It was time for a change of european scenery away from northern countrie and as it happened 2024 saw us in Europe in March the perfect season for Iberia.We looked at options of flying our bikes out to Lisbon but previous trips with mangled derailleurs put us off.Easy jet does fly bikes from the UK and there is a bike shop in Lisbon that will pick you and bikes up and reassemble them for you, at an economic Portuguese price aswell. We had looked at the ruta via de la plata cycle route in Spain but the Spanish rail system is sporadic and is not bike friendly.Cicerones useful book on this Spanish route did suggest renting a bike from Bike Iberia in Lisbon. After many emails 2 e-bikes were booked to be rented from Lisbon. I know an e-bike -tut tut tut however in view of the hilly terrain of Spain plus trying to keep Tim’s left knee in one piece I felt e-bikes would “save the knee” and make those Spanish hills totally do able.

It was a 1.5km walk to Bike Iberia in Casa de Sodais from our hotel. I couldn’t find a hotel in the old area that had room to store our e-bikes so it was pick up and leave without getting to know our bikes… Luggage stowed on bikes and we were off to the ferry to Monijo a quaint little town across the water.Ferry for both of us and bikes 7 euros we can see why Portugal is a popular holiday destination. A few one way systems in Monijo and we were finally out on the open road. It was going to be a short day as the ferry wasn’t that frequent so it was already 1030am once we got off.

After an hour we had our first coffee stop, a lovely milky tea and cafe latte for Tim plus the chocolate pastry for 3 euros, we had definitely left Lisbon prices behind. It was beautiful cycling apart from the main road we just had 2 days to get through till we reach nice country lanes. Lunch we had rolls with us and grabbed another drink at a Barracao on side of road , pizzas seemed to be the main menu there.Plenty of smokers in the cafe /barPortugal seems to have missed out on the give up smoking campaigns. A stop in Pegoes led to the best Portuguese custard tart ever been eaten even if the Delta Cafe was on a main roundabout.

The countryside started with dense olive trees looking a bit sorry for themselves maybe due to the severe drought last year, then it changed to vineyards with first shoots coming out then there were small forests and timber yards.There were signs advertising bull fights but only one field of bulls en route.

We arrived into Vendas Novas by 230pm ready to park up even though we were on ebikes it had been a strong crosswind. Our hotel was built in 1905 and the outside walls had huge cracks in them but surprisingly inside was like a time warp set in 70s but perfectly maintained.Our room looked out on razor wire walls, Vendas novas is a military town with the Royal Artillery Corps based here and a huge military museum.

I go to check in and can’t find my passport minor panic, well actually major panic, thinking I’ve left it in Lisbon. Unpacking all my bags passport is found , phew.

I am now sneezing Tim has shared his cold he caught in the UK so we are glad of an early finish.No one seems to be at the hotel except us , bar isn’t open, nor restaurant but they do serve breakfast. Good underground garage for parking bikes, secure but there is water dripping out of light fittings in the ceiling, we decide it might be safer to charge our bike batterys in our room. We are given a recommendation of where to eat but Desculpo (sorry) is on the door they have gone on holidays!

A Chinese restaurant is open …and turns out to be surprisingly good and very cheap.So how are our rental bikes going…mine is pretty good Tim would prefer his handlebars to be a bit higher and his battery seems to be running out a lot faster than mine yet to work out how far we can travel, 54kms today no problems.

A good night’s sleep required to get over our colds.Hope the army guys don’t want to party tonight….

Hotel Acez,Vendas Novas next to train station but no trains at night.

Bargain price during week, pricier at weekends.

There is also a small bed and breakfast in Vendas Novas but quite a small room I gather, room here is spacious.

BOA NOITE. Portuguese for good night