Today I got a bit lucky with the weather, it was hammering down and blowing a hooligan tgrough the night but by 9am when I set off the drizzle was all but stopped.
Todays route was along the Douro then acriss to the Tamega river and up to Amarante. I would climb 1000ft and drop back into the Douro 4 times before the final up and over to the Tamega.
I was edgy until the first vlimb of 700ft - I was up it on a flash without any need to rest which bode well for the say.
The weather eas moody at best, mostly overcast, the odd bit sunshone and often dark threatening clouds which never came to much - I did take refuge on a bus shelter for 5 minutes.
I was also on a schedule, from 3pm onwards it was going to rain and get heavier all evening.
The views were stunninh in this dull weather. they must be awesome on a sunny day, or a day with rising mist ! I took lots of photos and I've also included some from yesterday's train ride to Pinhao and Pocinho.
Once I reached Porto Antigo, where we stayed last May in the excellent hotel during our Douro N222 trip, I woukd say farewell to the Douro passing by a viaduct for the railway and the last climb uo to 1000ft was straight forward as the gradient was a nice steady 6-7% whereas the previous one had been constantly flicking up to 12% which is tough woth the weight I have in my panniers and my gear ratios (No granny ring !)
As much as I tried I didnt quite get to Amarante dry, the rain started 6 miles out and was annoyingly steady byvthe time I finished ... but not yet heavy.