A long coast ride

Relaxed start - set off slowly and cautiously at 10:30 getting used to the bikes and the godawful one sided SPD pedals that we ordered by mistake. We'd decided to head toward Tavira by the coastal route. Finding the Ecovia was difficult - first to get out past the industrial/ port area and then to find the ecovera itself. It did not appear on google maps but in fact runs very close to the railway line at first.

Once found the route was pretty easy along mostly board walks and though the salt marshes and lagoons. We paused from time to time to take photos and bird watch - the boats and crabs scurrying about.

After Fuseta the route became much harder, following what seemed to be farm tracks. At one point we were climbing a horrid section eroded by water. Eventually we reached the outskirts of Tavira. A lovely town that we remembered fondly by we were tired, hungry and the wrong side of the river with a daunting, busy main road bridge to cross.. So we stopped for lunch at a friendly local bar. They offered fried chicken, tuna salad and beers for 25E.

The return trip proved slightly easier but we were glad to stop for a welcome break in Fuseta. Nice place - possible base?? Eventually we wound back to Olhao front after a long, hard 56km ride.

That evening we ate at a little restaurant off the square by the seafront. Cod and peppers for me, ham and feta salad for Linda.