Rio lima bike touring

Yesterday, we biked from Viana do Castelo, on the coast, to Ponte da Barca, a small town about 45 kms up the Lima River (Rio Lima). It was our 14th day of riding. Spectacular day of sun, following a river (ie. no big hills!) from the delta to near where it comes down out of the mountains at the Spanish border. Portugal is a narrow country, east to west, so this ride took us 2/3 of the way to the Spanish border. 

Most of the ride followed the Ecovia, a beautiful trail on the south bank of the river. Multi-use and unpaved, puddles and mud were a reality, but we're getting to be pros at navigating through puddles. The boys are now making it up nearly all the hills, even the steep ones, and there is a lot less pushing. And less yelling. Legs of steel, I say!

Lower Lima River

Market at Ponte da Lima, halfway point