Coimbra to Mealhada

We left Coimbra way later than we should have, rather enjoying this Camino completely on foot with some layovers of enjoyment of food and local culture.  By leaving late, we got to enjoy more of Coimbra, coffee, orange juice, eating under an umbrella. Things are going to change once we get to Porto, due the number of pilgrims will surge. Today’s stage was shorter than normal , about 13-14 miles but we started late which would put us in Mealhada late. 


We had an interesting situation, we came upon embers in the woods, from an obvious controlled fire... but it worried us so we poured all of our water on it. About an hour or less from our destination we were left to walk around puddles in our way. Typical situation but tonight Aynsleighs foot got totally submerged in mud. She actually had to pull her foot out of the mud leaving her shoe (with gaiter) in there. Gaiter meaning sock like fabric to keep rocks and sand out of shoe. Bronwyn got on her hands and knees and dig around it from underneath. She got it!!! 

We arrived with mud all over her hands and arms. There is a nice restaurant attached to this auberge. Sadly, we arrived so late. that we didn’t get to relax and enjoy any of it.  But Melissa is here, and it appears the rest of the gang didn’t stay in Coimbra an extra night and are now ahead of us. We then got a private room located in a different building so we saw no one else except Ricardo, a nice Portuguese pilgrim while we were checking in.