The direct route from Aljezur to Lagos is only about 15 miles but I was going round the coast to see all the villages I possibly could but I woke up this morning to a strong wind and blustery. It was at least a constant 20mph and gusting anything up to 50mph - it must have been bad as they had stopped all the wind turbines.
The wind was fom the North West which in fact helped somewhat as I was heading south then east after 20 miles. So for 20 miles I was leaning right and the next 20 leaning left !
When I reached Carrapateiro I went down through the village to the coast - I could see big sand dunes as I fought the battering wind, there was a marsh and a huge flat beach with 100ft dunes on the left, the road climbed the dunes and a car park at the top provided spectaucular views if constant waves pummelling the shore line, people everwhere were fighting the wind to walk along boradwalks to viewpoints high up, but where the spray was still hitting us due to the wind strength. It was brutal, I took a series of pictures but I couldn't see the screen and it was very difficult to hold steady whilst taking a shot, so hopefully I've got some decent ones !
A straight forward run down tgo Vila Bispo which was ther turning point and I first diverted a mile to see a menhir near Raposeira, I was out in open fields which were beautifully green and even the sun was making an appearance but the road was constantly going up and down at big gradients.
I reached Salerna which is very pretty and very much in an isolated cove but I doubt I will ever cycle there again because to get to it from any direction there are 20% hills to overcome.
Up and over the hill out of Salerna brought me to a flat valley where I crossed a bridge and ran along the opposide side nrstled below a wooded hill until the road banked up to the left to traverse the hill. The road ramped up and up, then what looked like a roller coaster it vered left and disappeared - all you could see was road and sky ! The gradient was again 20% and once up it I follwed the coast through Burgau and Luz down into Lagos where I stopped for my latest ever lunch break, half a mile from my Hotel at the excellent Empanadas & Co ... Old habits die hard !