Tag Archives: Portugal

A week in the Algarve.

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28C, sunny, west wind.
Last day in Portugal. The flight is late so we will take our time and absorb the atmosphere.

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Martinhal is very plush, facilities are the best and four swimming pools was the least of it. I have to admit, some prices were excessive.

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Everything is very new, the cobbles are clean-cut. I was very taken with the grasses.

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Lakes, hills and Aljezur

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Cloud, then bright sun, 27C.
GPS MapMyRide! Distance: 78.31mi, time: 05:19:18, pace: 4:05min/mi, speed: 14.8mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/670187733
Rode many hills and a few dead ends, but the hire bike makes big hills likable. It was not until near the cafe stop at Aljezur that the sun came out.
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So most of the big climbs were under white cloud.
One of the rear spokes worked loose, I can blame the climbs for that. I hit no potholes all day- the roads are pretty good here. Traffic was very light too.
I am going to be famous! on the ride back, the Google Streetview car passed the other way. I will give them six months to post then have a look on Google Earth. I know my face will be blurred, but I will know it is me. That gives me six months to prepare for the rigours of fame on the World Wide Wonder Web.

That was a very satisfying day.

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End of the world.

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23C grey sky.
Tracked with MapMyRide! Distance: 13.31mi, time: 55:32, pace: 4:10min/mi, speed: 14.4mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/669112035
Rode out beyond Sagres to the lighthouse which marks the most SW point in Europe. It’s flat and rocky there with cliffs on all sides to the Atlantic. Slight mist is developing which must be very striking in stormy weather.
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I have the same bike again and plan a ride that pushes deeper inland tomorrow.
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Cork woodland.

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27C brisk NW sea breeze. Bright sun.
Hired bike: rode MapMyRide! Distance: 50.04mi, time: 03:31:11, pace: 4:13min/mi, speed: 14.22mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/665367287
Great ride in the Algarve nature reserve. The main feature was a long twisting ascent up to the wind farm. Then followed a fast descent to the west on an empty road.

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Cork Oak trees.


That was good so I stopped at the bottom to read the map. I wanted another route to take me back up so ride it again. But then it was obvious how little water there was left in the bottles. That became my priority, so I resumed the route and look for a cafe. Carrapeteira has a nice square with a few places to buy water.
The return was a faster cruise along sweeping roads.
Traffic have a wide berth but they do tail-gate each other badly.
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The bike was quite likable, comfortable and smooth; not bad for a hire bike. It has an aluminium frame with carbon forks. The guy said he got them for €800 each. The frame seems good with costs cut on components. I really liked the new style Tiagra shifters, the up-shift lever is in a more natural place and it’s clunkiness sir a good feature in my view.

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