PeterLambTravels: Weekend trip to Alcacer do Sal

Dear all,

I couldn't wait to be back on the road, so no matter what I would have to make a small trip this weekend.

The weather did not look that nice yesterday morning, being overcast and some loght rain, but nothing was going to change my mind. You could even send some hail storm, tropical rain or thunderstorm, I would be on the road again on 31st May! Luckly Saint Peter decided to present me with a nice "summer" day :)

I woke up late, with some last minute packing to be done and some music for the rode still to ne transferred to the ipod. Well, switching on the old computer is almost a drama and understanding the itunes should be way easier.

So, quite later than i planned, it was time to hit the road and cycle till Terreiro do Paço to board the 11h00 boat bound to Montijo.

Peter Lamb's ride for the day

The cruise ship bound for Montijo

My ride waiting to start the trip

The boat ride is quite fast, so soon I was able to start cycling!

Peter Lamb at the start of cycling day!

I really do not know when it was the last time I have been in Montijo city center, so this tome I decided to do it.

Colourful house in Montijo

I had no idea where I was heading but luckly I have found a street market, where I seized to buy some fruits and tomato for the day.

The market in Montijo

How can you resist to that?

Montijo downtown

I could not find by myself the directions I was looking for so I asked some guys who helped me with navigation. Soon I was able to be on the route I wanted towards Poceirao.

On the way to Poceirao, close to the vineyards

This road (N5) is quite narrow but there was not much traffic. Moreover it jas no curves for a long long time (i guess 8km, but I am not really sure)!

Straight ahead

Peter Lamb cycling!

I was cycling already for a long time, so I had a small break close to a N5 milestone.

My ride and extrawheel having a break

Peter Lamb and the N5 milestone

I had a longer break at Poceirao, as I was already running out of water. In fact it was a quite hot day for cycling.

After Poceirao, the road to Aguas de Moura is similar to the previous one, so not much more to say about it.

At Aguas de Moura I wanted to avoid the main road towards the Algarve, so I turned left and found a small road that despite being longer was definatly more scenic and less crowded.

Peter Lamb enjoying the scenic road

Peter Lamb

The road is really quiet but it was really hot and I started to feel weaker and weaker after km40 (plus 9 from Alges to Terreiro do Paco).

Peter Lamb cycling on quiet road

Despite the hard day, happy mode on!

More or less at this point I run out of water. The situation got a bit more serious when I was feeling lost as for some km I did not find the small village that should be on my way. Luckly I bought that fruits in Montijo, it tasted gooooooood :)

Countryside, Portugal

When I reached a slightly wider road, I thought that would be easier to find a village or a house where I coild ask for some water, but there were only abandoned houses, so I had no other choice than reduce the pace and wait for better news.

The place eventually came and believe me, it looked like an oasis!

The oasis! :)

I was already feeling very tired at this point, and there was still about 15km to go.

Peter Lamb's shadow cycling

At this point the uphills were overcome at a pace that I am even ashamed of it, but I managed it!

You can't call this flat, but it is not tha hilly also!

The hardest part is really on the main road towards Algarve, where the last hill was done at a average pace of 8km/h! I even run faster than that, ahahah!

Finally I reached the destination of the day!