November 6, 2019
Albufeira
Lagos has definitely spoiled us. It will probably take a few days for its glow to wear off, so we don’t just go to bed at night or wake up in the morning wondering why we didn’t stay in Lagos longer and just make up the time elsewhere.
Like today. Today was just fine, really. It had its ups and downs, and its pros and cons. But at the end of the day we find ourselves in Albufeira, an attractive enough if overtouristy coastal town that I imagine I’d feel differently about it if we’d arrived here earlier in the tour. Nice enough, but Lagos it’s not.
On the up side: the weather was beautiful - warm, sunny, a nice tailwind blowing us east along the Algarve coast. It looks like we’re in for a spell of this and are due to get blown all way back into Spain. Hard to believe this is early November.
And, much of the ride were very nice, scenic. Especially attractive were the first seven miles out of Lagos, when we followed the coastline (and, for a while, we’re literally ON the coast - or, I should say, literally on the littoral) on a quiet road/path/trail. It would have made a nice outing from Lagos, after which we could have just returned and spent the night there again!
And, best of all, we saw storks! We knew that some of Iberia’s stork population is overwintering now, and have been watching in vain for them ever since leaving Zamora weeks ago. It looks like maybe they all land here in the Algarve and decide there’s no pressing need to skirt the Mediterranean after all. Who can blame them?
On the other hand, the Algarve coast is a bit busier than we’ve been experiencing for the last month, and the coastal towns feel more touristy and built up. Lots of large resort hotels and golf courses. We’ve gotten so spoiled over the last month from the solitude and serenity of Extremadura and the Alentejo.
And we quibbled a bit with the Ecovia, which we followed off and on today. I’d say that about a fifth of the day was spent on unpaved surfaces, sometimes unnecessarily so. It looks like the route planners gratuitously throw in a stretch of course sand and gravel just for the fun of it when a perfectly pleasant empty country lane is not far away.
And, we could have done with a bit less of Albufeira’s party atmosphere, with its crowds of young revelers singing from its bars late into the evening. It made me think a bit of Seaside, back home. This place must be really crazy in season, if it’s like this in November.
But these are just quibbles. Really, it was a very nice day to ride, in a very nice place to ride, with the best company I could hope for. I’m such a lucky guy!
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Video sound track: May I Suggest, by Susan Werner
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That would be worth a 5-day AFD bonus to see the same storks twice.
Handsome birds!
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Ride stats today: 36 miles, 1,800’; for the tour: 1,380 miles, 74,000’
Today's ride: 36 miles (58 km)
Total: 1,380 miles (2,221 km)
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