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This might be a little repetitive, but if you like vineyard pictures this a good one. Around 9AM left home, 20 minutes later I take the small road along the northern bank of the Douro river, the N108, moving inland away from Porto. It's a nice 20º and I'm glad I brought a long sleeve t-shirt as a mid layer. First stop, to make a phone call, the river mist is starting to clear A few meters ahead I realize there was a much nicer place to take the same picture, so I stop again feeling a little foolish to do so This isn't amazing scenery yet, but what is so great is that it is a nice road to ride, and this place must be about 20km from the center of Porto, which is Portugal's second biggest city. No chance of enjoying the road like this on a weekend, though, as it's full of bikes and cars coming here to meet for a coffee, and that takes away from having the road to yourself. Further inland, in Baião, we start to reach the Douro wine region: Mesão Frio, and there is nothing but vines all over the place. The Douro is the first demarcated wine region in the world, they´ve been making wine here since before the Romans arrived. Around 10km to Régua, maybe, the main town in this area. Didn't take any pictures of Régua, but you're not missing much, it's a nice enough place but not really photogenic from this side of the river. After, between Régua and Pinhão, my goal for lunch, if you take the nacional road on the south bank it'll take you 20 minutes but I decide to take the really small roads on the northern bank even though I have to move a little away from the river. It was a nice choice as those were my favourite roads of the day, really enjoyed my bike there. The Chapel of São Leonardo da Bafaruda, nice and small, surrounded by trees and cool shade in a place that is unbelievably hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Hence the nice grapes. It's got some view behind it: This is a nice enough place, deserving of bringing lunch from home just for a picnic. Maybe an idea for the autumn with some chorizo and cheese. Made my way to Pinhão, amazingly fun roads, very narrow but with good tarmac, although with enough dusty and gravelly corners to make it interesting. Went past a few of the vineyards from the best wine makers, extremely well maintained and pretty. Apart from producing wine they use the farms as luxury restaurants and hotels so they should keep them looking pristine. No pictures of any of that, this detour took a little longer than expected and I was hungry When I get to Pinhão it's getting warm enough, at around 30º. I'm proper hungry and hot, and I forgot my mask so as I'm rolling into town wondering if I'll find a nice place to sit on some shade, I take the first chance I get: Daily specials were perch or mutton stew, given my effort to slim down and how hot it was, I went for the grilled perch with some fresh salad instead of potatoes, not the most amazing fish as daily specials are usually made to a budget, but it was grilled to perfection and juicy, and suited the ride perfectly. I couldn't say no to their polite offer of some cold white wine, but instead of a small jar I asked for just a glass. After eating, I lingered for a while, enjoying a second small glass because after riding through one of the world's best wine regions, it would be just rude not to. Try to take a picture of the eagle that had just catch a fish, and failed miserably, you get the scenery though. Riding back I am feeling sorry for having brought my gore tex jacket. It's not a proper warm jacket but only good up to around 25º. This is the first time I use it in warm weather so now I know. My summer jacket is 300km away at home. On the way back I stop at a hotel I stayed once before, but that time in a cold February drive with Maria, and wished I had brought a change of clothes and shorts as what I really felt like was checking into somewhere with a swimming pool and stay there. On the way back I returned by the south bank of the river. This is meant to be Portugal's best driving and riding road, but I fail to see why. Also, I start getting a LOT of polen alergies, sneezing horribly, congested sinus, the works. Having no mask I choose not to be a twat and avoid going to a pharmacy and freak everyone out by sneezing uncontrollably with no mask ? , but there are no pictures of the return ride either. Getting home, after a shower I start writing this and fall asleep on the sofa, to be waken by a call from my mate David who has already gotten some nice steaks for the grill and asking if I'll take long, so I am quick to get there and only return home by 3AM ? It was a nice day.

Nice here today, almost cool by the water.

Spanish govt restrictions say that you have to be riding for a specific reason. Therefore I was going to the bike dealer in Baza and somehow took a wrong turning! We've all done it! Amazingly I ended up at the site of the former Caniles railway station which first opened in 1894. It was located next to the former “Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes” sugar factory which shut down in 1973. The line itself finally closed in 1984, but the former station buildings have since been restored, and the railway tracks have now been replaced by country walks.

In accordance with the restrictions here in Spain I went out to get a coffee! And somehow I took the wrong turning again and ended up in the middle of nowhere! Damn Google Maps!

Get a proper summer jacket, makes all the difference in over 30° And a white or silver helmet with dark visor

I am all for using stuff hard and pushing limits of cars and bikes, but abusing just for the sake of it is something I’ve never liked doing. That’s bike that survived probably more than 30 years of use, and then some youtuber tries to kill it. To me, that just says he’s got no apreciation for things and as such doesn’t deserve to use them.

Can a Brit survive swaeating? I dare y;all to move to Guam..LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL...

Same over this side. There's a few stations still surviving as homes which is good to see.

Went for a nice walk with Costa, now for the rest of the day I’ll do nothing except clean the cars windows, buy some tshirts and shorts online, and a deck chair as well so I can get mauled by mosquitoes next time I’m back home and decide to sit outside at sunset

Now to find a valid reason to go out on the bike! Mine for today is going to be to visit some godforsaken remote place that has a cafe/restaurant at the endpoint.....to have a coffee! And then not have one!

We used to ride a lot of old railway tracks in the Valleys, the authorities have done their best to stop you getting onto them now

Amazing stuff, thanks!

Sunny but blowing a goodun here. Shopping and hopefully get back to the TDM. Might take Mandi out again tomorrow or Sunday.