Summary of the past 4 days:
Facts:
This is a fabulously beautiful city. It bends, slopes, reflects light with vivid sounds. It is a tourist area, but not exclusively so. Passing through the tight hilly streets above the river is one of the great experiences. If you are the praying type, you will find lovely and live churches for that, covered in Porto´s distinctive tile art.
Above the river, style and shopping are on display. All the possible variations from bouquet to mall present themselves.
My suggestion is come now before it is overwhelmed with big tour operators. I haven't met an American since Lisbon.
Facts:
Comments:
Facts:
Comments:
Facts:
Comments:
- Two flat short days (20 mile) days. The second a fiery 102.2 degrees.
- One long (40 mile).
- This is the end of the hilly south. It is still rural, small town, agriculture dominated with some tourism mixed in at spots, but it becomes a more metropolitan experience as you near Porto.
- Rest day in Porto.
Facts:
July 19th - Rest day in Porto.
This is a fabulously beautiful city. It bends, slopes, reflects light with vivid sounds. It is a tourist area, but not exclusively so. Passing through the tight hilly streets above the river is one of the great experiences. If you are the praying type, you will find lovely and live churches for that, covered in Porto´s distinctive tile art.
Above the river, style and shopping are on display. All the possible variations from bouquet to mall present themselves.
My suggestion is come now before it is overwhelmed with big tour operators. I haven't met an American since Lisbon.
Facts:
July 18th - 5th prospect leg /L7 (actual) - Aveiro to Porto
Distance - 42.489 miles/ 68.38 km
Time - 4:50 (start 9:44am)
Weather - 30c/12km wind (lucky to cool down after yesterday).
Climbs - A couple at the end.
Difficulty - 2 distance
Scale: 0 = 25 miles around San Francisco with the marin headlands climb.
10 = Next to the last day of a hell week in the military with a few hours of sleep.
Comments:
A. I was worried about making the distance. The 15th is still effecting me.
B. It was a long day, but got it done. The climbs at the end were difficult.
C. Things are changing. Porto is clearly a beautiful tourist site, but you can feel that you are entering the tideline between the Duro and south Portugal.
Facts:
July 17th - L6 (actual) - Mira to Aveiro
Distance - 24.9046 miles/ 36.64 km
Time - 2:25 (start 10:45am)
Weather - 102.2f/39c !!!!!!!! with 5km nw wind
Climbs - none.
Difficulty - 3 - Heat!
Scale: 0 = 25 miles around San Francisco with the marin headlands climb.
10 = Next to the last day of a hell week in the military with a few hours of sleep.
Comments:
A. You have to watch out for the heat. I was nearly in trouble at the end without realizing it. Once your eyes start closing and the water bottles are hot, you need to start paying attention to signs of heat exhaustion... if you are keeping up with the water, not sweating any more, and it´s super hot...well, that´s an iq test.
B. Great college town with excellent food.
Facts:
July 16th - L5 (actual) - Figueira to Mira (Logo)
Distance - 24.9046 miles/ 40.08 km
Time - 2:57 (start 10:57am)
Weather - 21c with 14km nw wind
Climbs - 1 at the start of the day. had to walk sections.
Difficulty - 0
Scale: 0 = 25 miles around San Francisco with the marin headlands climb.
10 = Next to the last day of a hell week in the military with a few hours of sleep.
Comments:
A. The first climb was difficult. Walked sections.
B. Flat river planes after that. I need the short days to recover from yesterday.
C. This part of the coast is lovely. There are tourist, but not overly so. None are Americans.
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