Portugal was practically uncharted cycling territory in 1990, when Goldberg and partner Nancy Roeder organized Easy Rider's first overseas tour. The company now also offers riding and walking tours in Ireland, Spain, the Canadian Maritimes and New England. The terrain offers both challenges for experienced cyclists and easy going for beginners. The journey begins in the Minho, Portugal's hilly, northernmost region, after a 50-minute airplane flight from Lisbon to Porto. Cyclists first head south, riding past vineyards, old churches, stone bridges built by the Romans, and other reminders of the country's rich past.
Friendly gentlemen wearing vests and sportsjackets play cards and drink espresso.
The itinerary includes a winery tour and dinner at Adega Cooperativa in Moncao. Dozens of tractors snake down the road outside the wine cooperative, their owners patiently waiting to sell their grape harvest. For many, this is their main source of income for the year. The gents sweat it out as their grapes are weighed and a sample is taken to determine the sugar content. The town of Caminha is a marvel.