Mealhada

I've been absent without any warning.  I've been trying to get back in walking shape with a few more days break.  My last day walking was from Coimbra to Mealhada. The day was beautiful and as I left Coimbra I was passed by five other pilgrims!  Oh boy, Aussies, English, can we talk?  Unfortunately, the operative word is "passed".  In a few minutes I was once again pondering the lonliness of the long-distance walker.  The distance was listed as 14 miles with no intermediate accomodations.  This was going to be a slog.  I finally reached Mealhada to discover that it is a very long town and the alburgue was still about two miles away.  There were eight other pilgrims at the alburgue, all in private rooms.  Once again, I was the only one in a big dorm room.  Here are some photos.

This is something new on this camino.  These have become iconic on the Camino in Spain.

The farms in this part of Portugal are much smaller than back in the Tejo Valley.  This is really just a big rototiller with a seat and a permanently attached wagon.  Very useful and good in tight spots.  I must have seen ten of these on the way.

A trail marker for which I was very thankful.  Several times on this stretch of road I had to look for boot prints to make sure that the path hadn't turned.

If this house had had a hammock hanging on this incredible porch I might still be there.

It looks like a maypole.  This was a very small village that was decorated for some reason.  We have all had this experience in our travels - something happens and we haven't a clue so we just have to sit back and enjoy it.