Mertola

Today, our destination was Pomarão, a small riverside port. Our trusty bikes, (and hard working legs), carried us 15 miles, over hilly terrain, with a 1450ft elevation gain. Along the way, we passed a road sign leading to the village of Alves! Though we didn't get to visit, it was pretty exciting to see a town of our namesake! When we reached the bridge, near our destination, we were able to cross the border into Spain then ride back into Portugal!
After an amazing lunch at a café overlooking the marina, I hopped in a taxi with several others for the return to the hotel, to explore Mertola. Mark, on the other hand, took the challenging route back, covering a total of 31 miles, 2910 ft elevation gain, with a 14% grade. He was the only one to make that route with a road bike, (the others rode e-bikes). Several women told me my man was a beast!
Later this afternoon, we tasted some local regional wines, then joined a local guide for a tour of Mértola, where layers of history—from Phoenician and Roman roots to a 500-year Moorish presence—are still visible today.
Tomorrow we move to our new location- the Algarve. They have certainly been keeping us busy!Read more