Won't Get Fooled Again

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Imagine a nice comfortable well-paid job where nobody minds if you screw up every single day.  Sounds appealing? Just apply to the BBC Weather Department.  Don't worry if you don't know anything about analysing complex weather data....nor does the dick who prepared today's forecast for the Lisbon area.

Never mind the sun having a big hat on, it wasn't even wearing a fascinator.  The promised day of unbroken sun and highs of 20 turned out to be cool and overcast.   We certainly won't get fooled by the BBC again!

We are staying in a 5* resort hotel where cyclists are about as welcome as a fart in a spacesuit.  As we crossed the marble lobby we could see a look of revulsion spread across the receptionist's face.  I think he was hoping we had just come in to ask for directions and when I showed him a valid booking confirmation I thought he was going to cry. He quickly got a grip and checked us in but I did notice him reaching for the hand sanitiser as we headed to the lifts.  He got the last laugh though because he booked us into a room with a double bed.

Today was a very lovely 70 miles in the middle of nowhere.  Sometimes half an hour would pass between cars as we cruised though vinyards and cork plantations. At about mile 50 my legs reminded me that that the last time I cycled 70 miles with panniers was a year ago and I was very happy to stop when we got here.  

We are only staying in a 5* place because it is the only hotel around and, at Potugal prices, isn't stupidly expensive.  A man in the lobby asked us for the keys to our bike padlocks and said he would take them to the secure bike store.  We haven't seen him or them since and I am reminded of the bit in  Pink Panther film where a guy in the lobby of a hotel offers to take Clouseau's hat and coat then runs off with them.

Tonight we will don our least revolting clothes for dinner but doubt if we will blend invisibly.  Tomorrow....Evora.



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