The day started early and we were ready for the off by 7:45am having decided to skip breakfast given the hotel seemed deserted but as we were loading the bikes and getting ready for the off (at 7:45) a lady turned up and given we were the only guests she came over to us and via the power of google we ascertained she was the one hotel staff who was sent the uphold our booking and deliver our breakfast but give she said it wouldn't be ready until 08:30 we weren't prepared to wait so we left and she effectively had a morning off with lots if food to likely take home ..... as bad as I briefly felt for her I then thought she's quids in on both fronts so I needn't feel bad for her.
We went to the next town to fill the fuel tanks then started day 4.
Today was much cooler, 16 degrees but it was still very early but the skies did look ominous regards some possible rain, fingers and crossed it wouldn't and when Jule's started talking about stopping and putting jackets on I didn't want to entertain that in an effort to remain positive that the sun would shine and we absolutely wouldn't need them!
The landscape in the mid to lower regions of Portugal are significantly different to the north where there's mountain ranges etc... Here in the south the land is flatter with more rolling hills rather than mountains and theres lots of farmland and farm animals ...... but the lanes are still dusty!
Wide trails in the main today with a harrdpacked surface, occasionally loose gravel and deeper in the centre where 4-wheeled vehicles haven't been. There were sandy trails and lots of washed out sections which all too often caught me out and I'd hear a load crash as the front forks bottomed out (awful noise that made)
There was an awesome trail towards the end of the day, in the eucalyptus forest. It went on for ages and ages with all sorts of undulating track ...... although not mountain high as per the previous days ! - just lots of whoops along the forest trail. Lovely. Two of us got to the end there first, together, then another two pulled up then Julian by himself and the question was, "where's Marc?" We waited and we waited, and about 30mins later he arrived. All together again we cracky on.
Towards the end of the day we hit man made lake - the biggest in Europe by all accounts - and the trail took us around the edges which was a lovely trail with glorious scenery.
Despite being the longest day mileage wise we were finished the earliest but we were happy as the weather had come good and it was back up to early 30's so the hotel and the hotel pool were calling.
After freshening up we had a beer at the hotel the headed our for dinner at a restaurant as recommended buy the hotel receptionist. Food was good.
Back to the hotel for a nightcap then it was off to bed for our last ACT route day tomorrow.
I thought the photo tempting fate on the railway track was good till I came to the On A Clear Day You Can See Forever parade,
brilliant cover photo for an adventure book
The food was too good not to tuck in before the photo I see
You can see from the grin things are still going swimmingly
