Always sad to leave Coimbra but after a breeakfast in my favourite cafe Montanhna we had the bikes loaded and were off following the Mondego for about 10 miles along a quiet road behind the levees and alongside the reed beds. We followed the road and soon passed a Market / Fayre being set up - it was easy riding and after 10 miles we turned away from the river towards Montemor-o-velho and found a cycle path alongside the road but hidden behind a tree line. It was a good find because not only did it get us traffic free, we also found ourself cycling alongside a Rowing Course. We could see 1500m distance markers and multiple lanes and boats in the distance - At 500m there were 8 pairs ready to start and the starter was there so we waited and watched them start, they were shifting and by the time I put my phone away and started cycling we actually came 6th as we only caught up with two fo teh crews before the finish in front of a grandstand and decent crowd, Next we cycled into Montemor-o-velho where there was a big castle overlooking the town.
We pressed on through quiet roads to Santana where we stopped after 20 miles for a coffee break. As we stopped we noticed a quiet road to Tocha and decided to route ourselves that way instead of our route, just before we set off about 100 mopeds all came past and went down that road presumably on their way to the coast. The road was good and we were soon on Tocha where there was a huge Marketo going on - we saw huge machines which where roasting chickens on rotisseries about 100 at at time ! Next we pressed on through dead straight roads passing pine forests on sandy terrain. After 3 miles we were back on our route but there was a problem, the road was barriered off. After debate we pressed on and within a mile we reached the problem where a small stream had washed the road away - we managed to caryy the bikes across the gap and were soon on our way along a tough dead straight 14 miles into a headwind all the way to Mira Praia where we stopped for a Bifana lunch. Nexta another tough 10 miles with little protection from the wind and we reached Praia de Vaguiera where we passed a large sculpture of an Eel with its best lipstick on - from here there was a superb cycle path all the way to the Lighthouse at Barra which marks the point where the Aveiro Estuary reaches the Sea. We took a few pictures but didn't linger as it was a bit windy - so we headed back and across the Big Motorway Bridges over the Estuary into Aveiro, the roads were busy but there were cycle lanes running parallel first past the port and then over the estuary where we spotted Flamingoes before making our way to our very good Hotel for the night the Alfonso V. Day 6 complete and tomorrow we get back to where we started at Porto Airport.