Portuguese Way from Tui - Stage 6 - Walking Travel Guide

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The sixth and final stage of our Portuguese Way from Tui.

We set off from Padrón at our usual time, 08:30, after a hearty breakfast. We decide straightaway to stop for a bite to eat beyond the midway point, and our choice falls on Milladoiro, a town just 7km from Santiago.

Outside, rain falls relentlessly throughout the night and shows no sign of stopping. Our capes and determination are firmly in place, especially in the spirits of Silvia and Moyra—the former battling a troublesome knee, the latter plagued by a string of painful blisters on her feet. The desire to reach our destination, and to do so on their own legs with their own packs on their shoulders, runs strong, energising the entire group despite the 25km that lie ahead.

The stage proves quite challenging, with an almost continuous series of ups and downs that test us throughout. Stretches of asphalt alternate with delightful kilometres through woodland. The only downside is the relentless rain that simply won't relent.

The climax comes in the forest, just a couple of kilometres from Milladoiro, when a powerful storm descends upon us: rain, wind and hail strike us head-on, soaking everything that had previously held up, including our shoes and socks.

The path becomes a pool of water, sometimes little more than a river. Around us, torrents heavy with water rush past at breathtaking speed, creating a tremendous roar.

But, as often happens in Galicia, everything suddenly calms down! Within about twenty minutes, we shift from a tremendous storm to the warm March sun. Truly extraordinary weather. We're happy enough and stop for a bite to eat at a local bar.

Not much further to go.

Just 7km.

And outside, it's started raining again.

We wait a couple of minutes and everything settles, blessing us with another moment of warm sunshine.

In the distance we spot Santiago and manage to make out the towers of the Cathedral, standing there patiently, waiting for our arrival.

We reach the outskirts, pass through the university district, skirt the park and enter the small historic centre of the city. The joy and emotion of being so close to our destination spurs us to quicken our pace, almost possessed by an energy we didn't know we had just moments before.

The plaza lies before us. We're drawn into it, swept up in the magic of the place. Some run, others burst into tears, still others say "I bloody did it! Despite everything". And we at A piedi per il mondo feel a tear of joy roll down our cheeks, for all the emotions we've experienced and for having helped make this an experience that will remain special and memorable for everyone.

So we want to close with the image of these 8 women and 2 men who walked side by side for 7 days, supporting each other, helping one another through moments of discouragement, who laughed, embraced, shared meals together (actually many, and gloriously hearty ones), and who found genuine friendship. And who knows, perhaps the future holds another journey together a piedi per il mondo.

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