Pedro

Thank you, but turns out I won't need much luck. A lot of stuff came up today and I will have to dedicate some time to work next week, so Morocco is out. Not much of a bummer because my heart wasn't really in it either, felt like I was going to do it for the sake of it. Regardless, did have a nice ride today leaving home and heading to the Algarve all the way on back roads. Left later than usual, at around 10. Everything was really pretty now that we had some rain, 2 or 3 hours later stopped for lunch by the side of the road next to a pretty field, and had my sandwich. It felt a lot colder than the thermometer showed, so it was a treat to stand under the sunshine. There was absolutely no traffic, three vehicles passed during the entire time, so I had fun taking pictures standing in the middle of the road. 20 minutes later, and I stopped for a post lunch espresso, like you do. Heading South on the N2, this used to be Portugal's main road if you were to drive through this part of the country. Getting to the Algarve, I took to some smaller roads. weather, the twisties and the tarmac were perfect, but I took a detour via some dirt roads with some nice views. The destination would be the same were you to stick to nice tarmac roads, and only a 10 or 15 minute delay by taking these. Below the tarmac bit that will take me the last 10 or 15km to the seaside, which you already see in the distance in the previous pictures. I love this part of the Algarve, riding in hills and mountains but not more than 10 or 15km from the beach and with a clear view to it from above. After a warm shower, I went for a walk. This is the same place I stayed in last year before leaving Portugal, watched the end of the sunset by the water, and started being attacked by mosquitoes, so went for a walk.

Wasted opportunity, not having a traillie with this engine.

Southern Portugal today

Tomorrow morning I’m setting off on a few days trip, I’ve been strugling a little lately, bad emotions and an overall dark mood. Nothing sorts my mental health (such a millennial expression!) like spending a few days on the bike so that’s what I’m going to do. The plan is to head south and avoid rain as much as possible, I’m packing my passport because Morocco is an obvious destination, I like going South. Instead of posting a big ride report like before, I’ll try to upload a few pictures each day and just a few words along with them. One sidecase is packed, the other containing all the clothing and laptop still isn’t. Was just visited by @Mateiro and cooked a lovely oven codfish with tiny tatters for dinner, and am now enjoying rum by the fire and watching Friends on tv. Seems the other luggage is going to be left for tomorrow morning. Temperatures are now getting colder, but I’m hoping for blue skies tomorrow, and getting on a small road taking my time heading south. Small roads take longer, but also allow me to take work calls without my clients (and more importantly, bosses/suppliers) realising I’m not in the office. See you tomorrow.

The Supershaft!

For the test! And we are.

Pretty cool to have sand compact enough to ride a bicycle on.

Study harder next time, Pete. You're either on the computer talking to your online friends or riding the motorcycle!

Just put the washing on, today I'll go the supermarket in the old E30. It's starting to get cold now, although it's clean blue skies. In the afternoon I'll pack the bike and maybe having a friend over for dinner tonight. Tomorrow I'll head south leasurely, for a few days.

Your Bike, Out, Landscape format

Bike Of The Month, Bike. Come on.

Bike hasn’t moved in two years, Phil, and it’s not yours now. Maybe change to one of the blue one out somewhere?

Not today, but a few days ago, Rhodesian Ridgebacks standing in line to get their first vaccination from @Sofia

My submission today, but I am counting on replacing it before the 27th.

Looks like the topbox is open in the shade but closed in reality. VAMPIRE TOPBOX?

Look at this, I got the month right and everything this time. EDIT: and yes, I went to double check after posting the thread

I can tell by the general mood over the last few days that the tension is building up, everyone is surely eager and waiting for November's BOTM. This is easily understood since Motorcycle Rider's BOTM is growing to be a pretty coveted title all over the internet You can all now submit your November BOTM entries in this thread. Simple and few rules, as always: your bike somewhere, taken this month, on an horizontal picture. Have at it, you can post whatever you might consider to be your entry and then post another one later on, only the last entry will be considered by me. I will start the vote thread sometime around afternoon / evening on the 27th, time might be uncertain so consider that as the deadline for submissions.

Get your finger out, get a coffee flask, go for a spin, and take a picture.

Don't worry guys, you've got November Bike Of The Month to look forward to. Submissions will start tomorrow, and as always it'll be such an exciting event it'll lift your spirits high above mundane issues like politics and existencial dispair.

Yes, ok, but cod is caught far away, or not?

Know that road. Top man, class!

Portugal’s TET is harder than what I would want to do on my bike, I think. I’m more of a leasure touring on rough roads.

Good stuff. I was looking up stuff on google maps a few days ago and somewhere in your area looked interesting: Calar de Santa Barbara. Seems there's a couple of kms of uphill dirt road to make it interesting.

I had them on a bap for lunch, really liked them. They did stink and made for interesting for a couple of hours, luckily the weather was nice and I rode with the helmet open most of the time