Well today's ride was pretty much near perfect - I will admit that yesterday was tough, possibly the after effects of the mammoth day across the Douro and also the horrible headwind on the plain yesterday.
But today I started and finished strong - my mojo was back. I left town and diverted to the Sabugal reservoir as I do, after a few pics I routed back onto the main road and the surface was good, the cycling was good, I was flying. So much so I missed my turn after 6 miles and had to retrace a mile to the turn. When I got there the surface was poor and lumpy but I had chosen this route to see another reservoir and the sleepy little village called Meimao so I stuck with my route. Soon there was the traditional swing on a lookout, this time I had a go !
The road just plummeted into a huge valley below, where I could see Meimao looking beautiful in the sun. I was descending a 15% hill for best part of a 1000 ft - I was on the brakes all the way, if I had let go god knows what speed I'd have been doing !
Meimao was ancient looking with a nice church tower with steps you could climb up .... so I did !
The morning chill was definitely gone and for the first time this tour I changed into a short sleeved summer cycling top and shorts ... Glorious. I was up the 500ft climb out of the village in a flash and at the reservoir where there were summer lodges and bathing areas. At the next village Meimoa (subtle difference) a huge dog was chasing me behind a wire fence, he was huge and sounded very angry .... He got out ! Fortunately the road was flat and I was doing 20mph and but for the want of trying he didn't catch me.
As I approached Penamacor it was an uphill drag and the wind was against and still having 40 miles to go i was concerned - however once past Penamacor there was a slight downhill stretch and I was off and flying again,
The miles flew by, I was looking across at Fundao and could see the Serra da Estrella with snow covered mountains beyond. I stopped at one point to take what looked like a lovely photo, then I crossed the road and got a great one looking the other way - two for the price of one !
Now the road had been good but with 9 miles to go the traffic seemed to really increase and the road narrowed, losing the white line and verge - I felt a bit threatened and was fully alert. With 3 miles to go the verge came back and I was soon heading into the City of Castelo Branco which is the biggest place I have been maybes even since Braga.
Funnily enough I was in this same hotel one year ago to the day, and I know that because it's my Birthday tomorrow and the same girl on the check in even remembered me and my bike and gave me a 10% discount voucher for any return for my B'day !