A great days cycle despite the rain.
The stats: 46.2 miles at 13.1 mph, with 2,938 ft of climbing. Max speed 32.5
Woken up by the sound of heavy rain on the street lamp outside my window. It was cold and grey.
And to breakfast, that of the Hotel Vila Verde being the best so far:
Off and out of town. Onto the old main road, now virtually unused, variable road surfaces (perfect tarmac to grit to mud to stones to ripped tarmac).
Amazing run as the first 15 miles are almost all downhill so very fast especially with the strong tailwind.
Some big puddles:
After about 2 hours the second big shower – this time horizontal hail for only 500 yards or so but got soaked.
The countryside is very different. Gone is the barren moorland of yesterday.
Now what appears highly productive fields of olive trees, vines and crops.We cycled along with orange trees lining some of the roads.
Just out of Santa Vitoria we turned into the right road after the usual navigational issues aka getting confused.
It was brand new tarmac and very smooth with just one problem; a sign saying the road was shut apart from at night.
We cycled along through lovely countryside for many miles and then came across the tarmac layers who fortunately weren’t bothered about us going through.
Into a little village called Beringel where we found a café for lunch:
The café like the others we have been to had loads of elderly locals in, like a local community centre which I suppose it is.
Typical small village scene:
More heavy rain when we were eating then the last 12 miles or so to Cuba and this:
Eventually found our hotel, the Cuba Real. The best place we’ve stayed so far and it should be at €70 per room ( the Vila was €50 and Casa Serpa €40).
Off out for a couple of beers. John asked if we could eat in the bar and they showed us into their restaurant.
Excellent dorado with sauté potatoes, rice and salad and a bottle of local wine, plus olives, bread and pâté for just €27.
Now back at the hotel and the rain is pouring down…
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