A MUCH BETTER DAY

September 26, 2025

Camino Portuguese, Day 5

Barcelos to Balugaes

Today we passed eight churches/chapels and I stopped at each one trying to get a stamp. One was having morning mass, six were locked, and the other one was open but no one was there and no stamp for the passport.

WHERE’S THE MONK WHEN YOU NEED HIM???

After yesterday today has been a very good walk. It’s cooler, the sidewalks more prevalent, and the roads not quite so curved. Still I had to stay vigilant. We stopped earlier for a cold drink and I saw a small chapel across the street. I walked through a fairly big street center where I could easily see all directions. However in the middle I heard a car coming over the hill…fast! I froze like a deer in the headlights. She couldn’t see my eyes though my sunglasses but I could see hers. She had that same look. She slammed on the brakes and no harm was done. At least I didn’t die today so that makes it a very good day.

And because I have an odd sense of humor I was reminded of some lyrics from Charlie Daniels’ Uneasy Rider…

An’ I guess I shoulda gone ahead an’ run

But somehow I couldn’t resist the fun

Of chasin’ them jes’ once around the parkin’ lot

Well I had them all out there steppin’ an’ a fetchin’

Like their heads were on fire and their asses was catchin’

When I came to my senses (about 3 nano seconds) I guess I was steppin’ an’ fetchin’

At any rate today’s route was about 11 miles and I felt strong and was moving well.

First Vineyard we’ve seen; it’s small but still a real vineyard. Mostly we’ve seen corn fields.

I guess for some people, the impression on the heart that the walk makes isn’t enough and they feel like they must imprint something on the ground or on the wall to make it memorable

Bom Caminho

Published by michelleperram

I am me, a person with love for others, a passion to be creative, and a desire to be a cheerleader for others. I’m a wife, a mommy, and a grandma (you can call me by my grandma name “Lady M”). I’m on a search to grow and connect more fully with God. I didn’t grow up particularly church, married a man who had, and we raised our three daughters in the church. I found a place to belong in the church and somehow discerned a call to go to seminary. I received a Masters of Arts and Religious Communication (MARC). I went on to become ordained as a deacon in the United Methodist Church and served in media ministry and Christian education. As clergy I found that I didn’t have a place to belong in the church so I left the United Methodist Church in 2010. I still believe and I’m still on a quest to draw closer to God. And I’m going to walk the Camino de Santiago. View more posts

One thought on “A MUCH BETTER DAY”

Popsicles should become a routine.

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Published by michelleperram

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