The adventure begins

[Crankin]

Had an uneventful trip home, though Sata Airlines is a slightly below average airline... but it was the only non stop from Boston to Lisbon.
DH is working on the pics now, should be posted soon. Laundry is on, now to make grocery list. My kitchen has rarely been so bare.
I am feeling better today, but it is not all from being home. I just never rested once I got sick, before the trip; I led 3 rides, commuted 3-4 times, which in retrospect, was not a great idea. However, it probably helped with getting through the climbing. I've never been one who's much for "training," but I do think I should have tried riding more consecutive days in a row. I did ride 4 days in a row a couple of times, but some of those rides were my short commutes. I know I can always make it through on sheer mental toughness. I may not be the fastest, but I can do it. In fact, I was squarely in the mid range of ability on this trip, toward the top of the mid range. There was one couple that was very fast, along with my DH and our friend. However, except for part of one day, DH rode with me. DH is probably not as fast as this couple was, or at least he has no desire to bust his azz this way, for several days in a row. Next time, though, I think I will do a little more preparing.

[Pax]

Never made it to Portugal, but the pics I've seen show some very pretty countryside... looking forward to seeing yours.

[Crankin]

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2lnh56x3l...CW4E501Ga?dl=0


Here's a link to a few of our pics.

[Pax]

Nice pics! Those cobblestones look scary as hell.

[BikeDutchess]

Wonderful photos! Looks beautiful there.

[emily_in_nc]

Beautiful photos, crankin!

Those cobblestones are just like some in part of the roads where we lived in Belize. Even on beach bikes with fat tires, they were brutal. I can't imagine riding them on a road bike.

What gorgeous scenery -- I know you are glad you got to do such a spectacular trip. The cycling is just a small part of what you must have experienced!

[Crankin]

Most of those pictures of cobbles were not from where we were riding. The cobbles I had to ride on were always on the run into the smaller towns where we were either staying or eating lunch/having coffee. I found that it just shook me so much, I almost felt like I had tunnel vision. I got used to it, but, I did not like it. However, it was not the majority of the riding at all. We did have to ride out of Evorra, on the second day, on a longer stretch, through city (small city, on a Saturday) traffic. The places we stayed were almost all monasteries/convents that have been turned into hotels (posadas), on the top of a hill, surrounded by cobbles. If it hadn't been raining the day we were scheduled to ride down the steep road to the castle, I would have walked down. I did this in Spain at one place.