24 April 2018

A fine day in Portugal



Last night in Café Bonito our humans shared a pilgrim’s meal with other pilgrims from the hostel. From the left, front to back were: Jan, from Japan, Linden, from the UK, Janine, from Maryland in the USA and her husband Tim. They had both served in the US Forces, so shared something with our BBF.

On the right front to back were: Carol, from British Columbia in Canada, Christiane from Germany, our BBF and Rianne from Tilburg.



 This morning at 06:00 hrs the pilgrims were rudely awakened by the church bells peeling over a loudspeaker. It should also be said that the church was next door!

Then after breakfast we left. Carol and Christiane had teamed up so our two left alone.
 It was a fine morning with a blue sky and little wind. Once out of town the route thankfully left the road and went across country.


 
Outside the first hamlet we came to was this sign, telling the tale that St James had walked this way.









There were fine views over the countryside and when we came to the village of Zambujal we spent some fruitless minutes looking for a Café, but there was none!






The only thing to note in the village was that they had decorated the trees and benches in the main square!





Outside one house was an old washing tub and scrubbing board, similar to the one our BBF used later to was his small!



An old bridge was crossed and then we more or less followed the river out of The Valley.



By another hamlet was this notice describing where one could see fine examples of descriptive tiles on houses.



What had these been used for we asked, but no one knew.



Another noticed described how the Spaniards had rebuilt bridges during their time here.



In the river were many white little flowers which gave it a carpet like appearance.









The white is the river!



Then finally we had to climb out of the river bed and over the hills and far away!







More down and up led us finally out of The Valley.





Another washing pit by a small chapel, sadly closed again was passed.



Then we traversed small fields of subsistence farming. They were not allotments!



And as can be seen in the lower left connected to an irrigation system.



We also saw where the forest fires of last year had been.



Through more small hamlets with the odd motive worth capturing.





In one hamlet we came across this pond which termed with little fish which looked as if they were about to spawn!



And then we arrived at today’s destination after some 16.6 kilometres. Mind you Rianne said it was 18!





 Beds were found in a simple hostel showers taken, washing washed and then it was out again to find a place for an isotonic drink!





That found and our humans restored we can wish you all Buen Camino for today! 🐻❤️


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