Peso da Régua to Lamego loop (36.7km, 678m of climbing): last day of riding! We were worried about this climb, and asked our B&B to serve breakfast early so we could hit the road before it got too hot. It was actually great, though, hard but not impossible, and we got to Lamego just before noon. In Lamego, we climbed hundreds of steps to a sanctuary, came back town and had a quick casual lunch, then found the castle, a 1000-year-old tower, before heading back. The ride back to our B&B was great, all downhill with good views. We had a quick swim, then repacked, and had our last dinner as a full group, at The River in Peso do Régua.
morning view of the valley from the B&B |
a small garden at the B&B |
this garden has a bed in the middle of it. why? unclear |
Gina walking her bike up the cobblestone path out of the B&B |
the Duoro again; we haven't seen it since yesterday! |
Gina, climbing |
a bend in the Duoro |
wine buildings at the top of a terraced hill |
looking back towards Peso da Régua |
an attractive building with hedges and cypresses: apparently it's a hotel called Six Senses |
more Duoro and city view |
a row in a vineyard |
Gina, Bill, Scott, and Helen, approaching |
Bill and Scott, approaching around a curve |
roadside construction |
Cats of Portugal entry 5: stalking along the roadside |
Gina, underway |
looking back towards the Duoro |
Tom, David, and Bill, resting at an outdoor table |
snail! |
the Duoro Valley is just pretty, though |
High voltage lines of Portugal |
a long bridge to the north |
Peso da Régua from even further up |
check that out; this is absolutely a distance view of our B&B, giant cypress and all |
green mountains and vineyards |
the giant Sandeman overlooking Peso da Régua |
a cluster of buildings |
the valley from even further up |
a train, riding along the Duoro |
tile roof with one tiny solar panel |
my bike, overlooking the view |
Lamego! |
someone's garden statue, dressed for the weather |
columns reflected in water |
inscription on a wall |
view of the castle |
view of a hill with many scrubby trees |
starting up the 600+-step stairway to the Church of our Lady of Remedies |
Gina approaches a giant fountain on one of the landings |
Emily, braving the stairs |
Scott and Helen, braving the landing |
the tree-lined walkway where we locked our bikes |
there are a lot of stairs and a lot of landings |
art on a landing |
off to one side of the stairs, we find this grotto |
there are side stairs up to the next landing |
also a moat with a moat monster |
someone has installed a grail in the grotto |
here's another grotto |
quick intermission: view of Lamego |
Bill is about to step into this mural as Emily and Joe watch |
okay, now we're inside the grotto |
the ceiling |
the floor |
Gina inside the grotto |
there's a lot going on in this mural |
fountain, with merman |
Helen and Scott striking a pose |
Helen and Scott |
looking down at a hedge maze |
view of Lamego from the top |
pillar-top statuary |
the church itself |
the clocktower clock |
stained glass window |
decorative tower on top of the church |
candle cart |
pillar with several dragon snouts |
inside of stained glass window |
geometric ceiling |
blue ceiling |
tile closeup |
statue |
door with striped toes |
hillside houses in Lamego |
back at city level, the Catedral de Lamego |
cathedral door art |
cathedral sundial |
cathedral windows |
we lock our bikes, and go looking for the castle |
an inaccessible spiral staircase |
a rooftop road leading to a turret |
top of old castle spiral staircase |
a good sign! |
we catch a glimpse of the tower behind some ruins |
a sidewalk in the castle neighborhood of Lamego |
Cats of Portugal 6: half-asleep under a parked car |
sign on the wall in the castle neighborhood |
very close to the tower, but still looking for the entrance |
grass and wall outside the castle courtyard |
we finally found the castle entrance |
view of Lamego from the castle |
tree in the castle courtyard |
old roof, new roof |
Cats of Portugal 7: on a roof deck near Lamego Castle |
ruined roof near the castle |
elevated cemetary near the castle |
the long walk up to the church, seen from the castle |
the tower, from the courtyard |
roofs, roof deck, shingled wall |
roof beams inside the tower |
information about the restoration of the castle |
stairway and walls in the castle |
little catapult |
wall decorations |
don't go up the ladder |
view from the castle window |
leaving the castle |
castle on the right, houses on the left |
our cue sheet suggested we should bike down this road |
we did not |
view back up to the castle |
the ride down from Lamego is much faster than the ride up |
hillside view |
stone building on the roadside |
green hillside |
bridge and mountains visible from a driveway |
Gina checks out the view |
the road behind |
we saw a lot of these rectangular mile markers |
back at the Quinta da Salada gates; end of the bike ride |
Gina walking up the last hill of the week |
we had dinner at The River in Peso do Régua |
Dana, Sarah, Scott, and Helen wait for our table |
ceiling fan at The River |
our dinner table |
David and Tom |
my drink |
turnip greens, white bean, and sausage soup: excellent |
roasted goat: good, but ultimately too much meat |
Pudim Abade de Priscos, recommended |