Pedro

You think they're just messing with you?

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!

It's easier with cars, if they're smart they will also take a picture of you leaving as then you could search by license plate.

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:

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.

Very cool, I’ve never been in a small plane, will have to try.

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

Was that Yoshi the japanese dude who rode a CRF 1000 like yours from Japan to here?

Same as the dinner meal, you’re clearly doing bike nights wrong as it’s still daytime!

Wasn’t a joke. I like it.

Should have named her Zoe.

I'm sorry, I've read that several times and all I get it that your wife doesn't like her own boobs?

That is the nicest looking Harley today, I think.

Or even brembo directly? There are a few Italian online shops with nice prices on brembro things, but I guess it might be a nightmare to post it to the UK.

Maybe you can get the same part number used for a Ducati, cheaper? Aprilia makes nice bikes, some with nice engines, but parts always seem to be a problem when the model goes out of production.

Had a great day on the bike today. A little warm in the afternoon but that just meant I didn't see any other bikes on the road, which I'm quite happy with. Didn't stop many times, but did take some pictures when I did. Everything is hot now, just had a shower and my washing gel was hotter than the water Now cooling and relaxing, then a walk in 20 minutes to go have a proper piece of grilled meat for dinner, probably too much to drink and then maybe I'll post a ride report for today. If I don't then it's because I really had too much to drink. More coming tomorrow. I love my bike.

Brembo special parts?

Don't know, quite expensive?

It’s mostly going to be places from which I’ve posted a lot before already, though. I’m really looking forward to not stopping for a few hours.

My bike hasn't moved properly in weeks. But just booked a room at a friend's place for tomorrow, and am leaving mid morning on a day full of small roads to get there, then heading south for another day full of more or less twisty roads and views ending at my place or at another room somewhere. It's supposed to be getting properly warm but I urgently need to get out and spend a day or two on the bike.

Looking at that video, all I noticed was that I miss German country roads

In the right color and without that big screen, I think they look nice.

What the hell is wrong with Canadians to be stepping on people's big toes?

“Woman in the car” say no more