September 8, 2022
Lisbon to Sebutal
Well That was Interesting!!!
it feels like the tour has really begun. Thank goodness for Keith’s brilliant idea of an unloaded shakedown ride yesterday. We checked out the ferry terminal then and had a lock on how to get there. Should have looked more carefully at the schedule though.
It was quite a ride for me. I rode in my regular shoes yesterday in case we did some walking - we didn’t- but today I had on my trusty bike shoes. A mistake, at least so far. Those limestone and basalt cobbles, slippery at the best of times, are incredibly treacherous when the shoe clip hits them. I felt like Bambi on ice. It would have been very embarrassing or worse to go down while walking the bike. Fortunately that crisis didn’t happen but we arrived at the ferry terminal having just missed the ferry. We were both okay with it. We had a short day planned and it gave us an hour breather after the ride down the hill. Riding in Lisbon is interesting. There are some great bike lanes but a lot of inattentive people, on foot, in cars and especially on e scooters. At one point this morning I watched as Keith stood over his bike and a fellow on his phone didn’t see him until the absolute last second. I am pretty sure Keith was going to let him walk into his bike.
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The ferry ride was uneventful and not busy. A quick twenty minutes and we popped out on the other side, ready for our quick ride to Sebutal.
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2 years ago
2 years ago
Well, that short day became very interesting about five km after the ferry where we had planned to hook up to the Eurovelo 1 route. Our routing became somewhat confused in Seixal and we spent considerable time trying to figure out how to get where we were going. The plan had been to follow EV 1 for a bit, then veer off and head more or less straight (in a tacking fashion) to Sebutal rather than the circuitous route around the peninsula. We were stymied by the intersecting busy highway. This is uncharacteristic behaviour for us, as the CN has the navigation part of the experience down to a fine science. Not today though. We were going in circles and finally ended up hoofing it up a steep hill past a giant shopping Center to avoid the freeway. Finally on our way and feeling confident (misplaced confidence as it turned out) we decided to take a break at a little bakery.
The first incident after our break was me aware that something was not right with my bike. I whistled for Keith as my rear tire was so low it was making that unfortunate whap whap on the pavement. It seemed to me it came on suddenly, but ever the optimists we pumped that sucker up and crossed our fingers. It is still holding as I write this, so perhaps we are going to be lucky.
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Keith had decided at our break to let his Guru app generate a route rather than the route he had planned, as that route hadn’t been going well. Things seemed to be fine until we were instructed to take a sandy off road track. We decided to continue on the current road, which turned out to be a dead end. At least it was downhill back to the sandy track. We went for it, both pushing our bikes because it was unrideable and with lots of time to contemplate the scenery. We had found the local unauthorized, but well used, dump. Then came the mad dash across the next road…so much traffic, so few opportunities to cross.
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2 years ago
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Once more we were lulled into a false sense of security. Until we were routed onto a lovely road which suddenly became gravel - rideable - and then absolute crap. It was deep oily I don’t know what, and we were walking the bikes again. We have never experienced a surface like it.
Fortunately there were some roadside workers and Keith asked for suggestions. He told us not to continue on the oily mess ( his description of it was colourful) and gave us clear directions- left, right, left - and we were on our way. There was still a sandy track to deal with, but it was rideable and then suddenly we were on pavement again.
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From there it was mostly smooth sailing. Some construction, some narrow spots, but the drivers were very considerate. We went through several areas which suffered in this years fires. You can still smell it. Pretty sobering stuff. We stopped briefly at the top of the final hill into Sebutal and what to our wondering eyes should appear on the other side of the road? A glorious bike lane, which took us almost to the door of our hotel.
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When we arrived at our fabulous boutique hotel the young woman who checked us in made our day. We instantly fell for her, for the guard dog looking after our bikes and for the town. So much to see. We have decided to spend another night so we can really appreciate the place. In keeping with today’s experiences this spot is fully booked, so we are moving across the street tomorrow.
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We have been out for tapas and have had some pretty good laughs tonight. Definitely type two fun today. I told Keith that if that had been my first day bike touring there might never have been a second. We are so much more confident now, and when things go sideways, cope so well together. We are very lucky.
The Relive makes it all look so easy!
Today's ride: 50 km (31 miles)
Total: 95 km (59 miles)
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2 years ago
We loved this short tour so much we might even repeat it.
Scott
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