Castelo de Vide
43 miles 3252 ft climbing
For the first time in three days I am writing this blog outside as the barbecue is warming up. This is what we wanted All very different from the start this morning as the driving rain very quickly quashed any thought that we had the previous night of a quick sprint up the mountain.
Striking camp in the pouring rain, with the temperature a cool 7 degrees, please note the moat like features around Chris’s tent which kept an annoying cat away, we jumped in the camper and motored away from the very wet high mountains of Portugal to Castelo Branco.
Here we then got back on our bikes for the first time in Two days and although we had to stop to don our shower proofs after only 5 minutes it was just that. We then rode the 15 miles to the impressive Portas da Rodao where the river Tejo ( Tagus in Spanish) pierces through the barrier of rock.
We then had a good climb up and over this barrier and were cheered on half way up by a couple who had stopped by the road. 
The roads were often really wet as the showers had just beaten us , but we did manage to keep dry apart from a short shower 2 miles before we hit camp
Taking a little detour before our lunch stop we had this great little descent by a stream where you may Just spot Chris and Nick speeding down the hill.
The lunch stop was in Nisa which we found with the tents drying over the local benches. Nisa is a very typical fortified town and since crossing the big hill and moving to the Alentejo region we noticed the change in the countryside with different flowers, which still adorned the roadside with beauty, fewer people and as ever the variety of bird life. Today we have seen Vultures, Eagles, Storks, Herons, and an Azure winged Magpie. Whilst I write this the compulsory Cuckoo is sounding off in the background. We have heard one at every campsite so there are no concerns here about their decline, Nick has decided he does not like Cuckoos so cannot hear them! 
After the stop at Nisa we went for a further detour and also came across this 6200 year old Menhir of Patalou, which is the largest of its type in Portugal. 
The terrain having eased we were able to run along at the highest average speed we had done this tour.
It is true that when the weather changes so does the mood ( although Nick’s cup is always overflowing) and we certainly felt so much happier than for the last two days. This is what cycling should be all about.
The weather is expected to stay better from now on with only a chance of rain tomorrow. We were able to enjoy a super meal of steak, potatoes and cole slaw cooked on the barbecue. It is not warm but everyone is smiling and looking forward to another great day tomorrow.
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