My first ever Feira de Golegã wasn’t quite as I dreamed it, but after waiting many years, finally, I made it. We had two fantastic days of soaking it all in, and the horses, well, what is there to say about the Lusitano that hasn’t already been said. The national horse of Portugal has filled my heart for over 20 years now. It took me a decade to be in a position to buy my own Lusitano after I first saw a little bay horse called Quiebro, and my mare Estalinha Cedros has been in my life for 12 years.
After 48hrs of incredible emotion, Storm Claudia hit. Vanlife is incredible, but very challenging when you have to cross the Iberian Peninsula in severe conditions. On night one, after a wonderful evening at the Feira, we lay watching thunderbolts through the roof light. In the morning, we basically found ourselves in a river so had to move on.
We bolted for safety hoping to sit it out and return, but conditions worsened across the entire Peninsula, events at the Feira were cancelled or moved indoors with limited seating and we had several timelines to hit before reaching SICAB on the following Wednesday. Rain isn’t exactly ideal for testing new photographic equipment, and while it’s important to be pragmatic, with great sadness we set sail back to Andalucía.
Driving conditions were terrifying, and I cried more than once. Thankfully Paco is an advanced and very brave driver, and the VW camper handles like a dream. Through lighting storms, biblical rain, aquaplaning, rivers over roads, cars on crash barriers and debris everywhere, we made it safely back to Andalućia. Stopping in Huelva for rest, we reached Jerez just in time for International Flamenco Day.
Being Portugal it’s not part of the official fine art series covering Andalucía, but perhaps in 2027 we may begin again in Portugal, time will tell. It was my first proper opportunity to start playing with the two new cameras, a little overhwhelming and I need more time, but here’s a full set of pictures here.
FULL SET OF IMAGES
https://www.fleurchurchill.com/p/87552dws/feira-de-golega-2025
RELATED SOCIAL VIDEOS (more dash cam footage still to come)
Living on the edge – this driver had a VERY lucky escape on the outskirts of Portugal
Road flooding going into Huelva during Storm Claudia
Equuscapes 
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