Archives: October 2007
In Which I Have A Day Of It
October 31, 2007 by Mike in Diary
Punta Urbano There's less 'bike' in this blo- I mean diary than you might expect, or be looking for. That's because, while I love riding the thing, I don't pretend to understand it. The wheels on the bike go round and round, yes, but I have no idea how. I...
In Which My Journey Takes Me, Briefly, To North Korea
October 30, 2007 by Mike in Diary
Punta Umbria Route: Olhao - (Portugal) - Ayamonte (Spain) - Punta Umbria I arrived in Portugal from Spain on a ferry, at the mouth of a river, in the rain. Today, 1515 miles, one month and one day later (to the minute), I left Portugal for Spain on a ferry,...
In Which I Get Excited By.. A Loo Seat
October 29, 2007 by Mike in Diary
Olhão Route: Lagos - Portimao - Albufeira - Faro - Olhão (on Sunday) Saturday night in Lagos, one of the bigger towns on the Algarve. (I didn't get to write this yesterday. Don't worry: I'll be brief.) I pushed out the boat and ate real food in an actual restaurant....
In Which I Turn Left
October 27, 2007 by Mike in Diary
Sao Vicente has good reason to rue the existence of Cabo da Roca (the westernmost point in continental Europe) and Finisterre (the end of the earth) because without them it would be officially, and romantically, the end of Europe. It is, sort of, being the southwesterliest point. But.. have you...
In Which Portugal's Rutted Roads Wreak Their Revenge
October 26, 2007 by Mike in Diary
Sao Vicente Route: Villa Nova de Milfontes - Azenha do Mar - Odeceixe - Vila do Bispo - Sagres - Cabo de Sao Vicente Happy biiiiiiirthday to you Happy biiiiiiirthday to you Happy biiiiiiirthday dear Kaaaaaaayceeeeeeee Happy biiiiiiirthday to you -- Down a dozen dead-end roads to catch a glimpse...
In Which I Ride Through Toytown
October 25, 2007 by Mike in Diary
Villa Nova de Milfontes Route (on Wednesday): Jerez - Sevilla - Cortegana (Spain) - Beja - Santiago do Cacem - Sines - Villa Nova de Milfontes The 300+ miles from Jerez back to Sines need not detain us.. it's not beside the seaside and isn't part of the narrative of...
In Which I Jet Back.. Again
October 23, 2007 by Mike in Diary
Jerez de la Frontera, Spain I *swear * this happened. I flew back from Stansted to Jerez this afternoon; sad to say goodbye for a few weeks to my parents and my sister. At the airport, I stopped skyside to buy some eau de toilette. (Incongruous on a long-distance bike...
Homepage test
October 22, 2007 by Mike in Map
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Norway: Stop by stop
October 21, 2007 by Mike in Map
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Sweden: Stop by stop
October 21, 2007 by Mike in Map
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Finland: Stop by stop
October 20, 2007 by Mike in Map
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Northern Spain: stop-by-stop
October 17, 2007 by Mike in Map
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Basque Country: stop by stop
October 17, 2007 by Mike in Map
What's that you say? This isn't a country? Be very careful who you say that to.....
France: stop-by-stop
October 17, 2007 by Mike in Map
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In Which I Jet Off.. Again
October 14, 2007 by Mike in Diary
Jerez de la Frontera, Spain I'm 300 miles off course -- and flying back to Norridge to see the folks. 300 fabulous miles -- A-roads, empty, hilly, sunny, glorious, hill top towns each with a fairytale castle on top and.. but this has nothing to do with our story. This...
In Which I Fall For The Charms Of Europe's Last Remaining Virgin
October 13, 2007 by Mike in Diary
Sines Route: Lisbon - Setúbal - Troia - Sines Bye bye Lisbon: I could have stayed here a lot longer, but needs must. a) I need to find a campsite that isn't so far from civilisation -- especially when the most logical route out, hopping on the bike to get...
In Which I Slink Into Lisbon's Back Streets
October 12, 2007 by Mike in Diary
Lisbon What exciting things have I managed to fill my days with? I've bought a new tent. Again, got a great price, but this is also a proper brand -- Quechua -- rather than a supermarket own-brand model, and I'm hoping the extra quality will shine through. (If not, there...
In Which I Stop Circling The Outskirts Of Lisbon
October 10, 2007 by Mike in Diary
Lisbon Route: Guincho - Cascais - Estoril - Lisbon As the crow flies I've covered about 30 miles in the last three days - curly roads and back roads to royal palaces mean I've travelled a fair bit further but.. I haven't had to fill the petrol tank in days....
In Which I Name And Shame
October 9, 2007 by Mike in Diary
Sintra Here's a little BesideTheSeaside special. Here's the taxi, registration 70-44-JZ, which tried to overtake me in the middle of Sintra this afternoon as I was riding.. just above the speed limit.. up a steep hill in a crowded, busy part of town. Just as the schools were disgorging their...
In Which The Pictures Tell The Story
October 9, 2007 by Mike in Diary
Guincho Route: Praia Grande - Azenhas do Mar - Sintra - Cabo da Roca - Guincho And for the third day in a row I'm obliged to apologise for having had such a top day. Proof? Even though I try very hard *not* to be a 21st century tourist, digital...
In Which I Cavort, That's The Only Word For It
October 8, 2007 by Mike in Diary
Praia Grande Route: São Martinho do Porto - Obidos - Peniche - Ericeira - Praia Grande At the risk of repeating myself -- another good day. One that ended with a swim in the Atlantic.. no, let me be more precise.. a cavort in the Atlantic surf. Here at Praia...
In Which I Come Home -- Well, Micaela's Home
October 7, 2007 by Mike in Diary
São Martinho do Porto Route: Costa Nova - Praia da Mira - Pedrogao - Nazaré - São Martinho do Porto Happy birthday Smanf! x This has been one of the very good days of the trip. I left my friendly little campsite and rode quiet, windy roads through pine forests....
In Which Yr Correspondent Appears To Be Naked
October 6, 2007 by Mike in Diary
Costa Nova I'm going to try to write this entry as simply as possible. A followed by B followed, yes, by C. If the prospect appals you, here's a brief summary: I sunbathed; it got foggy; I washed some clothes. Yesterday I sat on the beach and sunbathed. It's a...
In Which I Love Sweden All Over Again
October 5, 2007 by Mike in Diary
Costa Nova Route: Vila Do Conde - Porto - Ovar - San Jacinto - Estarreja - Aveiro - Costa Nova There's a National Road quite close to the coast. I'd like to be closer, of course; I want to be on *the * coast road. Unfortunately, at least in this...
In Which I Spill The Beans?
October 4, 2007 by Mike in Diary
Vila Do Conde Ha ha hee hee.. I know you've only clicked here to find out about my date ;-) And the truth is.. I *am* a gentleman.. and a gentleman *never* spills the beans. (Though I should point out that Vitor brought his GIRLFRIEND with him! That's the last...
In Which I Swap Biking For Life As A Suburban Commuter
October 3, 2007 by Mike in Diary
Vila Do Conde In the nicest possible way, I appear to have taken root here. This is a happy state of affairs, for the campsite is as friendly and accommodating as I described yesterday, and there is plenty to see and do in the surrounding area. There are lots of...
In Which I Start To Smell Portuguese
October 1, 2007 by Mike in Diary
Vila Do Conde Route: Viana do Castelo - Esposende - Povoa do Varzim - Vila Do Conde They can call it the Costa Verde if they want to, but we know the Green Coast actually means the Rainy Coast, don't we? Not today, however, as I ride down in increasing...