Well let's just say Im now treading water - I wanted to make sure I was back in Albufeira by the 26th so Im now within striking distance tomorrow, so Ill make sure I go the long way and the scenic way ! I was off this morninh on the ferry to the Troia peninsular from wgere its a straight forwatd ride first along the Sado Estuary to Comporta then through sandy Cork forests through Melides where I stopped for resfreshments. Each year when they strip the bark for the cork, they paint the year numbervon the tree so they know when next to strip it ... I was delighted to find a 2019 batch which of coyrse had 9 painted on them and a line of 3 trees gave me the perfect 999 opportunity - photo taken ! About 8 miles from Sines on the Santo Andre bypass I saw someone underneath the junction. As I approached I saw he had a bike, Tudo Bem ? I enquired - turned out he was fine just tired. He was a young lad in his early 20s from Bergen - he had flown into Lisbon yesterday and was cycling to Marrakesh in Morroco. We did the 8 miles into Sines together, much of it me giving him advice as he had never toured before. We covered the ground at a slick rate and before I knew it I was in Sones at 2pm ... I really am treading water !