Just a short ride today to both allow the legs to recover and for me to catch up on the laundry situation which isn't great at the moment .
I was off at 9am heading west straight into that headwind again which was great news, because after 5 miles downhill into the Douro Valley I would cycle back out and head east for most of the day.
A quick descent and it was quite an overcast morning making the Douro look even more dark & deep that it usuallu does. I had soon reached the Dam at Bemposta and a big sign told me Portugal was 1km away, I once again went to the middle of the dam and stiopped with the front wheel in Portugal and the back wheel in Spain as I always do. Another video in my enthralling series of Portuguese and Spanish Dams followed and I took some more photos. This dam, although spectacular wasn't in the same league as yesterday's at El Fraille or Almendra.
The cycle into the valley took me down 1200ft at a steady 7% and the Portuguese side returned the compliment - straight back up at a steady gradient, now I wouldn't say it was easy but it was far easier than the Salto de Saucelle and I rode straight to the top without stopping.
I turned right and downwind and it was only 9:30 am still as I had just gained that hour back by crossing the border into Portuguese time. I only had 20 miles to go and literally could have been there in an hour so I diverted a bit and at Picote I considered dropping back down to the river to see the next Dam but I resisted and instead went to a viewpoint which give great views of an almost 180 degree turn in the river. The viewpoint was perched on some massive boulder formations that were very smooth, had great lichen colouration on them, but they were also very slippy, especially wth cycling cleats on.
I carefully reached the wooden decked and glass floored platform to take some shots and as I scrambled back up I pondered how easy it would be to slide straight off one of these boulders and ito the void.
A straight forward ride into Miranda de Douro followed, but I had one more stop in Cercio, where as I cycled through the Main Square I had to stop. There was a statue of a man playing the Northumbrian Pipes, now I'm sure they're a local instrument here but in my mind they are the Nortumbrian pipes. I was at my Hotel by 1pm for a 2pm check in - fortunately they were ready and check in was so much smoother now I could once again speak the local language.
My Hotel is called Bella Vista and from my room I overlook the Douro and the Dam at Miranda, I even have eagles flying above ... I love Portugal !