Camino Portugués Coastal – Day 8
Baiona → Vigo
Distance: ~19 miles
Started the day better than expected.
After yesterday’s 22 miles, I thought I’d wake up in bits, but actually felt alright. Not fresh, but certainly workable.
No breakfast at the albergue, which caught us out, so ended up walking about 30 minutes before finding a place for coffee. Not ideal, but that first coffee sorts you out.
The feel early on
Interesting how the body works.
You expect to be broken after a day like yesterday, but once you get moving, it loosens up and gets on with it.
Legs a bit heavy, nothing dramatic.
Mentally in a good place. There’s something about getting through a big day that carries you into the next one.
The start
Steady start out of Baiona.
Still along the coast early on, which helps. Nothing aggressive, just easing into it.
More of an amble than a grind today, although the mileage says otherwise.
The mileage reality
We ended up doing 19 miles today.
Stack that on top of yesterday’s 22 and it starts to sound a bit ridiculous.
Back home in Oklahoma, this just doesn’t happen. You’re not doing 40,000 to 50,000 steps day after day.
Out here, it somehow becomes normal.
That’s probably one of the biggest shifts. What would seem excessive at home just becomes part of the routine.
The coastal towns
Some of the towns along this stretch are genuinely beautiful. Proper storybook stuff.
Beaches almost empty. You can tell they’d be packed in summer, but right now they feel calm, almost untouched.
People just going about their day:
- Sitting outside having coffee
- Chatting with friends
- No rush
There’s a very relaxed, community feel to it.
It’s something you notice in Spain. And it reminds me a lot of the French Camino once you’re over this side. Slower pace, more grounded.
Coming into Vigo
Then you hit Vigo, and it’s a different world.
You come off the quiet coast and suddenly you’re in a proper city.
Busy, noisy, full of life. It’s got a bit of everything going on.
It actually takes you by surprise how big it is.
A bit of history
Vigo is all about the sea.
It sits on the Ría de Vigo, which is one of the best natural harbours around here, and that’s shaped everything.
Started as a fishing town and grew from there. Now it’s one of the biggest fishing ports in Europe.
Shipbuilding is a big part of it as well. You can see it as you come in, cranes, yards, big vessels. It gives the place that working, slightly gritty feel.
There’s history too:
- Drake had a go at it in the 1500s
- The Battle of Vigo Bay (1702) just offshore
- Old town, Casco Vello, still has that older character
So it’s a mix of old maritime history and modern working city.
The last miles
One thing that stood out again today was the final couple of miles.
Doesn’t matter if the day is 10 miles, 15, or 20. Those last 2 miles always feel the hardest.
You know you’re close, but not quite there.
Body’s had enough, mind wants to switch off, but you still have to keep going.
That’s where the work is, every single time.
The mindset
There’s definitely been a shift after yesterday.
Less expectation.
More awareness.
Not taking anything at face value anymore in terms of distance.
Trust it to a point, but always verify.
Midday check-in
Clocked about 40,696 steps today.
Not quick, just steady.
And that’s what gets it done.
The feel now
Legs heavy, as expected.
But nothing sharp or worrying. Just that underlying fatigue.
Mentally steady. No drama, no swings.
The approach
After yesterday, it’s not about chasing anything.
Just:
- Keep it steady
- Manage energy
- Don’t overthink it
One step at a time.
Observation
The body adapts quickly.
Two days ago, 20 miles felt like a stretch.
Now, even tired, it feels doable.
The home stretch
You can start to feel Santiago now.
It feels like the back end of the journey. The days ahead look lighter, which should give more time to take things in rather than just push through.
There’ll still be a final stretch, but it feels under control.
Two full days planned in Santiago as well, which is something to look forward to.
Everything leads there.
Looking ahead
Tomorrow should be shorter.
Plan is to take it easy, have a proper morning, maybe not leave until around midday, get some food, and then head off.
First genuinely relaxed start we’ve had.
If it comes in around 10 miles, that’ll do nicely.
Where we are
End of the day.
Tired, but in good shape.
Another solid one done.
