Today's ride was deliberately planned shorter after yesterday's monster and so I had a liesurely breakfast knowing as well that it stays light till 8pm now I'm on Spanish time giving me an extra hour to get there.
I headed off at 10pm but not towards Fermoselle, I was going west instead of east, this was to see a a Behemoth - the Mirador de fraile. After 4 miles the road drops severely but it was barricaded for walkers only.
I locked the bike and walked down a very steep road for half a mile to reach the mirador - ther is a rust coloured metal plinth which sticks out into the void from the cliff face. This part of the Douro is a massive gorge with almost vertical cliff faces dropping over 1000ft. From the plinth is was looking down on the river and the cliffs but also a monumental reservoir which was probably 400 ft high itself - so i could see clear down to the river below it which must have been about 1500ft.
I have wanted to see this for a while and it was most definitely not disappointing - mow I love heights but looking over holding my camera and mobile phone securely even made me feel a bit giddy.
I then returned back through town and on to Masueco where I had a 300ft drop into and out of the Rio Uces valley where there was a small bridge giving great views of the river rampaging it's way down to meet the Douro.
I then had a continuous road rolling up and down for another 15 miles to Trabanca where I bought a drink and some corn crunches and I sat beside a great statue of an eagle that's right at the crossroads in town.
From Trabanca I had omnly 4miles to reach the enormous Almendra dam which I crossed in the opposite direction 5 years ago. I stopped on the dam which is nearly 3 miles long and looked into the chasm of the Tormes valley which is where the water is realsed to - the Tormes then flows into ,,, yes you've guessed it, the mighty Douro.
As I left the dam the wind got up and Ihad 3 miles of climb before 5 miles downhill into town - that sounded excellent, but when I turned for town I turned straight into a 15mph headwind which was annoying, just as well I was going downhill.
I arrived in town at 3:30 and celebrated with a San Miguel and a couple of empanadas before checking into the hostal at 4pm.