September 20, 2016

We set off feeling rejuvenated into a cold and foggy morning.  Our first task is to cross the Douro and make our way along the south bank passing famous bodegas, such as Sandeman’s and Cockburn’s, as we go.

We hit the coast after only a few kilometres and turn south once again following the sea-front through a series of small villages, quiet holiday places with a few houses and a couple of beach bars.  The coast is less scenic here than it was north of Porto and soon becomes a series of fishing villages.  Old women walk up and down the quayside selling fish from baskets, so fresh they are still flipping around.

Eventually the road turns a little inland, through pine woods behind the dunes much like those running up the Atlantic coast of France.

Way-finding is not too difficult although we do make an unscheduled circuit around a nature reserve.  A good place to have lunch though.

The final third of the day’s route is easy to follow when we reach the shore of a lagoon, with the road we want running alongside.  The sun has finally broken through, so for the nicest part of the day we cycle along spotting lots of waders and a few juvenile flamingos in the lagoon. Our destination lies across the lagoon, which we cross on a ferry.  There is a small B &B not far from the ferry port which turns out to be a real gem.