Date: 4th August 2019
Travelled: 21 kms from Ponte de Lima to Ponte da Barca both in the Province of Minho
Visited: Ponte da Barca and Bravรฃes
Stayed: Ponte da Barca car-park free+B. N41.80793, W08.42395
Budget: 56 days @ โฌ83 per day
After our usual morning walk we point the Hymer up the road to the service point on the other side of Ponte de Lima. Itโs next to a council campsite full of scouts and guides having breakfast right next to the service point. Pam waves and says bom dia as I do what needs to be done.
Itโs only a relatively short drive up the valley with glimpses of the Rio Lima on our right. The valley is flanked by a series of green rolling hills with an irregularly scattering of houses. Their white walls and raw terracotta roof tiles providing a clear contrast.
Turning down into Ponte da Barca we pause at the stop/go signal that controls the traffic across the 16th century single lane stone bridge over the Rio Lima. Have I mentioned how much the Hymer isnโt enjoying the cobbled roads in Portugal. Whilst generally the Portuguese road are good, for some reason unknown to me the roads in the centre of villages and towns remain cobbled.
Ponte da Barca, Norte, Portugal
Map of Ponte da Barca, icon on our parking spot
We find a recommended parking spot for motorhomes at the far end of a car-park along the river. No passing traffic and plenty of shade, bonus we find a supermarket a short walk away.
With the Hymer sitting under a shady tree, we walk into town for a look about. 
The Town Hall, no sign of a tourist office here. 
We walk the Ponte, the Hymer is up in those trees somewhere. 
Eventually we find the tourist office closed (itโs Sunday) and it doesnโt re-open till Tuesday, so much for getting some info on local walks. Back in the Hymer we get the comfy chairs out and have a relax, do some Googling about a walk in the morning and generally veg out.
The supermarket next door has a great selection of seafood, so itโs BBQ sardines and a prawn salad for dinner as the shadows lengthen.
Bravรฃes, Norte, Portugal
Map of Bravรฃes
Bright and early next morning we set out to walk the Rio Lima to the village of Bravรฃes. We follow a well formed trail for 5 kms, before turning up from the river towards the village. The trail becomes a steep and winding road up to Bravรฃes.
The Rio Lima in the morning. 
A village fountain, we didnโt see a village but the fountain is still here.
The following are some random photos of the Igreja de Sรฃo Salvador in Bravรฃes. Click any of them to open a gallery in full screen.
Used coffins ?
Some 90 minutes later we are back in the Hymer. The sun is high and there is little shade for the last couple of kms, but it was an excellent walk. We have a long shower and cool down before readying the Hymer for departure once again.
Michael and Pam
