October 7, 2014
Almost a Day Off: Fatima to Batalha
Ascent 310m, easy peezy!
Today was are so called "day off", which actually felt like it. It was only 34km, and mostly "Portuguese flat", with a couple of short, steep climbs, and lots of twisty downhill.
Our first stop was just 4km out of Fatima, where we had an excellent tour of the Moeda Caves, which are 350m long, and 45m deep. The caves were discovered in 1971 by two hunters chasing a fox, and soon the cave became a tourist attraction. Studies have confirmed that it dates back to the middle Jurassic period.
We then followed the Lena river, and arrived early in the day to the town of Batalha, with its impressive Monastery, which is classified as world heritage by UNESCO. It was built to thank the Virgin Mary for the Portuguese victory over the Spaniards in 1385.
It was nice to sit down with some of friends and enjoy a sidewalk cafe lunch of real food, as opposed to our usual ham and cheese sandwich made at the hotel breakfast buffet, and eaten on the road. We enjoyed a nice afternoon of wandering through the Monastery, and even browsing in the shops.
Tomorrow's forecast is for rain.
Today's ride: 21 miles (34 km)
Total: 1,527 miles (2,457 km)
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