As my time here in Portugal is coming to a close, I decided to do something a little different – at least for me. I signed up for an e-bike tour to do a little exploring off the beaten path. I have two road bikes at home and my Harley but I had never ridden an e-bike before today. When I was younger and prior to three knee surgeries, I was probably one of those bicycle ‘purists’ who looked down on those riding e-bikes. No more!! I think I’m a convert and see an e-bike in my future some time.
I met my guide not very far from our condo and found out that I was a tour group of one! Just me and the guide. It doesn’t get more personalized than that. The guide, Federico, was Italian but spoke Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French and English! (That’s pretty humbling!) His wife is French and they have lived in Portugal for a few years where they have a bicycle touring business. In the summers they are based in Peniche which is north of Lisbon up on the Silver Coast but in the winters, because of the milder climate, they move down to Lagos.
Federico gave me a quick e-bike lesson and we were off. The first part of the ride was primarily on dirt tracks and I was very thankful for the electrical assist as we were climbing up some of the hills. I haven’t really done any mountain biking since I was a kid – before they called it mountain biking, so this was a bit strange to me after thousands of miles on my road bikes. Nonetheless, a bicycle is a bicycle and I managed to keep both wheels on the ground.
Federico took me all kinds of places I would not have otherwise seen. He was a really friendly guy and we had a great time riding together. The ride was supposed to last 1 1/2 hours and we didn’t get back to his van until a little after two and one half hours had elapsed. We even stopped for coffee along the way down near the marina. Needless to say, even with the ‘e-assist’, I felt like I got a workout by the time we stopped.
Most of the people we’ve met here are warm and generous. It’s a very comfortable place. I have one more full day here before I head back to Lisbon to begin my journey to New York for Thanksgiving. I am signed up to take a boat ride in the morning to view the cliffs from the sea but that will depend a little on Mother Nature. I think there is rain in the forecast so it might be a wet boat ride! The adventure continues.