And Then the Storm Came

     Arriving in Guimaraes we ended up passing the Tourismo on our way to the campground. Another LM! The Municipal Campground, located 7K up a steep hill called the Penha, had closed for the season. We thanked our good fortune and were provided with a list of accomodations from the Tourismo.

     The list contained a range of accommodations and their prices with a map to find them and we set off to find one based on area and price. The first one that we came to was the Residencial D'Avis Mestre, spanking clean with a red carpet out front. It looked too nice for traveling cyclists.

Residencial D'Avis Mestre

     But Lowell said to go in anyway just to get a feel for things and next thing you know we had a key in hand. They offered us a 10 Euros less to exclude breakfast and since we didn't spend that much money on breakfast anyway it was a winning situation, a great price in a beautiful residencial. Our bikes were stored in a room at the back and we were off to a fabulous room with double french doors and balconies, giant pillows, internet and TV and the weather report.

     "How many nights?" asked the receptionist Alexandra and we answered probably just one, but we shall see. However the weather report boded quite ill and one night turned into three. Laughing and giggling the next day as rain poured down our french doors and winds howled around the tiled roof, we chanted "what a great day for a ride!"

   How lucky we were that the campground was closed! Trees and power lines were down and the narrow streets were littered with the glass of broken windows and shattered plant pots. Broken umbrellas were scattered here and there.
   The rain gave us time to relax and wander in and out of all the Pastellerias, visit the castle birthplace of Portugal and get lost and refound in the narrow streets of Guimaraes. Lowell indulged in a trim from a barber and we even found (and delighted in!) a vegetarian restaurant, Cor de Tangerine, across from the castle.

   In our wanderings we passed what appeared to be a bicycle shop but stepping inside we found a Mountain Biking Club. What a great experience to meet and talk with passionate cyclists who invited us on their upcoming rides and offered to personally tour us around their local mountain bike trails. Unfortunately for us we only had our touring bikes and we were sad to miss the opportunity to ride with such welcoming cyclists. They even gave us a gift of the club's Portuguese flag signed by all of their football players which is now proudly displayed in our home bicycle shop! Photos taken and addresses exchanged, we hope to welcome them someday to mountain biking in California!
   But the next day dawned clear and with disappointment to leave Guimaraes we loaded up our bicycles. We have to give huge thanks to our fabulous receptionist Alexandra who made phone calls adjusting our reservations in Porto, arranged safe storage for our bicycles, made us cafe leites and spoiled us. We highly recommend Residencial D'Avis Mestre for traveling cyclists. Bidding Alexandra our goodbyes we headed out towards the coast for the last days of our trip.

Alexandra, Receptionista Extraordinaire