Coimbra to Agueda

24.3km

Today was not the most beautiful walk, but it was good. I told Steve it was like walking through Springdale, AR or Bartlesville, OK. Lots of new buildings and factories and it rained for about 9km! My feet felt so much better today. I am focusing on standing upright when going up and down hills. Often I let the pack tip me forward or backwards, which I suspect is why the balls of my feet and calves are so sore.

I am staying in a hostel in a town that has its town square decorated with umbrellas and birds. It’s darling. I have a little bunk with a curtain, which is a good thing because I didn’t realize this hostel has mixed dormitories and a German man is in the bunk across from me.

Early on in the day, I passed a church that had a rooster under the cross on the steeple. In 560, Pope Gregory declared that all church steeples have a rooster atop them. This church was not from 560, but apparently still following the decree. I knew the Bible story about Peter denying Christ three times before the rooster crows. All day I thought about the times I have denied the work of God in my life. For me, it’s been more than 3 times. When I would get distracted a literal rooster would crow. It happened over and over. It was a blessing that the surroundings were unremarkable. This allowed me to stay engaged with the lesson I was being taught. The rain came as sort of a cleansing.

A few things you will see in the pictures… 1. I only walked in the woods for less than a km. The rest of the walk was along the roadway. While in the woods, I came across that little birdie. He looked like someone’s lost parakeet.
2. I got a chuckle when I passed the soccer stadium. It reminded me so much of Ted Lasso. If you haven’t watched that show, it’s binge worthy.
3. The Camino Bar- I ordered my lunch croissant (the only food item available) and sat down and a group of police officers came in and started questioning the owner. I left 3💶 on the table and slipped out.Leggi altro