Retirement with 2020 and COVID vision

If it's any help, I cycled up to the underside of the Norman Foster bridge from Camping Des Deux Rivieres, having parked my van beside the river.

I've just checked, it's 6 years since I was there.........Where on earth has the time gone. :eek:

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Drove over there once and pulled into services after in shorts with snow on the ground, we had left roses Spain in summer weather earlier that morning!!!!! Brrrrrrrr
 
Hi Steve
Great pics.. hope to be doing similar in a couple of weeks.. but with proper shoes/ boots!

currently at one of our fav spots.. Le Crotoy at mouth of Somme... lovely bay, bird watching, pleasant muscle growing town and becoming increasingly trendy each time we stay

great cycling around, 7e night about 1.5 hours meander time to Calais

keep posting!

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Great photos, might call there on our return.
We called into Lourdes to see the 9pm procession and mass in the Grotto.

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All wearing masks but social distancing out of the window. Very special for the Catholic faith. We stood well back and watched. Candles €3 each, or €10 if you fancy a big in.
Stayed the night in a local car park and then moved on to Canfranc station.
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The French and Spanish made a railway up to Canfranc from each side of the Pyrenees. When they met in the middle they realised the lines were different widths 😧. Station completed 1928. Get off French train one side, walk through to other side and board Spanish train.
A roaring success then, until they built a 5 mile tunnel through the mountain and made the station redundant. Renovation work is superb though as it was a wreck 10 years ago.
 
Shirl has had enough of mountains ..... (I know she’s wired differently). So, a small hop westward and we have a quick overnight in Sasamon, Spain ( face masks worn everywhere),then straight to Lindoso in Portugal to resume our truncated March trip.
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We thought these were posh tombs but having seen them before remembered they were grain stores.
Whilst having a cuppa we read Barcelos has the biggest Thursday market in northern Portugal, get there early it says, even better arrive tonight I thought. Masks at the ready. Mountains...... what mountains. Off we go again, in that much of a rush we arrived with the skylight still open..... old people on tour😲.
 
Barcelos very nice. Stocked up with fresh veg and meat for €10 in the market, managed to beat the crowds.
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Portuguese women only have little legs I notice.

Finally made it to the seaside. Time for a
break.
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Just below Aguçadoura on the northern Portuguese coast. Got the beachfront to ourselves. Quick rush down to the water.
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Not sure about the swimming 😧. The cycle/walking path runs along the coast for miles and I’m now wishing the tandem was with us.
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But the sunsets are good.
We’ll probably stay around here a few days to miss the weekend crowds in Porto. Maybe, who knows.
 
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Now here’s a thought. I may wake up and think shall I power wash the car, the drive or the patio. This thought has never entered my head.
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Does anyone else have ideas like this fella?
 
Day 2: On the beach. She never fails to entertain. Let’s go paddling.
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Big wave comes.
05D3A416-4451-465C-B918-F3E315CAA5C3.jpegUp to her neck in the surf face down. Had to go and rescue her. Absolutely soaked. Didn’t get the photo as I was too worried she’d be taken with the current. Everyone should get to travel with this type of girl, she keeps me on my toes.
 
Porto.. Great for a visit.. use the hop on hop off bus to get the lie of the land, book 2 days at a big discount.
Using the bus as a taxi, to revisit places.
Aires might be full , as it's high season.. Ditto the River cruises.
There's a great aire at Regua, further upstream . Very secure and cheap.
Tip..
Get on the aire. There's a lock in.
Take the scenic train down to Porto... Take an overnight bag.

Booking.com, a central hotel,at breakfast time..
Ignore any replies.
Eventually book the hotel before you arrive at the spectacular station. Stay one night.
You'll save enough money, to pay for your food in the small, off-street eateries, that the locals use

Try the dry white Port.
 
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We're desperately awaiting the next installment..
More pix please.
 
Belated update. iPhone camera has decided focus is not important for clear pictures so new phone required at some stage. Next plan, work out how to transfer Nikon (needs it’s own wheelbarrow) pics to MacBook ...... sorted.
Onward to free aire in Guimaraes.
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Original capital city of Portugal so lots of character. Shirl used to be the same height as me before we did all this walking 😜.
The aire is right at the start of the cable car up to Penha so it would be rude not to visit.
0DE9B6AA-CB37-4EDA-A7F1-EFB90FF5BAB2.jpegThis is how they bump start a cable car if you stall it.

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It’s quite a tranquil paradise at the top, no houses or shops. Good views over Guimaraes and dozens of families with full banquets all over the woodlands. Lots of rocks and tunnels for big kids. Spent a few hours wandering about.
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If you have a bike, transport it to the top and do the easy road or off road route back down.
Off to Porto next.
 
We're desperately awaiting the next installment..
More pix please.
Thanks for the Porto tips Paul. It’s not that we’re tight fisted Yorkshire folk 😇 but we‘ve spent many years in hotels around the world.
So, we found a newish 48hr free aire with services at Venda Nova Metro stop.

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Metro 6am to midnight into Balhão station, nearest for centre, €3.20 each return.
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10 min walk to the yellow tour bus. City tour and Foz do Douro tour included in the price.
We had a few lazy hours taking in the sights.
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Gave this street a miss even though we would have liked to see the Majestic Cafe.
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Massive queues outside the Livraria Lello so another miss for now.
86987BB2-5B50-469C-A97A-3B27DE59D07E.jpegWe have never seen a retro sardine shop before but all the dated tins are packed in wall to wall like ............
Jumped off the bus early for a walk down the river.
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Now this ambitious bird must have been inspired to think anything is possible when he flew past this.
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An eagle lands on Nelsons Column only to be ambushed by a stalking lion. King of the skies meets King of the jungle.
 
Now Shirl and I, having swum the Zambezi river to the devils pool on Victoria Falls, like to try something different.
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Maybe one of these pensioner pastimes.
No, we go with Paul’s Porto wine suggestion.
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The result.
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Thanks , Steve.
Lovely memories.
I'm surprised that there was room on the aire..!
There's usually enough Portuguese vans to fill it..
The Covid effect ?
Stay safe.
" Tight fisted Yorkshire folk "?
Leeds born and bred .. We're not mean... Just careful..😜
 
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From Porto we decided a few days at the coast was next. Called at Aveiro on the way. Portugal’s answer to Venice they say.
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Not as we remember Venice.
Then onward to Gafanha da Bia Hora. We found a campsite at €7.50 a night right on the beach. Chill for a couple of days.
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Shirl does the chilling.
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I do the washing.
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and foraging.
 
We lasted the two days at the beach but as the Atlantic swimming was not an option, more suited to surfing but wetsuits at home, we headed again for the mountains.
We were heading for Piódão when we came across Foz D’Egua, a river fed bathing pool.
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Off with clothes and in we go. A little chilly but very refreshing.
Then another 3km to Piódão, a village built on a 60 degree hillside.
 
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You'll like Marvao..
Your gearbox might not.
Take it easy on the way up.
Spectacular views and walks. Interesting geology and architecture.
Fill yer boots.
 
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Ps.
If you like that kind of place..
Look up Monsanto
Park down in the village..Relva ?
 
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Many thanks for all your posts and excellent photos..
I am sure I post for many !
Thank you, we enjoy travel.
Before we set off we listed about 20 places we thought we may like to see but added dozens more as the journey progressed. Sometimes the destination is not the best bit of a journey and we are lucky to be flexible about our route to the unknown destination.
Today a quick overnight at Casal da Lapa in a car park adjacent to a water sports reservoir. A bit late for a swim but the water was quite warm. Nice beach area with cafe, toilets and canoes for rent. A bit cooler than the coast at 2000ft.
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Marvao may have to wait, Paul has made a suggestion. Let’s hope it turns out better than the port wine.
 
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I said, " Try the White Port " ..
I didn't say ," Enjoy the White Port ", Steve. The sweet is a sticky, pudding wine, best fired down, as cold as possible. The dry, is much rarer , more expensive, but superb on a hot day, poured into a frosted schooner glass.

Just wait until you have to try the Fig liquor.. Figo and the real firewater.. Medronho.. They are an acquired taste..

Enjoy your travels.
 
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