Feeling fitter

We leave Coimbra at 7:45am. The way follows the river for the first couple of kilometers and my feet feel completely healed so I set a fairly fast pace. Most of the walking today is on asphalt. It is a cool and overcast day, much nicer than the hot days so far.

We pass a church with a pilgrim statue, including the scallop shells on the base. The town also has a McDonald's ad in a bus shelter. The language is a mix of Spanish and English, 'living la Vida low cost'. Look out for it everywhere near you. It is hard to see anything positive from their presence here. We make two breakfast stops in the town, as we have learnt that it is best not to pass on the opportunity before you while looking for something better. That something better often isn't there anyway. Today it is, so why not enjoy it twice?

We are walking up into the hills and through small villages again. People say hello and we are getting more greetings of 'bon voyage'. An older woman is also walking up the hill. As we pass her I am quite impressed by her ability to carry a large bag, probably around 5 kilos, on her head. It leaves her hands free for another bag and a walking stick. Respect.

We loose the arrows 7.5kms from Mealhada, and so keep on the main road, missing the day's only forest walking. It's a busy road and we have to pay attention as a few of the trucks like to use the whole road. The sun is out again now but the temperature today only reaches 26 degrees. It makes the walking so much easier, mostly as my feet are not getting as hot.

We reach Mealhada and stop to have lunch. We decide that we will not push on to the next town as the accommodation there is limited and expensive. We have walked the day's 22.5km  by 2pm. I head to a pilgrim's hostel, Albergue de Peregrinos Hilarió, while Carlos goes to the Bombeiros. Not long after I have checked in he arrives since they don't take pilgrims anymore. We have an afternoon nap interrupted by a man with a lawnmower. For some reason he keeps changing the throttle and so the engine sounds goes up and down in an unpredictable way. It's a little torturous.

As we are walking back in Mealhada for dinner we meet two more Santiago pilgrims! They started today in Coimbra and they are tired. It is 7pm. A local man is leading them to the place they are looking for, even though he has no language in common with them. We are able to confirm that they are close to the place they have booked. Hopefully we will see them again tomorrow.

This region has a lot of restaurants selling the local delicacy, spit roasted month old piglets. At €95 I am not that hungry. Half a pizza for €5 is enough.

Today's photos: 1. Some of the famous local wine grapes that we haven't tried. 2. That horrible McDonald's ad.  3. The statue. 4. The toughest woman in Trouxemil. 5. Another font that you can't drink from, this one celebrating the piglets and a house we haven't seen. Notice the clouds in the sky, a first for my time in Portugal.