Having arrived in Albufeira 5 weeks ago and developed a nasty thigh pain I'm delighted to have glided along the caost today with no issues. The day started with a fantastic send off and I must say a big thanks you to Eddie, George and Debs, Ann and Terry and Gillian for all turning out in the sqaure at 10:30 to see me off - Maybes they just wanted to make sure I left :-)
I was on very familiar roads today and was quickly through ferreiras, Algoz and Lagao, at Estombar I diverted down a route I like which passes the N125 suspension bridge across the Arade estuary,
to the left and the right but I had a nice littel gap and only received a refreshing cool drizzle for 10 minutes. In Lagos I headed for lunch to a small cafe I had researched and it was brilliant.
On a cobbled side street in the sun with outside tables is loacted Empanadas and Co.
A very friendly young Brazilain girl with a strange American English accent served me - Lamb and mint, Ham and Chees with a sweet and sour dip were my choice but she persuaded me to the the special which was a really nice savoury Prawn .
The last 20 miles was probably teh hardedst and the wind was against and the terrain very undulating - I was also on unfamailar roads now passing praia de Luz and I had a thrilling brief very fast downhill section alon the coast and down into a valley - the gradient was 15% and i was doing about 35mph with heavy wobbly panniers on !
The road levelled out and crossed a bridge and I saw the worst looking hill I've ever seen up ahead to salerna - fortuanely I diverted right to Budens and then pretty much followed the mian rod to Val Bispo and finally Sagres where I find myself tonight .. Almost at the end of portugal but that's a story for tomorrow morning !