What a great day's cycling, even with an annoying headwind - I was out at 8:30 and after a quick breakfast in Sagres I did 5 miles south west which took me to the end of Europe at Cape St Vincente.
The land approaching is flat with straight roads which end at the Cape which is also the start of the Eurovelo route 1 - Theres a marker so I took a picture of my bike there.
The cliffs are 400ft high and there is a lighthouse, I chambered around the cliff edge carefully as I had cycling cleats on. After taking lots of pics I noticed two men fishing right on the cliff edge - they were literally 400ft above the sea. casting down the abyss.
I turned off the road I had come down onto a minor road to Santo Antonio which was straight empty and beautiful. After it reached a farm 2 miles later it deteriorated to a dolomite track with gravel thrown in the potholes. After half a mile I developed a rear flat probably because I didn't have a track pump and was running on 60-70 psi instead of 90-100.
10 minutes and I was off and reached a tarred road after a few hundred yards which took me back to Vila Bispo.
The 20 miles to Aljezur I will remember a long time as it is so beautiful and remote with perfect little villages like Carrapateira, and Bordeira.
There were Pine forests, huge sand dunes, climbs into the mountains a Monte Ruivo and the roads were quiet and smooth- it was as close to cycling heaven as I've found.
I evenually reached Aljezur where I stopped for lunch with 28 miles to go but the countryside changed.
I had a 500ft climb out of town onto a flat plateau with that nasty wind right in my face and no protection. It was now a bit of a battle.
The very same thing happened at Rogil and Odeceixe after a spectacular drop off the plateau into a valley however after another 500 ft climb I was back on he plateau.
The sloop continued to Sao Teotinho where I stopped for a can of orange and when I checked my garmin I couldn't believe it - I had 9 miles to go and it was all downhill - I was in Odemira in about 20 minutes where I crossed the river on a red steel arched bridge and I passed a monument on the hill which depicts about 10 farm workers in traditional gear doing a traditional dance after work and presumably after several beers