Early easy exit means Mealhada is reached by midday, in time for a good lunch, alcohol free since part two is also over 20 km ... first stop at 10km offers a welcome coffee and two ripe bananas, one for the pack, one for the stomach ... then promised rain arrives slowly and increases enough to demand second stop to change clothes and don cape ... and take a 50 cent coffee with a complimentary shot of bagaco or firewater ... after lunch the clouds clear and some sun dries the clothes and warms the body ... while the mind has been considering the excess weight of Harald's boot ... it finds a suitable spot for a permanent exhibition, though without attribution ... it's a 5 hour plod to Agueda, and an arrow error at Anadia adds a bit to that, and enables engagement with two locals who point the way ... Agueda sounds like it may be pronounced with 3 or 4 syllables, but it turns out to be only 2 ... Agda. .. which arrives slowly, the well advertised Residential and Albergue on the far edge of town ... a single room tempts a very tired pilgrim, who has written nothing so far ... pilgrims, missing all day, are in the hostel, but they can wait for the morning ... after nearly 50k on the first day, a hot shower and a sandwich of the bun saved from breakfast with butter and jam, plus banana stashed at first rest stop is plenty after the large lunch and with breakfast included at 7.30 ... maybe another 45 needed for a bed tomorrow ...
Today's musings include awareness that some proposed projects dwell in the realms of fantasy ...maybe better to focus on the lonely cottage in Stanhope ... anyway, the Quinta Estrada Romana is a week away .. . let's see how that idea looks then ... the other insight is that despite enjoying the company of pilgrims and other humans, sometimes opportunities are missed carelessly ... like tonight ... maybe slowing down a bit will create some space ... as for the 60 km challenge, it will need an extra early start, perhaps a companion and some pre-dawn walking ... could not find another 10 in the legs this evening without more rests anyway ...
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