Today smelled of the ocean from the first turn of the pedals. I left Nazaré with salt in the air and two gentle climbs in the legs, both long enough to wake me up but never sharp enough to spoil the mood. The ride then softened into pine trees, small villages, white houses and occasional bright flashes of the Atlantic. Near São Martinho do Porto, the bay opened for a moment; later, the Óbidos Lagoon lay calm and silver beside the route. The hardest work came late: about 6 km of steady climbing inland, warm and a little stubborn, before a tired, happy roll into Lourinhã.
