Santana do Mato

Oh my god was it cold last night!
Sooooo fucking cold!
I dressed every piece of clothing I had including my fat down jacket. I slept in my silk liner and then under my down quilt. And was still freezing. I then put a plastic ground sheet I have over myself which was a fatal mistake. The moisture my body transpires during the night was so much that my quilt and jacket became wet, and as we have learned, goose down looses its insulating properties when wet!
In the early hours the dew set in, on the outside of my tent and inside. So much so that it was dripping from the ceiling. Everything was wet!
It seems that the topic of my Camino is water. Water stands for emotions.
Mmmmm!
What does that tell me?
When I later tried to pack my tent it was so wet I had to first dry it with my travel towel. I wrung about half a Liter of water out of this towel.
Incredible!
But then I was rewarded by an incredible morning in all its glory! And the continuing tarred road didn't bother me at all. It was quiet, the birds were singing and I am alive and well!

While I have been walking, again and again I see whole areas that have been ploughed between the Cork oaks thus destroying the incredible Varieté of flora I have enjoyed so much. I recently discovered that it is done to prevent the spread of fires. But instead of creating "fire breaks" which would be normal, they destroy the whole region, reducing variety but also food for birds, insects and the like. How insane!
When I crossed the railway line shown in the second last photo I curiously looked at the small notice taped to the wall of the small house. It was a warning to the Population saying that a weed killer with "glyphophosphat" was going to be used on a particular date and time, and that in particular domestic animals should stay off the fields for 48 hours.
Great!
And what about after the 48 hours?
What are we doing to our Planet?Read more