29th October (sunny and cold, windy) 10 km and 10km of walking

Woke in our apartment this morning after thinking about the ride the previous night. It was not pleasant at all. No lights on the roads here and the areas that were possible for a freecamp, were just rock (we must be getting soft).  The sun was out in all its glory, although it had forgotten to turn it’s temperature gauge to hot, or even warm. The cold wind that has been with us for the past few days was back again and the thought of sitting on a beach or swimming, did not ring any of our bells. As it was we pottered around the room doing internet stuff and getting washing done. The tele was on for news in English, so we caught up on a bit of news.

Carvoeiro

Carvoeiro Beach

Decided about 10.30am to venture out. We had been correct, it was cold. Rode down a huge hill (which didn’t fare well for the ride home) and into the very picturesque coastal town of Carvoeiro. Straight to the beach, where there were people sitting out and the odd few in the water. We wanted to see more of this coast. The rock formations are absolutely incredible. Took a steep climb on foot after locking up the bikes at the beach and wandered along a boardwalk on the clifftops taking in the beautiful scenery. Thought I was going to lose my cap up there, but managed to keep it on. Up to now, the majority of tourists we have encountered have been German, however, this is the English hangout. Good to see however that it is nearly all families, so the vibe is nice.

Hung out on the cliffs for ages before making our way back into town where we lunched at one of the cafes before hitting the beach. Found a spot and just lay out soaking in the sun, in between gusts of wind. Over time it did diminish and we took the opportunity to go in for a swim. It wasn’t as warm as the last swim, but certainly not uncomfortable and the water is a gorgeous colour and very clear.

Rode, once again up a huge hill heading along the coast to check out more of this area. Parked our bikes by a lighthouse and began a two hour trek around the coast in and out of caves and tunnels. It would be hard not to like this area, if you like walking the cliffs and swimming the bays or even cycling, it’s great. The cafes range in price and the town has a relaxed feel. We intend to just cruise the next couple of weeks, enjoying the final part to the trip.

On the way back, we picked up some food to enjoy back at the apartment. The climb back was steep, but without the weight on the bikes we found it no problem at all. Julia showered whilst I blogged before we settled in with a drink.