bridge, gazing into the waters. She arrived long before we did on foot!

Seeing this young woman on the bridge warmed my heart, and for me, sealed her fate on the Camino. What a free and courageous soul she was to undertake the Central Route of the Camino Portugués in a chair! And she had come alone!

However, the men were to have their work cut out for them on the other side. The steep ascent on cobblestone from the river was not for the faint of heart. You can see this "V" dip down to the river and back in the elevation profile map above, for day sixteen on the Portuguese Camino. The bridge is at 3.5 kilometers into the day. 

Rich put his head down and went to work, as you can see below. I had trouble keeping up with him without pushing! The volunteer fireman kicked in bigtime! 

Just beyond the bridge is a fountain, if you need water. The next 3.5 kilometers to São Mamede, the next town, were to be difficult and uphill, on cobblestone the whole way, even though these next photos do not really show the altitude. Rich and Matt shared the job of pushing Magdalena most of this way.  

After only about not quite a kilometer from the bridge, we came to a T-intersection where we turned right to re-join the EN306 and came to yet another decision point. We all decided NOT to continue on the highway, as before, but the guys would continue to push Magdalena, as we took the left turn onto the Estrada de Santagões toward the town of the same name.  

This was a nice paved and more flat road for a brief while. Within another 1/2 kilometer, we turned right at a T-intersection onto yet another cobblestone road in Santagões, below, called the Rua de São Miguel.

After only a few hundred meters, we came to an intersection, with a nice picnic table and a sign for the Pão Quente Snack Bar in Santagões. It looked welcoming, however we were just at 5.0 km into the day. It was too soon for us to stop, so we turned left here as directed.

We took an almost immediate left again after the snackbar, at this intersection with the M525, below, leaving Santagões on the way to São Mamede.

A short distance on the M525 and we turned again onto another quiet cobblestone road. This uphill trek on the cobblestone was wearing on me. I had somehow developed a small blister on the outside of my right big toe the prior day, without even knowing about it. I had put Compeed on it, so it didn't really bother me, however, my right hip was talking instead! It didn't like it! I can't imagine how the guys felt, pushing the wheelchair, as they did throughout all these cobblestone roads. 

The cobblestone ends abruptly and becomes a farmer's lane, where we had a brief reprieve from the cobblestone, photo below. Magdalena was easily able to propel herself through this section.  

All of a sudden, the dirt lane turned to a muddy mess, a situation very difficult to negotiate with a wheelchair. Matt took a turn pushing Magdalena through the mud. Here we are, having a look-back at the cause of the mud. A drainage pipe pouring its contents onto the road!

At about the 7.0 kilometer mark on day sixteen of the Camino Portugués, Central Route, we came to the EN306, where the highway route would have rejoined the scenic route. This marked the end of the 3.5 kilometer climb up from the medieval bridge on the River Ave as we entered the town. 

Here in São Mamede, we crossed over the EN306 and turned onto yet another high-walled, cobblestone road, taking a nice scenic route through town, passing by the Capela de São Mamede and several cafés. 

Leaving town in a northerly direction the Camino uses a nice paved road for about 1.5 kilometers, as it winds down and goes under the A7. Magdalena was in her independent glory through here and flew down the road ahead of us. 

Along the pavement we paused for a breath and a photo, with Magdalena and her two pushers. 

The pavement then becomes a dirt lane just before the tunnel under the A7 highway at about 8.6 kilometers into the day.

The Portuguese countryside is stunning as the views opened shortly onward. 

Within 1/2 kilometer, when the dirt lane ends at a T-intersection, the Camino turns right and joins the EN306 for a few steps. It was here that Magnus caught up to us for the day. He was surprised to see us with Magdalena in a chair, as he joined in with the group.          

After a left turn off the EN306, we came almost immediately to the Ponte de Arcos, the bridge, perhaps of Roman origin, shown below. There is little information about this particular bridge, and a bit of speculation. It was on the main Roman road from Porto to Galicia, that is certain, and also certain is that it is a historic bridge. 

Just 150 meters after the bridge, the Camino takes a left turn onto the road into the next town of Arcos.

Walking on the road through the town of Arcos, we turned right at an information board in town, and past this beautiful azulejo (blue-tiled) Church of Arcos. I never tire of these Portuguese tiled wonders!

Just beyond the church, the Camino turns to the right here, at the cross in town. This cross marked 10 kilometers for our day. 

Not much farther on is this lovely little chapel. 

And across from the chapel a café definitely called our name! At 10.1 kilometers into the day, it was definitely time to get our second café con leite. Rich was especially happy for the boost, since he had exerted so much already pushing Magdalena. 

If you need a splurge, and your day ends in Arcos, right along the Camino in Arcos are these three accommodations: Casa S. Felix, Quinta São Miguel de Arcos and the Villa d'Arcos. See the map above for their locations. 

We walked on after our break, taking a right at a Y-intersection just after the café. From the Y, it is essentially a straight shot north on uninteresting pavement for a full three kilometers, until this roundabout and statue in the next town of Rates. Easy for Magdalena, boring for us on foot. 

There is an 11th century Romanesque Church in town, the Igreja de São Pedro de Rates, just west of the roundabout shown, and is one of the oldest of its kind in Portugal. It is now a museum and worth a stop if you have the time and energy to see it. Click here if you want more information about this church. 

I did not know about the church, and since it is about 1/2 kilometer off-Camino, we didn't see it as we walked on through the east side of town, shown below. 

There is a donativo albergue in Rates, as the small blue sign below signifies; the Albergue de Peregrinos de São Pedro de Rates. I did not take a photo of the albergue, but it is steps from the sign here, where the Camino turns to the right, following the sign. There are 50 places here in four rooms, so if you need to stop for the night, most likely you will have a bed. The albergue lies at 13.4 kilometers into the day. 

There is also the Casa de Mattos (+351 919 822 398) a few steps off the Camino, just to the left of these signs, above, a "turismo rural." Also, right at this juncture is the Casa Anabela  (+351 919 578 642) and if you were to stay left here at the signs, then take your first right, then the next right, you would come to the Casa da Vila, in ½ kilometer, and north of the Romanesque church. This turismo rural gets rave reviews on AirBnB. 

There are several cafés near here, including the Restaurante Regional O Peregrino, right along the Way. Immediately to the north of the albergue is a grocery store across from the town church. The Camino walks you between the two.  

Farther on in Rates, at this cross the Camino goes to the right. 

About 1/2 kilometer after the cross in Rates, on the CM1129-3, the cobblestone turns into a dirt road. Nice and flat and even, shown in the photo below. We did not understand what lay ahead!

And then, quite suddenly, the road turned to mud, full of ruts and run off! Not easy for our chair-bound friend. But the Camino was there for her and two more able-bodied Portuguese men suddenly appeared! Talk about the Camino providing! I just ran along and documented it all. What a feat!

Interestingly, the road here, after crossing over from the Porto district to the Braga district, after about one kilometer on the dirt, is now called the Rua Caminho de Santiago! What could be more appropriate than the Camino de Santiago street? Sounds like an authentic route, doesn't it? 

Here they all are, the Magdalena Mud Team! Pedro and Jorge from Portugal who just joined us, Magnus, Rich and Matt. They took turns, half-guiding, half-carrying Magdalena's chair and exerted some serious energy getting her through this tough portion. Magdalena's courage stayed strong through it all!

The Rua Caminho de Santiago levels out farther on, but the ruts were still there. Here Pedro takes the wheels. 

And then at last, the dirt road gets better, but the guys continue to take turns pushing Magdalena on day sixteen of the Central Route on the Camino Portugués. 

And then near disaster strikes. As Magdalena was being wheeled along, a piece of metal suddenly fell off and onto her tire. A screw had come off of her inside wheel fender piece! It must have been all that bumping around on the ruts that shook the screw loose. 

And amazingly, the Portuguese men went to work. As it turned out, Pedro is a physical therapist (also known as a physiotherapist in Europe). He was an expert in wheelchair maintenance! What were the odds?

Then to add to the miracle, the wheelchair piece broke right outside this man's house, below, an eccentric artist who had lots of screws, nuts and bolts to choose from!

Literally, within a few minutes the wheelchair was fixed! Disaster averted! Amazingly, the Camino provided, two-fold!

We carried on, and soon stumbled upon the first granite waymark, with kilometer readings on it!

We all stuck together as a team full of purpose! I was so grateful for all the men that we had collected to help Magdalena on her pilgrimage. I was not strong enough to do any wheelchair pushing on anything but totally level terrain. It was enough for me just to walk my own posterior along lugging my backpack! 

After 3.0 full kilometers on the Rua Caminho de Santiago, it ends here at the intersection, below, as the Way turns left onto the Rua de Ferrado at approximately 17.7 kilometers. 

After 250 meters, the Way turns right onto the Rua do Quintão, then another 1/2 kilometer, a left turn, onto farmer's lanes that join the pavement in about another 1/2 kilometer to walk into the next town of Pedra Furada. 

After a few meters into town, the Camino turns right at a T-intersection, before entering the open countryside one again. Here is Magdalena free wheeling through the lovely Pedra Furada countryside.

And then within 400 hundred meters, the Camino turns to the left to once again join the familiar EN306 in Pedra Furada. A few meters onward, at about 19.4 kilometers for the day, you walk by the church, the Igreja Paroquial de Santa Leocádia de Pedra Furada, and what used to be the church albergue in front, see below.

Here, by the church, is where you can find outside, on the north side, by the wall, a large stone with a hole in it. I do not have a photo of this large stone, as I have only recently learned of this feature. To see it, click here. 

While I have no no information as to the actual origin or purpose of this stone, as the legend goes, St. Leocádia was buried alive, and she managed to survive by poking her head through this stone, perhaps the lid on her coffin, creating this hole! The name of the town, "pedra furada" means "stone with a hole." Make sure you stop in to see this stone!

Within a few more steps in Pedra Furada, we came upon a nice information board by the cross at an intersection, showing that the nearest albergue in Barcelinhos was 9.0 kilometers ahead. Yeah! One of the closest albergues was our group's planned destination for the day, the Albergue Amigos da Montanha. 

I thought this was a perfect time and place for a snack break, 2/3rds into the day and about 19.6 kilometers into our journey. I took off my boots and aired out my feet, while munching on my food as others conferred with the map to sort out our location. 

Just a few steps past this information area is the brand-new Albergue de Peregrinos, O Palhuço, a donativo with 24 beds. And just beyond the albergue is the Casa da Maria, another accommodation choice, and the Café Pedra Furada.

For almost 2.0 kilometers, we merrily scooted along the EN306 from Pedra Furada. Magdalena was in her glory, wheeling along. For the rest of us, not so much! But it was pleasant enough and there were sidewalks for the foot folks to stay safe. Matt preferred to hang with Magdalena on the road to the left, to give the cars a bigger line-of-sight. 

I saw at least one open café along this stretch on the EN306. If you need a break in a café consider your options. 

We also passed the fountain and chapel of Nossa Senhora da Guia. This would be a lovely pit stop as well at approximately 21.3 kilometers. 

And here is where we turn left, off the EN306 to begin the final climb of the day, on the Way before Barcelinhos. There is a grocery store to the right, just beyond the turn, if you want to collect food for your dinner (refer to Google map above). 

A nice lane through the forest for about 1/2 kilometer greeted us, then let us out on cobblestone to touch down briefly once again on the EN306 only to leave it for the remainder of day sixteen. 

We turned left onto the Rua Dos Cruzeiros (Two Crosses Street), having reached the high point of the day, and soon were flying down cobblestone toward Pereira, below.

Here is one of the crosses in Pereira, that we came to within 3/4 kilometer of leaving the EN306. You can see a sign just beyond it for the aptly named Café do Cruzeiro. 

At the cross, we kept straight on, picking up the EM555 that we would take us most of the way from here into Barcelinhos. 

The EM555 meanders around through small towns for 1.3 km and crosses under the A11 here at 24.4 kilometers total. At this juncture we were only a bit more than 4.0 km from Barcelinhos and our destination. 

The Camino continues its cruise downhill toward the Cádavo River, shown below, after the highway crossing. 

After about exactly one kilometer and after entering the next town of Carvalhal, the central route of the Camino Portugués passes by the large town cemetery and turns left directly across from the town church.

You take the very first right almost immediately onto a narrow cobblestone street that continues to wind around for the next 1.7 kilometers and conveniently avoids entrance into Barcelos on busier streets.

Along the way the Camino stays straight on at this little chapel in the village of Santa Cruz.

After the 1.7 kilometers on these quaint cobblestone roads, you  come to a T-intersection with a paved road, where you will turn right, and then walk straight on through a roundabout. Just after the roundabout is a Renault car dealership, at 27.3 kilometers total, and an intersection with the N103 is just beyond it. Walk past the dealership and pick up a lane that takes you around and under the N103 for the final downhill approach on the N205 into Barcelinhos.

Along the N205, in a few meters is the Casa das Pombas and the Diora Hostel, with dormitory beds, your first choices as you enter Barcelinhos.

Here is the N205,where it joins the EN306 and turns left. 

Once on the EN306, below, you are in the heart of Barcelinhos and the Cádavo River is just ahead at the bottom of the hill. 

However, we did not cross the river to Barcelos, but ended our Camino here, at the sign for the Amigos da Montanha Albergue at 28.5 kilometers total. The main entrance to the albergue is not on the EN306. You have to find your way back up the hill, to the left and around the back for the official entrance on the Largo Penedos. The Hospitalera was looking out for pilgrims on the main street and she directed us around to the back. Here is the actual entrance to the albergue. 

The albergue is quite new and lovely with a well-equipped kitchen. It has only 16 places in one large room, and it was almost full when we were there at the end of April. 

Below is the view of Barcelos and the historic area from the upper deck in the Albergue Amigos da Montanha. 

My only complaint was that the albergue did not supply blankets, and despite my long underwear and fleece jacket, my sleep sack was not sufficient to keep me warm. It was very reasonably priced, so I couldn't complain too loudly. I am currently re-thinking my sleep sack idea anyway and am looking at an ultralight sleeping bag so I won't need to depend on available blankets in the future. Their usual state is not always that clean anyway!

I was also surprised by the beds which had vinyl covers on them, and no disposable sheet provided. This was OK with me, as I thought they could easily be wiped down and bed bugs would not like them. However the pillows provided had no disposable cases and I did not know how often the covers on them were cleaned. I tried to keep my sleep sack's pillow pocket over it, without much success. This also led to a rather restless night. 

To top off our evening, just across from the albergue was this restaurant, the O Cantinho do Peregrino. The owner is very obliging to cook an early dinner for starving peregrinos, for 10 Euros, including a beverage (wine of course)!

We were able to eat an early enough dinner that we could then tour the town of Barcelos in the evening before sunset.

There are two more choices of accommodations in Barcelinhos, the Top'Otel, steps before the medieval bridge into Barcelos and the Residência - Albergue Senhor do Galo on the road to the left just before the bridge.

If you plan to stay across the river in Barcelos, there are three dormitory accommodations, the donativo Albergue Cidade de Barcelos, the private In Barcelos Hostel & Guest House and the Quartos no Apartamento da Rosa, farther north and east. Your choice of hotels include the Hotel Bagoeira, the Alojamento Local Arantes, the Art'otel Barcelos, the Residencial Kuarenta & Um, the Flag Hotel Barcelos,  and the Hotel Dom Nuno. All of these accommodations are in the center of town with easy access to all the sights. 

Here are just a few of the many sights that you can see in this lovely town!

Day seventeen's Camino crosses the bridge and up the street toward the church in the center of town. Here is Magnus pushing Magdalena up the hill. 

 I officially ended the kilometer reading for this day, at the Barcelos town church, for a total of 28.8, since many of you will not end your day in Barcelinhos like we did!

We stopped to have a look at the church. The altar to Fátima in the Igreja Matriz de Barcelos is quite lovely and engaging. You can see the shepherd children at her feet. The church is open all days from 10:00 - 12:00 and 15:00 - 19:30.

In the first photo below, we are approaching the famous palace in Barcelos that overlooks the river on top of the hill. The palace is in ruins, but it is worth seeing just for the views, in the next two photos. 

Here is the famous Cruzeiro do Senhor do Galo, or the Cross of the Lord of the Rooster. Click here to read the legend of this famous tale of Divine intervention by St James. Because of this legend, the rooster is the symbol of this town, and you will see him all over! Look closely at the cross below, left and you will see St. James holding up the hanging man by the feet. The legend is a fascinating one! Be sure to read about it. 

And finally, on the north side of town, is the octagon-shaped Church of the Lord Bom Jesus da Cruz, and the lovely gardens below. 

Reflections on Day Sixteen, Central Route of the Camino Portugués

Yes, it was a successful day as our Camino family continued to grow. Without the strength of the many men who came to aid us, we would not have been able to accomplish what we did, getting Magdalena 29 kilometers through mud, ruts and uphill cobblestone. 

Magdalena was determined to push her own wheelchair as much as possible, and I could see she was having a difficult time accepting help. She is such a fabulously independent and courageous young lady! Yet she was full of conflict, because the feelings which came with traveling together in a Camino group was infectious and she wanted to share her journey with us.

We were all truly having a great time together, laughing and processing each new challenge on the road, and just feeling the amazement regarding Magdalena and how she must be experiencing her Camino! 

Despite her condition which she has had since a small child, she accomplished so much on day sixteen of her Portuguese Camino on the Central Route. She could still walk a short way, as she would at times, while the guys carried her wheelchair through sections that were just too difficult to negotiate with her in it. 

The camaraderie of the shared adventure, shared discoveries and hardships and most importantly, the connectedness, that ensued, despite different backgrounds, politics and religious beliefs, were all part of the Camino community spirit that we shared. 

In the days ahead, Magdalena's totally independent spirit would merge with the Camino Spirit of accepting help when needed. It was a new lesson for her, despite her desires. Physically, her hands and legs would be her challenge, as her hands were the appendages to get blisters and her legs would get banged up by her chair as she used her legs as additional brakes. 

We were blessed to have gathered this group to help us, to help Magdalena and in sharing the difficulties it brought us together faster and stronger than it might have otherwise. Our shared Circle of Love was a fabulous way to experience our Camino. The pleasure of connecting with these strong, willing and giving young people was a special treat for us indeed!

Salutation

May your own day sixteen on the Central Route of the Portuguese Camino be filled with connectedness, and a mutual helping that completes your Circle of Love! May you be blessed when through helping others, you receive more than you give!

And the Journey Continues:

~ Lisbon to Porto

~ Porto to Santiago Via the Coastal Route and/or the Sendal Litoral

~ Porto to Santiago Via the Central Route

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