Portugal 2018 Sao Joao

Sunday and Monday are my problem days, especially at lunch. On Sunday, everyone wants to go out and take the restraints seats that are usually reserved for me. This was the problem in 2017 on the trip up Monchique. Every restaurant was full until finally I found one. And Monday is the typical “closing “day. With a restaurant, you want the clients so you stay open Sunday and take Monday off. This was the problem again in 2017 that resulted in me eating leather pizza in Vila da Bispo. Not to mention that Baffi is closed in Mondays!

This is a story of Sunday April 1. I have learned my lessons the hard way so I pick a place where I think I can get food. Bario de Sao Joao is really the first town I biked to back in 2016. It is fairly close to Lagos but also a reasonable ride in the country. It is the hippy capital of the region. They gather every day at the two cafes in the middle of town. Oh, did I mention that it is Easter?

This is my last day in Lagos. Tomorrow I take the bus to Lisbon. I like the train better. You can move around. Getting to the bathroom is easy, etc. But, the train seems to only go early in the morning and then not until afternoon that gets me into Lisbon too late. The bus seems to leave about every hour and I never know how long it will take me to pack and drag my materials to the station. Anyway, I chose Vila da Bispo for my last lunch as the restaurants are very informal and I figured I would have no trouble even on a holiday.

I had a little challenge getting to Vila da Bispo. I figured I knew the way so I did not take the time to really get the ride map software running and truth be told I am not the master of that software! I turned off the 125 too early and had to backtrack and take the second left. Using a combination of the ride software and google maps and my own memory I finally know I was on the right road, passed the Lagos Zoo and rode up the hill to the town square. It was decked out for a festival but I think the party was yesterdays and over.

Above me my view from my outdoor table. Below you can see the tents set up along the roads for dealers,

The famous eater and his grub!

Walking around town after lunch:

So, now comes the real Easter story. And I have no pictures. While I am sitting in the square with my wonderful salmon, cheese, wine lunch, a group of 4? real bike riders pull in. They are on a mission. Going all the way to Monchique and you can be sure they climb the whole thing! They have two water bottles each. One might be a little overweight but they are kicking ass. I think I should be recognized as a fellow rider but no. One does ask me about where to buy water and I direct him to the restaurant where I am eating but indeed many places in town would sell bottles of water. After a quite protracted re-pouring etc, they head out of town. But, 3 minutes later they are back and heading out of town the other way. Slight mistake. I of course do not miss the opportunity to stand up and welcome them back with a loud cheer and bid them goodbye again with equal zest.

It is finally time for me to leave. The wine and the cheese are gone. I ride around town, taking the pictures above and head out on a “quick” road toward Lagos. This is actually a magical road. One of my favorites. Very narrow. Between fields and buildings. I would never have found it in 2016 without Hue’s map.

I meet a man and son on this small path and say “how did you find my route?” and they say “Google Maps”. Oh Well

But before I came upon them, I stopped at the normal “hippy” campground outside of town. It was deserted, no caravans, just a few cars. There was one couple who had just parked their car and were walking into town. I commented to them that this was normally the caravan parking lot and they speculated that it had been “cleared” to allow for parking for the festival. They went on to tell me that they had just built a million dollar house in Lagos, very near the slave museum which means way down town. The secret to their success was a contractor. Someone who really knew the sub-contractors and could get the jobs done. It appears they really rebuilt the building as they were digging and as you would expect in Lagos hit older ruins. They had to bring in the experts to document what had been unearthed. I asked for the name pf the wonderful contractor and gave the man my card so he could email me the name but he never did and of course I made the mistake of not writing it down on my phone. Not that I am going to build a house but good information to have that can be given away in trade!

Two more wonderful Easter events. I come upon a woman walking with a FULL camping out backpack and a dog. She is in the middle of no where, 5Ks from San Joao? She says she is on her way to the Zoo. She is Swiss. A job ended and she decided to take the opportunity to hit the road. I ask about the dog and she asks if it is mine? Seems it just chose her a little while back and since she is stopped talking to me it decides to go home and leaves.

A little further on are 3 cyclists, 2 women and a man. I can tell they are cyclists by the way they are dressed and drinking from water bottles. But, no sign of bikes. Turns out they are runners and their was a 4th, a man. He got bitten by a dog that chased the 4 of them. I guess he was the slowest? or maybe the brave one protecting the women? Anyway, he went back to the house where they are staying to get the parent of one of them to drive all of them to the hospital and to the police to report the incident. Right on time, the car pulls up with the mother, bitee and off they go. Count them, 5 stories in one short ride home. The only better thing is having someone interesting to ride with.