Off on my bike : Barragem do Vilar to Quinta do Pomarinho

Boulder-strewn slopes.

I ride off alongside the lake, flat enough, thank goodness as I am feeling rather broken, doesn't seem to be much strength left in my legs.  Well, twenty miles less today, shouldn't be too late at camp tonight... I must confess, beautiful though the countryside here is - at the moment, lots off boulders and rocky outcrops, reminds me of Devon - I am growing a little tired of the hills.  So is the bike, I can feel the chain starting to slip, not sure when I'll be able to replace it, given Portugal doesn't seem to have towns large enough for specialist shops, we'll see I guess.  The hills keep coming, I keep going and so does the bike, I get to Toca da Raposa for 6pm, it's just a campsite with attached bar and restaurant but what more do I need.  Beer, and much pasta ensue.

Cobbles are not in fact the ideal road surface for cycling.

I feel a bit stronger next morning, I guess finishing at 6pm rather than 8pm is good.  So, a coffee or two, some still warm bread and cheese, and I'm off again.  Bike feels better too, somehow... I do see a cycle shop in Oliviera do Hospital, but it's shut, the chain will have to soldier on - maybe it won't be too hilly?  Hahaha.  Before long I find myself on a hard climb, check the GPS, OK I am at five hundred and twenty metres, this climb goes up to, ulp, over a thousand.  Well, no help for it... I force myself up, up, and up, mostly by pedalling, into the clouds.  Good to hit the thousand metre point, I guess, first time on the trip.  Then I roll down the other side, a descent so long and steep that I stop for a break, fearing that my brakes will melt, or catch fire maybe.  And then back up to the same height again... this continues all day, sure is scenic, ridges, gorges, lakes, but really hard work.  Think the total ascent for the day is over two kilometres... on the fourth big climb, another cyclist pulls up and says, why are you pushing, this is the bottom?  Yeah, all very well for you with no luggage mate.  Well, I get to the campsite at Oleiros before 7pm, had hoped for a good meal here, but it is a mile further to the village proper, and no sign on my map of a restaurant.  Beer and burger from the campsite snack bar it is then.

Not exactly a mountain top, but I am at over a thousand metres.

Another day, and yes, another five hundred metre ascent... almost worth it for the exhilarating run down the other side, I do think this would make a good cycling route, just not with all this weight.  I guess I need to find somebody to drive my support vehicle.  Good news though, that's the only big climb of the day, I'm into more or less flat country, boulder strewn fields with cows and sheep grazing.  Oddly, seems less populated down here, whereas there were villages every few miles up in the hills.  Campsite is in the middle of nowhere, no restaurant meal for me, not even a snack bar, oh well, this is why I have noodles.

One of the more impressive dams.

Photos to go with this post can be found here.