Cascais & Sintra

Its time to leave the Algarve and start our slow journey northwards

But not before visiting Silves for the last time and enjoying one of Nina's signature dishes...

Gambas steeped in garlic with lemon rice..

Up at Barragem do Rocha we discover the delights of 'Chicken Maria' at her roadside 'rustic restaurant'

Slightly un nerving was the antics of these runaways just a few feet from their mates being soundly barbecued for our pleasure

Next night, another barragem, and these boys guarded us overnight. I have to say they were the most well behaved patient dogs we've come across in Portugal so far

We stayed a few nights at Barragem do Roxo taking a gruelling ride the next day in stupid heat

I had the brainwave of carrying 5 litres of water back from the Intermarche on the bike frame between my legs, very much a 10km circus act..

We stay a night at the Pego Do Altar barragem, again in stupid heat and BBQ our favourite fish, Dorada. Next day we call in at Alcacer do Sal and discover its run down but quaint back streets

 

These guys are everywhere here

We travel through Lisbon and along the coast to Cascais and a superb spot beyond overlooking the sea

Two nights here watching the waves roll in and the surfers searching for that dream wave..

 The young German couple with their cute baby next to us were one of many we've seen this past few weeks taking time out from busy lives and making the most of 'pre school years'

That 'Reggie Perrin" moment...

We came to the coast to cool down, how pleased we are that we visited Seville last month and not now

Next day the bikes are out and we take the orderly cycle route back to Cascais

Waiting for 'Skippy and that helicopter'

Next stop is Sintra, on recommendation and we stay at the local football training ground

We walked a fair distance in to Sintra to discover a hive of tourist shops and not too much of anything else really

Free mineral water for all...

View of the castle which on inspection turned out to be a long single continuous perimeter wall

An abundance of poppies here brighten the place up

I'll go for Nasturtiums here...

Sintra….

Worth a visit but be prepared for the tourist prices on everything…

The pottery is in abundance elsewhere and loads cheaper from the pottery houses. 

There's too much cashing in going on for our liking here...

Ferragudo & Portimão

Emilja & Richard are left to their own adventures in Albufeira as they will soon be home and need some time together without the 'Duddies" we think

So we head back for a few days to Ferragudo beach and we are lucky to get prime spot back overlooking the estuary

Nina is chuffed she has 'her' spot back

Looking across to Portimão

Surely one of our best locations yet

A short walk back around the harbour to a family butcher in Ferragudo brings forth an evening BBQ and some really tasty chicken & bacon kebabs….

That restaurant we enjoyed the other day with the 'young ones'

Evening approaches

and the sun sets over Portimão

Just beautiful…

Next day is spent sunbathing and strolling around the village

Fido loves his swim

Ferragudo

Departure day sees these guys risking life and limb flying over the vans and above the water

We navigate the small back streets of Portimão in the van and relocate to Praia da Rocha, the other side of the estuary

Somewhat different to the swish marina next door but it serves us well being so close to the main beach and town

The fee here per night is a paltry €2.50

Looking back to Ferragudo

Out walking the town we spot the wedding shop and this angry looking kid giving it 'what for' in the window

Fish wives

A stork on a crane (double birdie)

A renowned Portuguese poet immortalised forever

That's my girl….

"Load The Cannon!"

Its in Portimão that Nina has the brainwave of hiring a scooter for a few days and testing our resolve riding one

We'd already been to the scooter shop in Ferragudo having decided we want to buy one on our return to the UK in the summer. Our theory here is it will get us in to the cities with ease with the van parked up remotely on a site. Doing shopping errands and revisiting bars/restaurants and villages of an evening that we cycle through during the day

(We couldn't get anywhere near Salzburg in the van I recall)

Yes I'm fully aware what I look like in the 'potty hat'

The deposit is also down on one of these too as this is how we'll tow it around

Believe it or not the trailer theory was hatched a full month before our scooter idea as, after nearly three years on the road, the time has come to make things easier for us and 'un-stuff' our crowded lockers in the van

The three day rental proved a big success with us visiting small coves and inlets we simply could not have taken the van

Its early days yet, and subject to a test ride, but this looks likely to be our weapon of choice..

A Honda Forza 125, due out this month

A full 873cc less than our previous bike some 12 years ago...