Villages are miles apart, stores are the living rooms of people’s houses, vegetable carts are hauled by burros, and a cup of the local wine is 40¢. Grape vines cover everything that isn’t forest, including most of the houses, and some of the people. The ride comes out to the Atlantic at the twin fortress towns of Tuy and Valença, on opposite sides of the Spanish / Portuguese border. We end the cycle with two beautiful days along the Atlantic ocean. An optional stop is suggested in the pearl of Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, one of Europe’s most beautiful cities
Your Itinerary
Day 1:
We set out from Monforte to climb through sleepy villages to a perch high above the river valley, and then plunge into the gorges of the Sil river, cut deep here by the fast-moving watercourse. Following its banks to the Miño, and the Miño’s banks past a chain of hydroelectric dams (which generate much of northwestern Spain's electricity), brings us to Orense.
(B) (D)
Day 2:
We glide down the river road, Orense's pretty Roman bridge at our backs, and leave town cycling along the Miño's south bank.
(B) (D)
Day 3:
A challenging day, pedaling along the river past picturesque towns and fields of grapevines trained over our heads in cool arborways. Today, the valley is much more wild than it was yesterday, and we get you in shape with some tough hills, up and down to the Miño. After a time, the river becomes the border between Spain and Portugal, and we cross over into the latter to arrive at the spa town of Melgaço and our inn in the neighboring village of Peso.
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Day 4:
The first part of today is spent on the Portuguese side of the river, in the vinho verde, or green wine region. This slightly sparkling, low alcohol wine is the most important agricultural product from this part of Portugal. In Monção, a pretty spa town, catch the beautiful view of the river below. Then across to Spain and to Tui, whose cathedral is famous across Europe.
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Day 5:
Out to the Atlantic at last, via the pretty Portuguese walled town of Vila Nova de Cerveira. This part of the world was settled in Roman times, and the villages which line our route are dotted with reminders of the occupation of long ago. As we ride, the population thins, and we end our journey at the tip of a desolate cape, the outpost of Galicia, facing the Atlantic.
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Day 6:
A dramatic day of ocean-front cycling. Beautiful isolated beaches allow us to take a dip in the Atlantic whenever cycling becomes hot. We complete our Galician cycle today with a ride into Vigo. Too much traffic, but more beautiful beaches abound. Baiona, half way along, was the first town to hear of Columbus‘ probe of the “New World.”
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Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Departures in 2008: June 23 or 24 and Sept. 15 or 16.
Trip price includes the bike!
Optional Single Supplement: $275
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Spain
Bicycle Touring
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