Aljezur to Salema

 Oct 8, 2023


Salema accommodations: Hotel Residencial Salema

About 49 km

Given the heat, we know we ought to get on the road as early as possible, which would meaning packing up our stuff before the hotel’s 8 am breakfast. But we’re exhausted and don’t want to set an alarm, so we’ve been setting off closer to 11. Just when the heat really hits. Smrt.

Why would we rush a breakfast like this??

We’re joking (thank goodness we can joke) about the elements: heat, hills, and wind. I suppose we could be dealing with rain, though, and maybe this is better than that.

Again today, I forgot to record the beginning of the trip. We biked a total of about 49 km, and it seemed like it was uphill the entire way, which of course it wasn’t (the RWGPS record will reveal the truth). There was a raging wind, great when you’re sitting still, not so great when you’re pedalling into it.

We’ve already developed a pattern for rests: look for a pull-out that isn’t a trench, and that is in the shade. That’s all we require. We’ve stopped by garbage depots, culverts, and bus stops. They may not be scenic, but we like the breaks.

Elly risks life and limb to recover the cycling glove that fell off a culvert wall.

On the previous two days, we cycled mainly through agricultural lands, while today was through the forest. The forests that we’ve seen are cork oak, eucalyptus, and stone pine. Stone pine, in a forest, looks like a mass of pincushions. These forests are very foreign to me. What isn’t foreign is the ravages of forest fire that devastated regions of Portugal in 2017 and again this past summer. I would have taken more pictures, but I was too busy pedalling up hill.

After a gruelling day, we arrived in Salema, our haven for two nights. A gorgeous spot, not as sleepy as Rick Steves claims. We have an ocean view from our 4th-floor room. Happy.

Salema Beach

Punjabi food, delicious -- look at that Naan! Seafood can wait.