Sept 13, 2017 Sabrosa

Liam and I were off at about 8:30 am this morning in to some very nice cool air.   And it was a good thing that it was nice cool air as we almost immediately started the big climb of the day.  We headed up a small back road to a small hill town called Sabrosa.  The road wound around the hills clinging to the rocks as we went up from the Duoro river.  There was almost no traffic to speak of save for a few trucks heading out to the vineyards with the empty grape crates. It was a very steady climb of approximately 5.5% for the entire 17 kms up to Sabrosa.   The scenery was absolutely spectacular.  As we climbed the hill each new corner revealed a new vista.  This climb took us approximately 1.5 hr as we arrived at 10:00 am which was just in time for morning coffee. 

The town of Sabrosa is a very pretty little town perched on the top of one of the hills with a very nice town square.  A small church on one side with bells which chimed on the quarter hour, two small shops selling dry goods, coffee and pastries along one side, a pizza place named Atomic Pizza and an apartment along the last side. We enjoyed an ice cold coke and a very nice apple pastry, while we contemplated what toppings would be on an Atomic Pizza.  If pepperoni is on a pepperoni pizza what is on an Atomic Pizza? 

From Sabrosa we continued along the tops of the hills visiting Santa Martinho de Anta and Andreas. It was much cooler on the top of the hills and is a pine forest similar to back home in Kelowna.  I hope that it did not give the impression that riding along the top of the hills was flat as it was anything but flat.  There were lots of large ups and downs but nothing over 7% and 1 kms in length. 

As it was getting on in the day we headed back down into the Douro Valley.  It was 24 kms from the top of the hill at Andreas to Regua on the Douro River.  The downhill wasn’t as steep but averaged about 4%.  The scenery was just flying by.  All the vistas were whizzing past, no time for pictures, just hang on.  What a ride!   As we got to Regua we crossed the Douro River on a dam and now got to ride back up the N222 to Pinhao (see yesterday’s comments of this section of road).  It is just so beautiful. 

We got back to the hotel and had a very quick shower and headed straight back out as we had booked a boat trip on the Douro River.  Agnes and Suibhan were waiting for us on the dock and we jumped on the boat.  The boat was an electric powered boat which had solar cells mounted on top.  I doubt that the solar cells produced enough energy to power the boat by themselves, but being electric it was nice and quiet and didn’t have a bunch of nasty diesel exhaust.   The river cruise was an hour long trip and took us up river for 30 minutes before turning around.  It was very scenic and nice and cool on the river.   The temperature had gotten to be quite warm and although I don’t have an exact number I am going to say it was probably over 30 C. 

Agnes and Suibhan had scouted a restaurant across the street from the train station in Pinhao which looked nice.  It was a very old school Portuguese place with a fixed menu.  You came in, sat down and they brought out food, and did they ever bring out the food.  There were homemade smoked sausages, barbequed pork ribs with cabbage, a lamb-vegetable-potato stew, beans and sausage casserole and a couple of different rice dishes, plus homemade bread.   Then during the meal a sample of their port appeared complementary.  Then a second sample of the port.  Finally the owner came over and explained that his father made the port and would you like a bottle. It was aged 12 years and was only 15 Euros.  Seemed like a deal so Liam bought a bottle.   What a feast!  All the food was so tasty and so good.  It was just what I was looking for after the big ride. 

Check out this little house I spotted on the way home from supper.  It was located on a set of stairs on the second floor. The actual house cannot be more than 7 feet wide by 10 feet long.

It was a great day today we cycled 76 kms and did 1071 meters of climb.  We had a wonderful boat ride.  Then topped it all off with a wonderful feast. 

I must be the luckiest guy in the world.

Terry