Day 5: cycling in rural portugal
86 km and 713 m climbing
The first kilometers of the day were very chilly, however the blue sky is promising about the rest of the day.
Porto Covo
The first coffee of the day is in Porto Covo, a charming village at the shore. All inhabitants seems to gather in the local coffee place for the first coffee of the day. A group ritual.
A man asks where i am going, he advises me to take the path over the cliffs as the views are amazing. Which was already my plan, but good that it is confirmed by a local.
A steep and Rocky path brings me on the beach between the cliffs. The path goes over the beach and it is clear that low water is required to make it to the other side. Good timing.
The number of buildings is dropping drastically. Only small farms and some electricity cables proofs civilization.
Unnamed Road, 7630-174, Portugal
Some months ago a portugese friend told me that she and her dutch husband bought some land in Portugal with the idea to create an attractive location for future visitors and travellers. Enough information to trigger my curiosity, so a modest detour from my route brings to the place.
Google mentions as adress : unnamed road.
I have seen many unnamed roads, sometimes they seems to be forgotten as well.
The dogs of the neighbours are accompanying me with a lot of noise till they are convinced i won’t stop my bike on their territory.
The location is a former farm in the hills of Tagaricas with a lot of cork oaks, olive trees and eucalyptus.
A brilliant picnic space for now, within some time for sure a nice area to spent a holiday.
Odeceixe
The road passes odeceixe, a charming old town including a invincible windmill. The streets are steep and i have to walk and push my bike uphill.
Cycling in rural portugal is hard work
More than 50% of the cycling path is actually off road. Following tractor tracks, bush paths, gravel roads, mud tracks with surprisingly (only once…)deep water pools and loose sand paths. I have to walk and push my bike many kilometers to pass all obstacles safely. It makes the day a real work-out day. However, under a blue sky and in vibrant nature.
Just to mention, cycling in rural portugal is not a walk in the park.
Camping Serrão
Parque de Campismo do Serrão
Just before sunset i reach my destination of the day, camping Serrao.
Finally i find some marks of eurovelo 1 and the Atlantic coast route indicating that i am still on the right track. I already figured out that the long distance walking path, GR routes, and the eurovelo tracks in Portugal are one and the same track. Multifunctional trails in the wild open.
The sunset summarized the colorful day well.
