...so I bought tickets to Portugal. To visit my sister and see the country for my self for the first time.
it had rained not too long ago and it was a big one too.
we continue on towards city called Setubal.
I don't think that it's important to add the details of the trip to the T but my flight had that movie trope moment where the flight attendant said the "do we have a doctor on the plane?" line. Somebody was having some health issues and they gave the person some oxygen.
The next morning after the flight I was in Azeitao. Me and my sisters partner were up and measuring if his riding shoes fit me well. He lent me his red shorts. Other option was lycra ones but I can't to this day .. I just can't.
He is riding mountain bike and I am on carbon fibre road bike hybrid. It has officially ruined all other bikes I have ever ridden. Including the one I use daily in UK.
It's lighter than pair of steelies.
We set off from the little town and slowly with every turn we were turning away from the town's rustle and bustle. First thing that I noticed was the politeness on the road. There wasn't much traffic as it was but people definitely treat cyclists well.
We kept on the asphalt for a bit and Fabio (sisters partner) suggested a slight detour on gravel. To which I agreed.
In half a mile we turned of the asphalt and the first thought that came to mind when I saw the gravel road was .. "have you ever played any rally games on your Xbox or PS?" Have you driven Portuguese stages? .. it's literally like that in real life. The roads are winding in sharp turns over hills and valleys. The sand has this orange colour. And the rocks are beige, almost white. Small trees and bushes on both sides.
We turn of the main gravel road in to the national park road and it gets even more rallyesk.
We continue on. Towards the mountain in the picture.
Further up there is the same asphalt road that we turned away from.
The views are amazing and almost dangerously distracting. The nature is completely different to what I am used to. Down to some weird bushes and strange berries.
We then rejoin the asphalt and soon we stop climbing. Fabio warns me to watch my speed. He knows that where I come from, we don't get such fast asphalt downhills too much.
I arrogantly nodd that I know what I am doing.
I always have wanted to coast down a hill that size. So I couldn't wait.
About 30 seconds in the downhill I achieved the "tears of speed" and slight paranoia that my breaks would heat up so much that they would turn in two calipers of cheese... "I DON'T HAVE THE GEARS TO ENGINE BREAK"
Seconds later I grew a pair. I started to use front break a bit more and slightly wider corners with some little tilting.. and it was amazing. Little scary but it's exactly what doctor prescribed.
We soon stop at the bottom of the downhill.
It's the sea..it's the ocean really. Few houses on the hillside and few restaurants. Almost no people and the beach. It's +22 and sun is out..kind of.
We pass a cement factory that is literally right there on the beach. A monstrous building that clearly has dusted it self and the foliage around it.
It would be perfect filming location for an episode of "A team". The factory could be the baddies lair. I can already picture Hannibal cutting the fence wire trough which then the whole team crouches trough. While almost blind guards of the factory shine their searchlights in predictable paterns.
The road goes right trough the factory. While you have the transport belts over your head shipping tons of bags to a cargo ship that is parked just of the factory footing that touches the water.
In a way it's sad to watch the environment being messed with. But then again it employs a lot of hard working people.
Fabio explains that the factory does some charity work to help offset it's impact, but people still protest outside the factory on regular basis.
No protests today.
We turn of after the factory to the left. We stop at small eatery that looks like a truck stop. We stop for some coffee. Fabio informs that it's just 70 cents.
It's much smaller than I expected but it's strong and plentiful.
He had espresso. Which came in a cup that seemed like part of doll house tea set. But I have no doubt it's strengtht. It probably would burn through the table like xenomorphs blood if spilled.
We continue on. The last climb before we head back to Azeitao.
We pass a lot of small farms that mostly grow wine, cork, and olives. They call them "Quinta"
The roads are nice.. time to time there is a wif of fruits or wine around. A lot of oranges. They just grow like apples. Which is still something that doesn't stop amaze me.
Many of you obviously would say "what's so special about oranges in the tree?"
Well let me tell you a story.
Some of you may know that I am originally from Latvia. Which used to be soviet union. So back in those days it was really difficult to obtain exotic fruit. Sometimes very rarely some shops would get the rare case of having some oranges or bananas. But that would be such special case that you would write home about.
So this one time in my grandma's town they had oranges in the shop.
Grandma found out about it and bought few kilos. One of them she packed up in a small wooden box and sent it to us by post. Because we lived about 300km away. And those days it felt as far as America.
By the time the oranges arrived. The box visibly was leaking orange juice. Upon opening it, our whole family's shoulders dropped down in sadness. Almost all of them were damaged. Moldy soft oranges.
It's when I learned that white lies are ok. When Grandma called to find out if we received them I heard my mum lying that we did enjoy the oranges. So grandma's heart stays warm.
So that's why oranges in a tree are some sort closure to me. "Don't feel bad Mum.. I am at the source.."
Till next ride.
Comments
Post a Comment