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Usual stuff......me in the middle of nowhere, abandoned buildings, lunar landscape views, and the road eventually turning to shit! I'm Livin' The Dream!

Taken today!

Nice little vid - looks a bit dry there though. Like the old buildings, too.

I was back around noon but I still sweated my bloody nuts off! Guys of my generation can do without our balls getting overheated! What you say @Tym?

A long time ago, spanish magazine La Moto put a fast rider on a DR650 on road tires, and compared it to a CRB600 on a stretch of road used for what can best be described as a mix of motorcycle hillclimb and wrc tarmac rally, they used to have that kind of racing back then. Result was pretty much a tie.

So last two to three days: Leaving Alcoutim we only have a very short ride to get to the sea, but instead I decide to cross the Algarve via inland hills to Sagres, check google maps where it is, as it's a special place for most Portuguese. First, we had a lot of nice mountain roads, I love riding on the hills in the Algarve We try to stop for fuel, get to the station and there is a sign saying "back by 10:00", it was 10 already so we went for an expresso at the local little cafe, run by a cool but loud old lady. Took the chance to buy a ham sandwich to have for lunch later. 15 minutes later, finishing our coffee and getting our sandwiches the fuel station guy comes to let us know he's going back to work, rural Portugal! And thus, we make our way to Monchique, getting used to nice roads now, Sofia was not happy to have roadworks and a detour via 4 or 5km of dusty track, made a mess out of her Triumph, here looking like a rally bike. Climbing high to get to Monchique, Algarve's highest point, we stop for lunch. I'm sure there is nothing wrong with a butter and ham sandwich, even to people with such weird tastes like you guys. Proceeded up the hill and had another expresso at what is arguably one of the best cafe vistas in Portugal. Didn't feel like riding away from the cool weather, plus I knew a great restaurant to go for dinner here, so booked into an old mountain hotel, quite rundown but friendly, and with a great swimming pool. Had a dip, and soaked up before going to dinner, getting the previous days' extreme heat out of my memory. My favourite thing after a ride in summertime, a cool glass of white wine at the end of the day Dinner was a great cress and orange salad, and some kind of pork cut I can't explain, deliciously cooked with fresh coriander, and mint rice. I had a blast, and drank WAY too much, so by the time I got to bed lights went out quite easily. We had such a great dinner, and enjoyed the mountain so much that it was decided to visit Sagres and come back for another night. Sofia took great joy in this as the Triumph isn't at all elegant with the big bag in the rear. Making our way past Odiaxere dam: Now the thing with Sagres is that it is the southwestern most point in Portugal, and Europe as well, this is where we used to have the school that trained master navigators and pilots that would venture around the world on boats, you need only to have a little bit of romance in your heart to feel a sense of adventure coming to this place. To help you, listen to this while you see the pictures, words won't mean anything to you, but this is probably the most portuguese of songs, about sailors missing home when out on sea. It's all about feeling, and that I'm pretty sure you can get from this: Entrance to the Sagres fortification, the tip of Portugal is behind it: Next visit was only 2 or 3km away, and probably my favourite building, it's the lighthouse at Cape Saint Vincent, pretty amazing place. Going back to Monchique, I decided to show Sofia a spot with some great ocean views, takes a little dust to get there though: And again, another cafe picture since that all I do, back in Monchique: Riding back to the hotel, I take a little offroad detour to take a picture of my bike higher than windmills, as it's not that common you can do that: Back in the pool. Let me tell you, a swimming pool or a dip in the ocean is something amazing after a bike ride in the summertime. Dinner that night was octopus and sweet potatoes, slowly fried in garlic and olive oil Day after, Sofia and I parted ways, she goes back home to work and I'll stay in the Algarve a few more days, in Faro to get some sun and salt water on my skin. Thing is, before going to Faro I needed to visit Sagres again. Sagres was my first trip with Maria when I first got the 1150GS, we came to the Algarve for my birthday, and rode down the coast in June. That was the first time I visited this bit of Portugal, and have loved coming here since then as you really get a feeling of adventure and history. However, the feeling I get when coming here is a huge amount of loss and grief, along with a good remembering of those days. So, I needed to come here alone, and I did. I had a good cry sitting there by myself, and I think I needed it as it cleared my mind a little bit. Going away with Maria for a week on my birthday was the highlight of my year, and now these dates are specially painful. A copule of hours later, rode along the Algarve's south coast to Faro, to meet up with my dad. Quick ride to the beach for 2020 first ocean dip, and then dinner on a very warm evening. Dinner was little clams, we call them "conquilhas" but I don't know the word in English for them. Cooked in a little white wine and coriander, with plenty of garlic, taste of the Algarve this is. Then, just to revolt you guys, fish eggs salad. Delicious and fresh. And this morning, back to the beach: So, this is it, the end of my ride around Portugal report. I got to see a lot of new things over the last week, and am a little in love with riding in my own country and my bike, also it's always good for me to be on the bike and on the move in days like these, hope you enjoyed it too.

And then you get that quote "just doing what the bike was designed for" It didn't go down well with some when i pointed out the bike was designed to wear the tyres out before the bodywork.

I had one 10 years ago! Great bike! Does well on the tarmac.......plenty of pull in it. They haven't been sold in Europe since 1996.......if they were I'd buy a new one one right now!

Auto Wash ?

I know how that feels, brother.

Thanks for the comments so far. Just what I hoped for. #confirmationbias To me... Adventure is a state of mind. In keeping with the root of the word. "Middle English: from Old French aventure (noun), aventurer (verb), based on Latin adventurus ‘about to happen’, from advenire ‘arrive" No, as far as two wheeled adventures go the previous two days had it all... unless your measurement of 'it all' needs to include soft gravel and dropping machinery through ineptitude. Anyway. Maybe I'll share the trip. I have maps, and two pointless photos... but adventure is about personal experience and not just superficial Facebook type grandiose ego massage... right?

So, day one: Day one started late, because yesterday I had a great dinner, me and little bro had too much wine and things got silly Today, got up at about 9, by 10 Costa was walked and I was out of the house. Got on the motorway for the only 10 or 20km I expect to do on a motorway in the next few days. Made my way to the Douro river, and started to retrace the ride I last posted in Douro wine region. The 108 is a great little road, there was a big car meeting , maybe 30 cars or more, tuned and driving like idiots. Made it hard to pass them because a lot of the cars were quite fast, but very slow in other areas, started to piss me off until an old dude in a tractor caused a traffic jam and I passed them all in one go. Douro, along the 108 between Porto and Pinhão: Stopped a little for lunch, at a scenic place with a lot of shade: Lots of bikes there, a couple of groups making picnics, I had my leftover roast and spinach sandwich: Got back on the road heading to Pinhão After Pinhão, crossed the river and rode a little bit on the south side of it, a little away from the water. Temperature immediately increased as I went over the tall hills inland. Also, views started to get bigger, I needed big vistas: Road was quite nice: Got quite high Stopped to call firefighters, someone must have thrown a cigarette from a car and started a fire right on the side of the road, it was consuming a tree when I got there and about to get big. By the time my call made it through to the local department it was substantially big, but they told me they had been called and a car was arriving to deal with it. With everything that Portugal has been through in the last 4 years, I can't understand how some people can be so careless. Got lost crossing Vila Nova de Foz Coa, a few old, maybe restored houses, using the typical schist building. Stopped, to figure out what to do regarding sleeping arrangements by 4PM, didn't think there would be so many tourists and by that time most of the places were already fully booked. Finally got on the phone with a little place that only had a 5 people room/cottage, I cried the price down since I am by myself, and they were gracious enough to accept. A course was plotted to Freixo de Espada à Cinta, about an hour away. This would be less scenic but one hell of a road to ride, not wide, plenty of great mid speed corners and great rhythm. A sign warned "mountain road, use care", to which I think I ignored Arrived quicker than expected, feeling quite in need of drinking fluids. I neglected stopping to buy water in the afternoon and was feeling hot and a little thirsty. So I ignored the castles and touristy stuff since that's not really my scene, here's a picture in the distance for you Instead, found a place to park the bike with a view, under a little shade next to my accommodations for the night Enjoyed the great view, and went straight for a dip in the pool, drank half a liter of water and am now finishing this orange juice as I type this Temperature got to about 34º today (93ºF for the yanks, you are welcome) which surprised me since over the past days it's been cool. Next, will go back in the pool for a while, and relax. Then a little later will have dinner here as well, I'll keep you posted , but I feel like cold white wine to drink along with dinner

Aye boboneleg, highly strung darlings I hear ?

Poor deluded fools, imagine the disapointment after months of walking accross Africa and risking their lives in a shoddy boat, enduring months of refugee camps, to end up in the uk.

That sounds pretty cool - good destination for next time.

I will admit to throwing an old rag across it from time to time Michelle!

Another lovely ride report. The Strom looks so shiny and clean. ?

I'll have to take some shots in some of the cave house villages @Earache. That'll be a new one on you......dumb Brits paying a shit load of dosh to live in a hole in the ground!

Ahh, now come on, it can't be all that bad, plenty of people try and live in the UK, they even risk their lives to get here, missing out the chance to stay in plenty of European countries on the way. I mean, it can't be for our brilliant climate can it. I'd be more worried if I lived in a desolate wasteland with no people in it, I'd wonder why no one was there!

The DR650 is about 19kg (41lb) lighter than the RE, the only down side is the DR is a lot taller but that can be sorted if needed

Yeh.....it's very nice round there!

Only when you’re not there, ya shit!

Nice Audi ?

There’s a nice bit on the Cotswolds ?

Mine has done several trips to France and Spain, 2000 miles trips, roads and trails.

Suzuki should use the tag line “At least it’s not a Kawasaki”.

It's history repeating!

I just noticed that now @yen_powell. Just admit you're from Essex FFS! The whole of England is shit anyway so it won't make any difference.

Exactly......because that's where it's ended up now. If you look on AdvRider there's pics everywhere of guys with seriously expensive bikes posing with them when they're on the deck in some offroad location. I can remember when binning your bike wasn't something to be proud of! Now it seems to be the measure of peoples' credibility!

Yes Bob. He's my best and closest mate.

I voted for @MooN because he is a cunt.

Hi Bruce - welcome! Everytime I ride my bike it seems it's an adventure of some sort. Doesn't have to be off road or around the World - could be a nip down to the shops.

I've never bought into this adventure stuff that gets thrown about everywhere, to me the word Adventure just adds money to products for wannabees to buy. Every time i ride doesn't matter if its 5 mile or 500 mile its what i consider an adventure.

Adventure? I think most people think of it as offroad stuff.......but I'd say it was whatever anybody wants it to be given their their specific circumstances. Real names.....forums traditionally have worked on usernames. Whereas Social Media came along later and worked on real names. Followed back! ?

Whats the point when he could just google a random photo of a bike and pass it off as his, we'll never know

Where's @Buckster........out buying a camera?