Coimbra to Mealhada

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Today was one of those walks that if there was a choice – you wouldn’t. Much of the walk was along bitumen and on some pretty hectic highways with relatively short breaks from the noise in Eucalyptus forests and some small farming hamlets.

We headed off at about 8.30am as we had only 23km to cover. Heading out of Coimbra required some nifty crossing of railway lines at a railway station where clearly the warning bells to not cross the tracks as a train is approaching are treated merely as a suggestion – one which the locals (and subsequently we) ignored. Off we headed full of confidence and found ourselves walking around a very large round about, crossing every lane of oncoming traffic and ending up back where had started and basically then deciding to head north.

The little villages along the way were pretty run down and although crops were looking good, there were still relatively few people out and about – pilgrims or locals. Again, we seemed to be heading “UP” many hills and came across the only other person heading to Santiago on the road all day. This continues to be the most uniquely different experience to the Camino Frances of last year. I have read that last year only 2000 pilgrims walked the Camino Portuguese as compared to 250 000 who walked the Camino Frances.

We finally made it off the roadways and into Eucalyptus forest which was a very welcome relief from walking on the bitumen. We were able to pick up the pace on this section which ended all to soon as we came out onto the roadways again. We were heading to a town called Mealhada – and it is quite unlikely that there is going to be “Meal – hadda” for either of us as the specialty of this region is suckling pig on the spit…neither of us being porky eaters, both of us feel an omelette coming on! (For those in the family the sign above the entrance gates of our hotel of “ee lovey piggy crunchy”…did give me a giggle.)

To get to our accomodation for the night we had to walk ‘out’ of the town (we think???) by about 3km – wondering what the accomodation would look like, the laughter said it all once we had spotted the building. Basically, we have walked into El Caballo Blanco (see the photos above!) and it feels like we have made it through Midland and that El Caballo is located at the intersection with Roe Highway and Great Eastern Highway rather than in Woorolloo. However, you can imagine how much laughter there was when we saw the sign above the accomodation that let us know that at least we had a DISCOTECA – just what we need! I wonder whether they will mind if come in wearing our boots and carrying hiking sticks?

So, an omelette at El Caballo and I would suggest an early night (passing on El DISCOTECA) is probably the way things will go – hopefully less asphalt tomorrow!