Date: 6-7th August 2019
Travelled: 153 kms from Lindoso in the Minho to Chaves in the Trรกs-os-Montes Province of Portugal
Visited: Lindoso Castle and Chaves
Stayed: Lindoso Castle car-park, free N41.86773, W08.19916 then Chaves a private aire, โฌ17 includes electric. N41.73523, W07.47231
Budget: 59 days @ โฌ80 per day
It was only 15kms on to Lindoso. We arrived after 6pm and go straight to a recommended parking place just below the Castelo. The cloud is low and dark but at least itโs not raining, yet. So we jump out for a quick walk around the castle. Lindoso is only a few kilometres short of the Spanish border and the Castelo or more accurately fortress was part of Portugalโs defensive strategy in the 18th century.
Lindoso, Norte, Portugal
Map of Lindoso, the icon on our parking spot
Lindoso Castelo 
You can zoom in and read about it yourself.
Some views of Lindoso from the Casteloโs bastion walls. The espigueiros (stone granaries) are typical to this isolated part of the Minho.
We spend a quiet evening in the car-park with another motorhome for company. I hear rain at some stage during the night, but itโs not an issue. The Castelo Museum doesnโt open until 10am, so we decide to give it a miss and get an early start for Chaves.
Itโs a long, slow and very scenic drive through the Pineda-Gerรชs National Park. 
30 kms later we are crossing back into Portugal. 
Bloody cobblestones again
We re-fuel at Quintas as the diesel in Spain is 10-15 pence per litre cheaper than Portugal. The drive to Chaves takes another 3 hours and I donโt remember a section of straight road the entire way.
It is however very scenic from heavily wooded glen, deep gorges and the lakes (hydroelectric dams) along the Rio Cรกvado make for plenty to see. There is very little traffic other than around the touristy resort of Gerรชs.
Chaves, Norte, Portugal
Map of Chaves, the icon on our stop.
We decide on a paid aire in Chaves. We have not been on power for almost 5 weeks. The Hymer needs a good vacuum through and we have various things that need charging. Pam wants to do a load of washing, so we cough up. Given it looks like rain, if our walking options are limited by weather a stop with electricity close to town will help.
So we do a quick supermarket shop and settle in to the aire, before heading of across the bridge (below) to start exploring.
Looking up the Rio Tamega, a stylish new pedestrian bridge in the distance. 
The beautiful Ponte Romana, circa 104 ad.
It starts to drizzle so we retreat to the Hymer. After a refreshing beverage or two we extend the awning and get the Webber out. I BBQ a rack of pork ribs (American style) whilst Pam whips up a salad. Our neighbours look across jealously as they enjoy there baked beans on toast or escargot on a cracker as the case maybe.
It rains quite heavily overnight, but has slowed to a drizzle by breakfast. Umbrella in hand we head off to explore Chaves again.
The Torre de Menagem and its 14th century tower. 
Around the Torre some beautiful gardens. 
Unfortunately the paths through the garden are gravel come mud after all the rain.
The Mother Church of Chaves or to use its formal title, The Igreja of Santa Maria Maior, circa 1200. 
The flowers around the alter were a surprise but people started arriving for a wedding as we walked around. 
The organ and its pipes are impressive as well.
The drizzle is getting a little heavier now, we know the weather has beaten us, so we walk across the bridge once again to the Hymer. Whilst we could spend the rest of the day waiting on the weather, everything is clean and fully charged, so we decide to ready the Hymer and go on to our next adventure, Guimarรฃes.
Michael and Pam
