As I set off this morning, I shoved my feet into still soaking cycling shoes. They will air in no time I reassured myself.
I had also spent 15 minutes cleaning the bike, there was an easy route to Pombal down the coast and through Marinha Grande ... but Ive already done rhat so I routed inland and immediately after Calda das Rainas I hit a testing 600ft climb which started steep and didnt ease off !
Once at the top it was rolling into Alcobaca and as I entered the town I saw at the end of the street a huge Abbey so I stopped in the square and took a few pictures before heading out of town in completelythe wrong direction - this new Garmin 1050 certainly has its quirks !
After climbing 300ft I thiught to myself why is the wind not against me like it has been all morning ?
A recheck and I was heading east not North, unfortunately I had to cross a valley to get back on track which involved losing the 300ft followed by a 500ft climb.
But once at the top it was great cycling - I went through Aljubarrota rather than round and it was a cobbled street town which had a square with a clock tower and stone column, at the end of the street was a perfect row of cottages with flower gardens and a church.
Next I passed a sign for Chaos ! but I didn't dare go there ! Followed by a fast downhill into the town of Porto de Mos which has a fabulous medieval castle.
I stopped for lunch and after ordering sat outside .. for 2 minures when a huge Thunder Storm just sprung up from nowhere. I was trapped for about an hour but my timing was perfect.
The storm passed and the roads dried quickly and I was off to Batalha where I must say the ancient Abbey is unreal. Its ancient, the stone is black and looks almost ruined in places but its huge and has a real presence - I went inside, it was cavernous, massive pillars and beautiful but simple coloured glass windows which I suspect were a lot newer that the stone.
A tricky ride through a busy Leiria and then three more big climbs on small roads to avoid the awful N2 which I had rode before and found very dangerous.
That just left 10 miles along to Pombal where I arrived dry and 30 minutes to spare before sunset.