Day 9 Rabacal to Coimbra

It is fair to say we did not have the best nights sleep last night. I think the combination of the heat, mosquitos and dogs barking conspired against us. I was relieved when 4 o'clock came, I have not had a good nights sleep since we arrived in Portugal..

As usual we were walking by 0430. Today was to be a great days walking.

Within 5 minutes we were in open country walking through Olive Groves, strange insects that kept flashing lights guided us, it was a wonderful sight. The sun rose and yet again there were clouds in the sky, there is a god! Well at least for a few hours. We walked through Zambuja onto Fonte Corbeta.

The sun was rising and the light was stunning.

We turned off the road just beyond Fonte Coberta and walked up a valley alongside a dried up river bed, the next hour was to be one of the most beautiful parts of both the caminos I have walked. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

We stopped for our 5 mile break and just took it all in.

We continued up the valley and came upon todays dog on a blog, what a treasure!

After we said our goodbyes we climbed up the side of this beautiful place.

Jeremy had given me a stone to place in memory of his and Nigel's parents, Joan and Dennis. I felt this was the right place, I do not know why but I always feel very humble when such a privilege is bestowed upon me. Yotty chose the exact spot, I put on the music Jeremy had asked me to play and we just stood there in silence and I thought of Joan and Dennis and all at Down Park, it was a special moment, these are the views from that special place, I think Jeremy would have approved.

We continued to climb out of the valley this was walking at its best.

As we got to the top of the valley we came across the ancient roman ruins at Conimbriga.

It was time for a break; we stopped at a cafe and yes, you guessed it: more tarts!

As per usual Oscar came around the corner.

We actually met some perigrinos going the other way to Fatima, Oscar is still the only perigrino we have met going our way whist walking, as we keep bumping into him we never feel alone.

We were now back onto country lanes, we noticed that when ever we walked past people working in the fields they always wave at us, we feel very welcome here in this wonderful, beautiful country.

I have heard about you two, get out of here!!

Getting complaints that there are not enough cats being featured on the blog, so I hope this little laid back dude compensates.

We stopped for a drink at Cernache and just to be different Oscar came around the corner.

We were 6 miles from Coimbra when we entered Palheira, it was getting very humid again and we were drenched.

We were back onto tracks again and were climbing steeply.

We were so tired we stopped for a break and who came round the corner? Oscar!

The last 4 miles were back onto Tarmac ,the humidity was becoming unbearable.

We have come a long way. This Roman Aquaduct crosses the main road into Coimbra. Shame they had take a section out to accommodate the road.

We were only two miles from Coimbra but it might as well have been 20 the way we felt, there is no doubt the nearer you get to the end of a walk the harder it gets irrespective of how long the walk is. We were both spent.

At last we dropped down into the city and we saw another section of the Aquaduct, there is no doubt the Romans really had a go around here.

We crossed the river into the city and found our hotel.

We found a restaurant and enjoyed a well earnt lunch washed down with some Sangria. Then we rubber necked.

Being good pilgrims we made our way to the cathedral.

We are now back in our hotel reeling from the cost of our laundry, though having said that who ever had to deal with my socks earnt every penny of it.

Today has been how I remember my last Camino: stunning scenery and soft underfoot .

We have only got 14 miles to cover tomorrow but we will still have an early start so we can get to our destination early to try and have a rest,

Stats for today 18.20 miles covered.

152 miles covered

229 miles to go

Portuguese Tarts had 37