As Chris said, let’s rock & roll we started the ride from Braga into the Alvão National Park and on to today’s destination, the wounderful Douro Valley.

It was a challenging day with 3000 meters of altitude and 150 km, but the reward was some spectacular views and decents you usually dream of.

I am pleasantly surprised by the road conditions and routing. We passed through small villages, always away from traffic and hustle and bustle.

In any case, this was a day in the absolute solitude of a Portuguese national park. Once we left Braga, it became more and more silent and soon there were no more towns. Because I’m not exactly famous for fast uphill I let the others pull again and rode my own pace. So I was again the last 60 km alone on the road and came also today as the last to the finish, although only a few minutes after the others.

Funny I found then also, as I sat with Chris outside with a beer, some came over and said something astonished: You look good. And then I heard that again at dinner. They were obviously expecting someone to be all over the place when it took them so long. In the end, it was only an hour longer.

What I did have for the first time, however, was cramps in my right thigh that kept forcing me to stop, stretch and stretch, and then keep going. That was already violent at a 12 km long climb. But then settled down again and so I could run wonderfully down the last descent into the Duoru Valley.

Impressions of the day

The Duoro Valley is at the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arriving there after 150 km and watching the people enjoying their leisure life outside on a Sunday has flair, especially when it gets dark.

At the end of the day, of course, there was plenty to eat, conversations across all national borders and social gathering. Although everyone was respectfully always the subject of tomorrow’s hard stage.

Now, my eyes closes aututomatically, need my bed. There is more to come tomorrow.

Good Night