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I really felt like riding somewhere, I missed being on the bike, but had no real plan or destination that I felt like visiting. Called my friend that owns a small hotel and booked a room, at least now I had a destination and with my favourite restaurant next to it as a big bonus. It was supposed to be getting warm but I had no plans to do sightseeing so that wasn't bothering me much. I had some delays, and missed a little bit of the morning, it was almost 10 by the time I made it to the Douro riverside, stopped for a coffee. Rode up the Douro, temperature was perfect in the morning, around 25º, couldn't ask for better. Stopped for a phone call By midday I had gotten to around Regua and temperatures shot upwards of 30º, to then stay between 36 and 38 the rest of the day. The Douro valley absolutely cooks in the summer, and this area here is the hottest, also where the best wine is made so that climate probably works. Took some of my favourite small roads near the river, quite narrow so two cars really have to squeeze to pass each other. I regretted not bringing a snack from home, as this would have been a perfect lunch stop. I had decided to try to not look at my phone for navigation, to make it a little more challenging. I did end up in a couple of dead ends as some of these roads just lead to a small train stop by the river, but then again they are nice roads so doing them twice isn't a chore: At around 3PM, now overheated a little, so stopped for a snack in an air conditioned cafe. Just after the cafe starts a road I know well and found by chance a few years ago. It felt nice to put my now cool helmet and jacket, and walked back out to the 38º heat feeling refreshed. I took the tiny road away from the tourist route, I love this tiny road, shame it's not very long as I could ride it all day long. Continuing farther north, and now away from the river, the landscape changes A stop under some shade to drink what was now quite warm water, blergh! I think I'll try to find some thermal fleece I can use to carry water bottles. Bike safely tucked away for the night, in time for a cool shower and a little relaxation in the air conditioned room, I think I did around 500 or something kms with no navigation except to get out of Bragança (a big town) after fueling up, pretty happy with that. I had high hopes for dinner, but little did I know I would almost risk my life that night... a 20 minute walk to the restaurant, first through a small village, most people living here are of pretty advanced age even though they still work the land, now taking the cool evening to relax outside. I named it Pig McQueen, runaway pig making everyone chase him around the village, look in the distance in the street: Lovely meal, along with pretty chilled red wine because fuck the rules! After dinner, conversation was struck and a few of us stayed out enjoying the cool night and having a drink. Some played cards, and I was very surprised to learn that spanish cards are different, wtf? People might have gotten silly, and we even had magic performed: At a little past 1 I headed back, now taking a short route along a road, I noticed a car with high beams on coming from behind me, I looked back and only had a moment to jump out of the edge of the road onto the bushes. This was on the outside of a wide enough corner, but the driver was either drunk or asleep and the car had one wheel already out of tarmac and where I was walking. They didn't stop. Diving to the bushes scratched the shit out of my arm and hand, ripped my tshirt but I was happy to get to bed safe and sound, even though I just plucked a few more tiny thorns from my had just now, a day later. Blackberry bushes! My plan was to wake up early and get out while still cool outside. Staying up late the previous day and a very sore arm and neck caused that plan to completely fail as I sat down for breakfast at well past 9 I had a big day ahead, again trying to not look at navigation and just follow street signs, now in a part of Portugal I don't really find easy to navigate. First couple of hours were very easy as I know those roads quite well, quite fast and flowing, in contrast to the previous day. Stopped for some water in a very cool village near the Serra da Estrela, very old and built amongst huge boulders. Drinking warm water was appreciated, though. Another stop, now to check some emails. This town was very nice, looked great and tidy inside the castle walls too. I'll surely come back with more pleasant weather, as the heat was on full force now. From there to the top of Serra da Estrela was a breeze, in less than an hour and we're at the tallest place in mainland Portugal, temperature there was very enjoyable at 22º, provided some brief relief. The road climbing from Gouveia up is just great, so I didn't stop and took it in a nice rhythm. At the top and on the other side: No more pictures, from there on there was another 4 or 5 hours to get home. Stopped for fuel at a nice gas station with very friendly staff, and sat down enjoying their AC and a bottle of very cold water for a while. I almost didn't want to leave. I hope it'll cool a little over the next days, so that I can at least enjoy a short ride or two from my place. Today was another 600km, that's the sort of distance @Earache does before breakfast and it took me most of the day

But it got better. I turned off of the highway and down a dirt road towards my destination. Rode about 45 miles of this to get to the canyon I wanted to ride.....

there's someone somewhere needing this for their project. Trying to have a clear out in the sheds but everything's going on the keep it pile.

Passed an old homestead out in the middle of nowhere just outside of the canyon. Tough living out here back in the day. But it's a stone house (Pete would have loved it) as there are no trees to get wood from . Truck looks to be from the 1940's era ...

So naturally, I got lost as fuck and spent 3 hours trying to find my way out. I kept making 20 mile long circles that led me back to where I started. It was now about 100F and I'm sweating like a pig and wishing I was drinking a cold beer someplace. I came upon my track in (the only tracks on the road due to the rain) and followed it back out. And to add to the fun, I'm almost outta fuel ...

This is a really weird canyon. The paved section is about 80 miles long and it just ends into the dirt. There are several trails leading out but all are unmarked and don't show up on my GPS ....

Finally made it to the reason I came here in the first place. Some high quality glyphs not too far off of the road ...

And finally into the canyon. And get this; it's paved! None of the roads for 40 miles around it are, but it's very nice tarmac. Weird.

Up and out at 0500 yesterday, headed to Utah. 38F / 3.5C as I headed out. Made to Berthoud Pass (next hill over from my house) at sunrise ....

Don't be silly, girls can't ride like that.

Not really saying much, is it?

Just looked at my previously clean and black boots - covered in this weird,. white clay material. Too dark last night to look at the bike, but it's gotta be covered in this crap. Pete would just die.....

Yes they have. I like how the guy who drew this drew himself (on the right side) with a big cock and drew his hunting buddy's with no cock at all. Good sense of humor!

Made it to my hotel in downtown Ogden at 7:30 PM after 750 miles on the day. Greeted with rock star parking...

Dating of these things are all over thew place - supposedly between 950-1100 AD. Still, fairly old and cool to look at. Although some are more impressive than others in the area ....

As you'd guess due to it's remoteness, there are no other people in the canyon at all. Road is racetrack smooth. But they have these weird drainage swales every mile or so. Huge dips in the road that would fuck you up at speed. But they are well marked...

It started to rain a bit and the road was super slick making corners a joy. But I was getting close to the canyon .....

Five hours and 350 miles later and I'm outta the hills and into the flats of western Colorado / Eastern Utah. Whole lot of nuthin' out here and the temps are now around 93F / 34C. Elevation is only about 5,000' feet above sea level so that makes a huge difference in temps.

When it's really hot a non alcoholic beer is a great drink for lunchtime, it's refreshing and hidrates and very light as well. Also it's not smart to have alcohol when getting dehydrated and it's the first thing you have all day. And they did have juice boxes ... I just chose not to have my regular Bongo!

Hard lifes, though. They're over 80 and working fields in all weathers in farming that provides little more that subsistence, young people have moved away to towns and major cities, or abroad, so it's a little depressing and lonely in there. Sure they wouldn't want to live somewhere busy, but it's tough going. Hope it changes and life comes back to those places, otherwise when this generation dies off those villages will be completely deserted. Not a fan of the heat either, but you just have to pretend to not care about it and bluff it out.

Kool Bike

Is this it

not if I already guessed

twat

twat

@Slowlycatchymonkey gaff ? bit of tom peepery bob ?

Penicillin?

There you go

Paolo and I are having a weekend in Minehead , nice day today……

They look like @Six30's handiwork probably one of his ancestors

Similar ditches as you find in Morocco. I suppose that canyon has flash floods that just drag rocks that destroy small bridges, easier to have the water and debris pass over concrete and just clean it after. Same reason why in the flood areas you might have tarmac instead of a dirt road that washes out easier? That 45 mile long dirt road, that is the thing. That's just bliss!

Berries " of color" is more appropriate.

Made it up to my room and have a view of the Mormon church in town. Maybe they're telling me soemthing...

If I'm gonna die out here, at least the scenery is nice....

Pics look like they were taken on Mars by the Mars Rover or some shit ....

Would love to hear the exhaust note of this Beast.... GSX-R 1700 IL6

Nice tour of the countryside there @Pedro....some of those roads look quite inviting.

They have, it used to be such an iconic shape in motorcycling and now it looks completely generic. There was absolutely nothing wrong with this:

Me and the wife coming back last Sunday i'm too tight to buy the photo so just a watermarked screen shot LOL

A well ridden Sportster would piss all over your barge on a twisty road

That happens daily. The official breakfast drink in the north is a couple of beers with a tiny Martini or Favaios mixed in, they do that because if you're just having normal straight beer for breakfast you're considered a drunk

Gonna have an entire bike in the "keep" pile soon.

I was gonna ride today - but it's already 85F / 30C at 7:45 AM so I might just bag it and go get some beers someplace in town. We'll find out, I guess. More later.......

Non alcoholic beer? Did they ran out of juice boxes ? You're not getting drunk with one beer!

A coupla F-15's from the AirShow I recently attended...

Superb @Pedro , some stunning scenery and really cool roads and villages . It looks people in this part of Portugal still know how to live life , none of that rushing about for no reason You can keep those temps though, it's going to get up to 29c here today and I'm sweating already .

Yuk, you've consider the shape of me, I'm flattered but I feel sick now

Don't hesitate....you won't regret it! Feeling pretty blessed this year....got to enjoy a kwik helicopter ride over the 4th of July....& then now to get a ride w/ a friend I love & respect, who happens to be a Flight Instructor on top of that....it was a blast! This guy knows more about planes than I'll probably ever know about Bikes--