Sonoran Sojourn

We opted for walk between villages around Piodao. First to Chas de Agua, following ancient oaths, through terraces to Foz Egua looping back. A hike like no other, relishing in the fortitude and value of manual labor to scrape out a living. A day we’ll never forget! #pdlngprtgl

#portugal #piodao #fozdegua #schistvillages

Viseu to Piodão. This is a climbs one, into then under the fog layer amid ancient villages, schist terraces and old bridges. This landscape is a conundrum, coming across as partly abandoned from former rural life and partly in need of ecological restoration. The a strong history of agrarian live-off-the-land shine through the entire day. If you follow our tracks, buckle down tour cycling shoes. This one is a big day in the saddle!

#pdlngprtgl #portugal #viseu #daoregion #serrdaestrella #piodao

leaving Pinhao, we climbed up on the north banks of the Duoro. An afternoon of rain welcomed us to the Dão, passing through Fràguas en route to Viseu, and descending through diverse forests and ancient villages. #pdlgnprtgl

#portugal #pinhao #viseu #daoregion #biketouring

Layover day in Pinhao. After some grocery shopping, we headed up, up, up to a winery that offered us an early tasting before processing grapes harvested this morning. Reuben was fantastic and spent an hour with us. We cut our planned route short as the weather shifted ahead of tomorrow’s rain. #pdlngprtgl

#portugal #pinhao #quintadaformigosa #duorovalley

Amarante to Pinhao. Long climb to start weaving our way through small villages in the Serro de Marao. What is going on with those line trees? Then a port tasting before a glorious descent into Pinhao. #pdlngprtgl

#portugal #amarante #villareal #pinhao #duorovalley #tawnyport #biketouring

We rode bikes! Day 1 from Porto to Amarante. Replete with euro suburbs, cobbled steepies, a #rideswithchad segment, a potential future Potugese hometown, and a 13th century bridge. And bells. Loud ass bells in fact.

#pdlngprtgl #portugal #porto #penafiel #amarante #portuguesecabbage #biketouring

Great to spend the afternoon with Michelle & Sacha eating too much and purveying for provisions of leathery in Porto. Somehow garlic found its way to us. All that after we ended up in a legit mall searching for CO2 canisters. Isn’t that how everyone spend their time in European cities?

#pdlngprtgl #portugal #porto

Porto. If settling in to vacation is building bikes, walking 10 miles and tasting wine, we aced the test. This city is incredible. San Francisco meets Barcelona meets New Orleans. Yes please!

#pdlngprtgl #porto #portugal

We’re headed to Portugal in a month. We’ll record a daily recap and post here But first, we need to practice. In Canada. Duh. Trailer? Teaser? Test run? This pod has it all.