Gravel, Gravel, Gravel, and wicked grades! But it was just what we wanted. We’re traveling on the Portugul section of the  Eurovelo Atlantic route. The EuroVelo routes are a series of cycling routes that criss cross Europe and were designed to avoid major cities and heavily trafficked roads. They have done an incredible job keeping us off the beaten track, as you can see from the photos. So far it’s all been a meandering journey on the backroads, through small towns and villages and the farmlands of Portugal. The route and backroad grades we’ve traveled so far have made us glad we have our fat 44c tires and a good set of low gears on our custom Cobalts. 

As epic as the course was today, it sure shot our expectations of our average speed for the day. As I get older, my mind lies to me about my actual age, but my body always tells me the truth! Grades and gravel knocked us both out today.

When we popped out onto the coast at Ericiera we decided to quit for the day. A surfing town with lots of hostels. The first hostel we went to was full. As we were planning our next move, a beautiful young woman came walking by (Sorry Sally…but she was.) and asked if we needed a place to stay. She managed a hostel a few blocks away called the Surfers Den, and off we went.

Below: Sally relaxing at the Surfers Den.