I think I was the only one at Casa Esquível last night. The place was pretty nice and breakfast was decent. I drank all the orange juice and most of the coffee.
I didn't get started as early as I wanted. My batteries are low. I got no gas in the tank.
Fortunately, there was a lot less climbing today and I just pedaled as I could. Soon enough I was at the halfway mark and my lunch stop in Monoito. I got a nice menu of the day for 10. As I left there were two touring bikes parked beside mine. I didn't see any other riders while I was eating and I was wondering how I missed them. As I looked at the bikes a couple from the US came out and we chatted for a bit.
Joel and Casey were just moving West Coast to East Coast and took some time off. They are just starting a 90 day trip. They were on kilometer 35 starting in Evora. They gave me a tip about a rail trail just out of town to Evora. It was a fun talk.
I did take the rail trail and it saved me some hills and was pretty fast. The end was a little messed up as it ended in an area cut off by the highspeed train and it was hard to get to Evora which was right in front of me.
There was one scary incident on the trail. I had to pass through a gate across the trail and there were cows everywhere. Most moved away but one stared me down and looked like she might charge. Cows are big! And they have pointy horns. And they can run. Finally, they all moved on but they are big!
I got to the Hotel M'Ar de Ar Muralhas and it was a lot fancier than me. I got some looks from very well dressed older (probably my age) ladies wearing lots of jewelry as I came in.
I was exhausted and it took me a while to be able to force myself to explore the town. Nice town. It would be better in the sunlight, but worth a visit. I felt a little better after a beer and had resigned myself to eating at the hotel due to my tiredness. It was still over half an hour before the restaurants opened.
As I headed back I walked past a place that when looking at maps and reviews had been my first choice. As I looked in the window at the tables all set and waiting for customers, I stuck my head in and asked the waiter if I would need a reservation for one? He waved my in and said I could eat now at the snack bar. There were some foreigners and earlybirds already eating and it wasn't even 7. This was great!
Nice dinner. I sat near a couple from Quebec and they asked about my rides and said they would be doing a little riding in the south with family soon.
Tomorrow is the last riding day and I'm pretty worn down. I am paying for two rooms tonight as I was suppose to be in Lisboa today. I'll be there tomorrow.
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