Porto - Barcelona Day 5 Mira Portugal we are coming

Good bye Cool and Sea Beach House and Good bye Furaduoro !

Parque de Merendas do Carregal is a picnic park in the middle of a pine forest it is located near the roundabout with a fishing boat in it as seen in this picture. GPS : 40.865311, -8.656726

Yes, another 24km we will be at Sao Jacinto where we were expected to take a ferry to cross Aveiro Lagoon.

We stopped here to determine which one of the two roads to take, the bigger road R. Francisco Ramada or R. do Caminho do Norte at GPS : 40.818313, -8.669818. We then opted for the smaller road which is the secondary road hoping to see the inner of the surrounding.

Along the road we stopped by a house to admire at a windmill at the garden, the lady owner came out of the house proudly told us that it is a made in Portugal windmill. Photo credit : Anne Cheong.

Eventually the smaller road joined back to Francisco Ramada which is actually running along Aveido Lagoon.

Stopping at GPS : 40.785557, -8.683685 along R. Francisco Ramada.

Still on the main road N327 at GPS : 40.769634, -8.695228 we saw more fishing boats at the shore which I guess it's another fishing community.

In front of Estalagem Riabela Hotel
GPS : 40.768345, -8.695626

And gladly back into the red lane by a marina at Torreira (Cais da Torreira)

Everyone agreed to take a break for coffee and some snacks. Café Esplanada da Ria GPS : 40.760871, -8.700543

While our bikes and raincoats were left outside of the restaurant.

The coffee here was real "kaw" and satisfying, so was the pastry. Photo credit : Anne Cheong.

One at Café Esplanada da Ria Photo credit : Anne Cheong.

This place known as a shipyard museum called Porto de Abrigo da Torreira with neatly docked boats (colourful sampan).

Praia Do Monte Banco, Torreira one of the many beaches along the way.

The journey continued ... pedal by pedal we gained our mileage towards our destination, experiencing the scene of Aveiro Lagoon as much as we can.

The staff was kind enough to allow us to use the washroom at a Sao Jacinto Dunes Nature Reserve Centre at GPS : 40.670843, -8.724834

Happily we rode on with the continuous intermittent drizzle always keeping our faces moist as we cycle.

We have just missed the 12.25pm ferry at Sao Jacinto Ferry Terminal and had to wait for the next one which was scheduled at 2.15pm. Hence we ended up for an early lunch break at Padaria Pastelaria GPS : 40.661428, -8.729016

Local pastry was good and we just decided to go for a light lunch. Photo credit : Anne Cheong.

We had nearly 2 hours to kill let's chill out at this local joint and Padaria Pastelaria is only 80 metre to the jetty.

Aveiro Ferry appeared at the jetty and our plan to cross the lagoon has finally become possible.

The time was 2pm, more and more people appeared at the jetty and waiting to embark onto the ferry. So were a few cars in the queue waiting. Out of no where 8 Chinese people with small bicycles joining the crowd to get into the ferry.

The passage way to the ferry and it was the highlight of the day travelling on a boat for a change.

The ferry was packed, seated area was full, area for the cars was also full maybe a bit more space left for bikes.

At last all were relieved and happy for being able to embark on the ferry to continue our journey to Mira.

The other side of the lagoon is Barra de Aveiro Fort.

The white tower is part of the partially destroyed Fort of Barra (GPS : 40.645038, -8.732618) built in the 17th century. It has lost its strategic and defensive importance and contributing only to the orientation of the boats at the entrance. The German boy on roller skate was travelling alone, salute to this young man!

We lost and seek help from this super helpful man, first he was happy greeting us, gave us encouragement and promoted Portugal. Finally he advised us on the shorter route to Mira if we were rushing to reach our destination. 

We basically took the secondary route again going through the local community with houses sited very close to the road.

The road at R. da Boa Hora may not be wide but relatively it has not much of traffic on it, hence it was rather relax when riding along it.

Another rest stop at a typical bus stand.

What ever food we had in our bags were taken out for a food break, Fenn eating her hard boiled egg while the rest eating fruits at the road side of R. Principal, GPS : 40.558799, -8.753268

After 50 over kilometres we were at this stretch of empty farmland Rua Osso da Baleia where Oregon was telling me that destination is close by but we could only see only thick vegetation along the road. GPS : 40.464922, -8.795260

We found the place without much difficulty. Lius & Bruno came to open the hostel for us, it's Granny's Guest Hostel. A house that Lius & Bruno used to live in the younger days. Lius told us he was born in Room no:10 at first floor. Located at Praia de Mira, GPS : 40.455326, -8.798802

Our bikes were kept in the garage at the far end with a door in green colour.

We were recommended by the host to try the food at Salgaboca Restaurante, R. Furriel Meliciano António Henriques da Costa, GPS : 40.452381, -8.803402 Photo credit : Anne Cheong.

We walked about 750metres through the dark town to get to the place. The restaurant is cosy and spacious with lot of local wines displayed at every corner of the restaurant.

The seafood was fresh coming from the nearby sea and the dishes served were excellent, especially going together with the local wines. Photo credit : Anne Cheong.

Though the pricing might be slightly on the higher side but it was absolutely worth the try. I would recommend this restaurant to you if you happened to be in Mira. Photo credit : Anne Cheong.

Good night Granny's house and looking forward cycling again tomorrow.

The route we took for a distance of 55km inclusive of the ferry ride at Aveiro Lagoon to Mira from Ovar.