Day 5

Day 5: Tui - Santiago de Compostela
Time: 8:01:19
Distance: 110.4km
Average Speed: 13.8km/h

There wasn't a whole lot to do in Tui last night and we ended up in an Irish bar drinking Belgian beer. It was a chilly start on quiet roads but it soon brightened up. We spent most of the day on the N-550.

We stopped for sandwiches shortly after Pontevedra and were making good time. An hour or 2 later we were making such good time that we could have beers in the sun. After getting off the main road we took some local access roads into Santiago center. A few quick photos in front of the cathedral, some taken by a random Chinese photographer for his own collection and this Camino was done. We gave the bikes to a local shop who packaged the bikes for the next day. We celebrated the end of 5 very challenging days cycling (especially days 2-4) with pizza and great beer. Buen Camino!

Day 4

Day 4: Porto - Tui
Time: 7:28:30
Distance: 126.82km
Average Speed: 17.0km/h

Rolling through Porto this morning we heard shouts of "Bom Caminho" for the first time from other cyclists and people we passed by. After only a few minutes we had an incredibly steep hill to climb coming from the river followed by busy highways for another 15km. We passed the Super Bock brewery on the way but didn't stop. 

The rest of the day was hilly in rural areas. We passed several signs indicating the Camino directions. In hindsight we probably should have started the trip in Porto since there was nothing Camino related on the roadside before then. We stopped in the town of Ponte de Lima for lunch and a Westmalle. The old City was impressive and I'd like to return again for a better look. We arrived in Valenca in darkness before crossing the river for Tui, our stop for the night.

Day 3

Day 3: Coimbra - Porto
Time: 7:54:35
Distance: 127.96km
Average Speed: 16.2km/h

We saw very little of Coimbra since we arrived so late last night. In the morning an hour was wasted from getting lost in the winding cobbled streets and a puncture I found on my back tire. This was the worst morning of the trip with over 90km on busy highways sharing the road with trucks. At one point a cop pulled us over for being on a road we shouldn't have been on. He waited a few Minutes up the road to make sure we exited and stopped us again. We expected to be given a fine but he shook our hands and wished us a safe trip. 

Another disappointing lunch today in Agueda. We were given "pork" which consisted of bones and fat. The wine was also very poor and in hindsight we probably shouldn't have ordered it. Cost of lunch was $6.50 each. You get what you pay for.

About 40km out from Porto we stopped for a Coke and croissant by the side of the road. As soon as we started to eat the owner started a racket washing every cup, plate and fork by hand for about 10 minutes. If he wanted us to leave it worked and so ended another grim pit stop. The last 40km got interesting. We were now on rural roads but the massive and sometimes steep hills slowed us down. 

Arriving into the suburbs of Porto in darkness we ended up descending about 2km on rough cobblestones. I was slightly thankful that at least it was downhill. About 15 minutes later we were climbing a similar length stretch of road. 

2 beaten up men arrived in Porto at around 8pm. We were staying at the House of Sandeman, one of the most impressive hostels I've ever stayed in. The view from just outside the hostel shows the River Duero and a huge railway bridge. 

We had our best dinner of the trip in an Italian place on the waterfront with pizza beer and wine.

Day 2

Day 2: Santarem - Coimbra
Time: 8:41:55
Distance: 148.91km
Average Speed: 17.1km/h

The most kilometers of the trip today so we had to leave early. Strangely the hostel locked everyone in until 8am. The day started off through vineyards on quiet, rural roads. We stopped off for a very bad lunch in Tomar. The sandwiches looked a few days old. Coimbra is a beautiful city built into a hillside. We cycled through the streets, many of them cobbled, in the dark. This was our only chance to see the city as we were too tired to move far from the hostel, which used to be a maternity hospital.

Day 1

Day 1: Lisbon - Santarem
Time: 4:20:56
Distance: 82.02km
Average Speed: 18.9km/h

We spent yesterday walking around Lisbon and managed to get an early night. Today was the shortest distance we plan to do on this trip so we didn't need to leave too early. Getting out of Lisbon, like any major city was stressful and having the Garmin edge with directions made it much easier. The route today was mostly industrial zones so I didn't take many photos other than those of our 3 (2 Leeroy, 1 me) punctured. Santarem has a great beer bar where we spent the evening.