Slowly building up the kms with John! But another relatively easy day with little climbing!
And overall it was a great day of cycling….with lots of variety….from the lagoon-side cycle paths..
…to wooded trails…
BUT…too many sandy roads!! We really have had enough sand riding to last a lifetime! But thankfully on sandy roads the risk is only sliding and falling off…no sinking into axle-deep quagmires!!
Thankfully this track was not sand…just yellow….as we followed an old rail trial…
…into Ayamento…the jumping-off point for our short ferry across to Portugal.
But we were well mis-mothered by Google twice today…firstly here…where this track just disappeared into a thorny path…which then itself disappeared altogether..
..and then – amazingly – Google placed the ferry port in the wrong place altogether. A small town…but it still took us half an hour to find the ferry!
Leaving Spain…
…and arriving in Portugal about 20 minutes later….!
It took us about five minutes to discover how fantastic the Spanish drivers are: they always give at least two metres space when overtaking…and if that is not available able they will patiently wait behind you! Wonderful stuff! But in Portugal – as in NZ – drivers do not share that level of courtesy. Or even come close! So a few close calls and angry words…..until we were able to pull off on to Eurovelo Route number One!
This sign-posted route ran for all of 1km…then disappeared once again. The long-distance Eurovelo routes are great in theory…but rarely is there any worthwhile continuity….yet!! He says hopefully!
It was not a long ride from the ferry, past salt pans…
…as we approached our destination.
Tavira is known as the prettiest town on the Algarve…built around the tidal Gilao river.
You know you are in Portugal when so many of the houses are tiled!
Looks a pretty place…to explore tomorrow as we are talking a rest day!
John is learning how the beers taste better after 90kms….
Great food here……
With much time studying the partner-swapping pigeon activity in the wall opposite. Were these holes built specifically for the pigeons?
