To upload from the GPS requires installing plug-ins. Therefore, I will back-fill the data upon return.
July 7th - Did the first leg L1-Lisbon to Santarem . 50 miles of flat through the type of dreary neighborhoods often surrounding a capital city. One of the towns on the edge of the countryside was holding a bull fight. Bravo. I did not stop, but it looked to be a bad day for the bull.
Santarem itself has it´s own appeal with a history. The last place of Islam´s last stand before getting it´s butt kicked out of Portugal in the 1100´s. But, it´s not dead. It´s that mid-sized town your don´t see, or over look, in most guide books with a specular set of buildings and art. Unlike those spots completely given over to tourism, Santarem, Nimes, etc. are places still in use.
I watched a couple of marriages exit the main church... and the town itself is still useful in the current economy. It´s not a tourist spot, but it is what tourist imagine they will find.
July 8th Sunday - Got lost today when the gps died. My own fault, but I sufferred two additional mountains in punishment. The route was suppose to be this L2e I ended up in Caldas da Rainha... wrong turn at Rio Maior. Compare L2 (Actual -GPS broke) verse L2e to see how wildly off course a person can get.. not even close mate.
- The best description of the riding here is undulating ag. land. Neither flat nor overly difficult. It is hard because of the distance not the terrain. Lots of people wave, assuming you are doing the Camino De Santago, and they do not see many coming this way... at least that is what they are telling me.
July 9th - Caldas da Rainha. Sick. Didn´t wakeup until 1:30pm. I think it´s the combination of getting lost yesterday and trip stress.
Did not go further than 500meters from the Sana chain hotel here. Spent the day fixing my rear tire which is already proving to have spoke issues.~
Regardless of how I feel in the morning, I will go to Leiria. It´s expected to be 35 miles with two classed (5\4) climbs between.
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