We worked out at breakfast what times the ferry across to Sao Jacinto ran and figured the 10:20 was our only option - it leaves from the ferry port which was 7 miles back towards Barra so we finished breakfast quickly and were packed and on the bikes by 9:20 giving us plenty time to reach and we did so with 25 minutes to spare otherwise the next ferry was Noon or we would need to make a 20 mile diversion round the lagoon.
We watched as a huge Bulk container ship was being offloaded with its goods - a huge crane with a scoop was grabbing huge loads of a white salt like powder which was being stored onn the Quayside so I took some arty shots as well as reflections of the cranes.
The ferry left on tme and only took 5 minutes to make the short half mile crossing onto the Sao Jacinto peninsular where we passed military bases / training schools before cycling along a great cycle path shadowing the estuary. There were a group of storks and I also spotted a Crane but didn't get chance for photographs and I only have my phone camera this time round anyway.
We reached Torreira where there was a small harbour with lots of colourful boats and we pushed on to about 23 miles where we found a small cafe for a break and some coffee on the outkirts of Ovar. Once refreshed we hit a difficult next 13 miles catching a bit traffic and factories leaving Ovar then traffic heading towards the coast. At 35 miles we reached Espinho where I attempted to locate a Portuguese Restaurant owner I knew from a photography group - I had met him in his restaurant back in 2002 but just cannot find it again, if he even still has it.
We ended up having two nice Salads on a seafront restaurant in Espinho before cycling off past the Art Deco outdoor swimming pool which I took a photograph of before we completed the last 15 miles round the coast back to the Ponte Luis I bridge across the Douro, thus completing the loop. We still had 14 miles back to the airport and we had decided to cut across from the coast rather than going all the way round as we had hit a busy road when we first arrived. So after waiting to cross a lifting bridge we turned inland and instantly hit quiet roads ...... Unfortunately they were quiet because they were cobbled and most of the last 4 miles consisted of a lumpy and sore grind uphill back to the airport.
And that was it blink and you missed it - A 7 day circular Tour of the Douro and Northern Portugal 433 miles and 27,000 ft of Elevation.