Today started to feel like February 2nd (Groundhog Day) - I was up before 8am but I was looking at heavy rain and it wasnt until 9:30 that it eased enough to go.
I had 10 miles along a cycle path to Moncao which was on the old train line, the route was concreted and perfectly smooth, it was too smooth because it was holding 2 or 3 inches deep puddles and even though the rain was light I was getting soaked with spray,
At Freistas the route was blocked by a fallen tree which I quickly moved enough to get past and in no time I was in Moncao where I crossed the river Mihno back into Spain (or as the Sign had been defaced into Galiza !)
It was a very rolling up and down day with 18 climbs and from here to Ribadavia would be contant up and down. I passed vineyards in amongst the drizzle and murk I managed a few pictures.
Then as I approached Arbo the rain started to increase so I did a quick mile into town and fled into a Cafe Bar where a large coffe warmed my cold hands and body nicely.
I spent about 20 minutes and exoected the rain to have moved on as the forecast had it clearing after 1 or 2pm so as I left the Bar I was horrified to see it ratting down, There was a big black cloud overhead but I could see lighter clouds to the north, so after sitting out another 20 minutes I decided I had to move on in light rain.
After anthe 10 miles and roughly halfway I turned down a 400ft drop to the river, which I knew I would have to come back up, but this was my mission for the day. At A Friera there is a dam with a hydro electric power station and as much as like that sort of thing, that's not why I was here,
At Frier I parked up my bike and took a small path down a very steep road for 400 yards at which point the road became a very slippy path on moss covered rocks at the side of the river, this was extremely tricky with cycle shoes on !
I carefully picked my way down to the reason I was here, because at the bottom there is a small bridge across a stream which runs into the Minho, but this small bridge is also an International Border Crossing.
The little footbridge links Spain and Portugal and the village of Cevide in Portugal is the most Northerly in the whole country - I crossed and took pictures of the stone that marks the point and then walked along the treacherous shoreline to reach what was undoubtedly the most Northerly Point in Portugal. And in that moment I can firmly say I have been everywhere in Portugal .... Absolutely everwhere.
Once back up the hill and uo the 400ft climb I had another 500ft to the high point of the day just below 1000ft where I continued to roll up and down all the way to Ribadavia where I stopped for another coffee. The bike had been making screeching noises which I had put down to debris off the road in the disc brakes - I had tried a few times to clean them but the noise wouldn't go away.
As I cycled off the noise reached a shrill and when I looked I was horrified to see my Panier rack which was brand new had snapped at the mounting bracket.
I resorted toCable ties and an allen key to hold it in place AGAIN as the same thing happened last year. Either the cast metal paniers aren;t robust these days or I'm carrying too much weight !
Anyway I had 18 miles to do and with the delayed start, rain stops, sightseeing diversions and mechanical Issues I needed to press on and rattled out the last 18 miles in nt much more than an hour arriving in Ourense just as the sun set.