Pedro

Me and Sofia spent a couple of days in Espinho for my little brother's birthday before going on a ride around the North of Portugal. Having a day with no plans, we went to look at bike dealerships in and around Porto, with a stop for a very typical northern lunch, something Sofia rarely gets to experience since she's rarely in Porto. First, getting her seated on some nice GSs And then the bike I really went there to see, I am going to try and take one for a testride and see what it's like, looks nice in person: And then, a nice lunch of Rojões: The restaurant on the outside, it's a locals' non touristic spot: And then, a stop at Triumph Porto, where I was made to sit on a Tiger, very comfy bike though, and has a 30 liter fuel tank as well: Across the street to that, we have the best dealership of the day, and a bike I really like. Can't see it fitting my motorcycling very well, but it is a nice thing. The next day, we start our tour, heading North straight to Valença, not to be confused with Valencia in Southern Spain. Valença is a small town next to the border of Portugal and Spain in the Minho river, it's got an old part that is inside the fortified walls, which is what we visited. Sofia's grandad was born here, his dad was stationed here in the military, before being sent to WW1. The military lived in houses that no longer exist right around where we parked our bikes. And then took a walk to look around and also to find an espresso. Valença is very well fixed up, very polished and very touristy. Flocks of Spaniards wash over it for visits and meals, it's very pretty but not really my thing. We moved on, now entering a special wine region that is not very well known internationally. Between Monção and Melgaço is a DOP region that grows very special Alvarinho wine, used mostly for Vinho Verde but normal white wine too, it's very nice. The region is very pretty and filled with history. We stopped to check out what looked like a cool abandoned square by the small road we were taking, and came upon a small place with a big historic significance. The little place of Ponte do Mouro, it's where 648 years ago the Duque Lancaster came from England to meet D. João I, to arrange the wedding of Philipa of Lancaster with John I (the first), creating the Windsor Treaty in 1386, which is the oldest alliance between two nations. Big History for such a tiny location. My theory is that they both got heavily drunk on local Alvarinho wine, and drunkenly promised eternal friendship between their countries, but that's just my theory @Sofia is very enthusiastic about History, and I got to hear of how great Philipa was, and how her marriage with D.João I originated the best kings and leaders, and characters in Portuguese history. We rolled off, but this being a tiny region, we stopped 20 minutes later to cool off as the sun was coming out, a little before 3PM, for a cold water and a sip of that local cold wine they talk about. Just a sip, as I don't drink on the bike. We stopped on a cafe just on the road, and this is the sign to the entrance of the farm next door Hey @boboneleg, look, bins! Shortly after, made it to Melgaço, and went to walk around to see the castle and show Sofia around the place. From there we were too far away get to Tras os Montes or Galicia through nice roads, so I hunted around and found a deal for a nice room in Ponte da Barca, which is a nice small town in the heart of the Minho region. I think it's a hidden gem and wanted to show it to Sofia, so we went. Via some nice but easy twisty roads through wild forests and vineyeards, by 18:30 we were there. Great hotel room view, and I do like a deal. The river is just on the other side of the gardens on the previous picture, and we would have plenty of sunlight time to have a little walk around town before dinner, it's a small place. I found a small very old school restaurant for dinner, it's the building on the right in the next picture. Not much choice anyway as tuesday is the day when most restaurants close here. View from the restaurant. We had hake filets cooked like a portuguese grandmother would. It was a very nice meal, watered with local vinho verde, I loved it. And then a short stroll across the bridge, as night arrived. In the morning, it was raining, so we took our time to get up and lazily walk up the street for a coffee. This is by far the wettest region of Portugal, but I was determined to leave late and chase the rain instead of riding under it. Only after 11 did we roll out, by midday it was already properly hot under the rain stuff so we stopped to take all that off and visit Lindoso Castle. We had avoided the rain, great success! We left Lindoso, and minutes later crossed into Galicia, a couple of hours later through nice flowing roads that much pleased Sofia in her Speed Triple, we stopped at Allariz. In Allariz, at 15:00, there was not a place to eat a snack, only two proper restaurants for proper sit down meals. We didn't vibe with the place, so had a water and carried on, I booked a table at my favourite restaurant near Bragança and headed there. Almost two hours later, we're entering back into Portugal: As always, a great dinner was had near Bragança, I didn't take pictures. The next day we'd roll south and onto Serra da Estrela, I'll continue later.

They look very nice, lovely paint and the seat is one of the comfiest there is, at least when new.

I thought the same

There were pictures of people asleep by the swimming pool, and I have no idea of how much wine and gin was consumed, but it was pretty civilized.

You say that, but maybe she's the one. Nobody chooses their feelings!

This is from a few weeks ago, I helped Sofia and her friends with guiding a meeting of the Triumph Moto Clube Portugal in the Douro. She is now president of the club and this would be her first meeting as such. There were a few people coming from different locations, and we'd ride up the Douro valley, stop for lunch and then ride to the hotel for Gins, swimming pool, and dinner. I waited under some shade, as it was about to be a really hot day. First one arriving: Then Sofia arriving with a few bikes from Lisbon, already 300/350km into the day for them: Most people have known each other for a while now, but I only knew a couple. Arriving from Viseu, Agostinho on a very pretty Rocket and João from the Algarve with a Speedmaster. Not everyone rode in on a Triumph though, it's a welcoming club. They would in fact be chasing my GS for the whole day and next morning Off we went and onto the restaurant for lunch. I am not used to guiding big groups, and the twisty roads with multiple chances for the group to be split and lost made it slower than I'd like, but we got there. João, who organized the trip was riding a Kove since his Triumph had fallen off a hill and still not fixed, and the Kove had a bright yellow headlight, which came in handy as he was closing the group and was very easy to spot in the distance. Even more people were joining us at the lunch stop, and I think in total it must have been 12 or 13 bikes. Here we are, before all bikes were together: https://youtube.com/shorts/-JwFELXx4Kw?si=doJFL1wjJ7N9cJQq Lunch stop, very scenic but the 36º made it hot out in the open balcony. Rideout after lunch was tricky, very hot and the group took forever to start moving. Eventually we made it to the hotel and I retired to the coolness of the AC in my room to recover a little from the pollen allergies that were driving me insane. Later, gin tonics by the swimming pool got the mood going, and dinner was enjoyed: After dinner it was still warm, made the gins flow easier and people were happy. Snooker started as serious but that didn't last for long In the morning, I packed up and while people were dragging themselves around I rode up to Armamar in Sofia's bike to fuel it up. Sunday morning in a rural town, and the dogs were coming to town There was posing for group pictures and all the Triumphs lined up, spirits were high. We rode out and within 30 minutes stopped for the morning espresso One of the Speed Triples suffered a broken alternator and had to be towed home, this meant the group was broken and while some went on to do some sightseeing a few of us stuck around waiting for the truck before meeting them later for lunch. Late sunday morning, it took a while to arrive but once there it was all very efficient. All but one bike in front of our lunch stop. Food was great, good laughs were had but I have no pictures of that. Eventually we said our goodbyes and we all headed home to different locations around the country, Sofia was very happy: 2 or 3 hours later, via country roads pestered with sunday afternoon traffic, we stopped for a cold water at the cafe we met the previous day: A good weekend was had, not much in the way of riding motorcycles but a lot of laughs and hanging around and socializing. Made a few friends, which was the highlight of the meet.

Quite the opposite, we pretended to act in favor of both.

It is, that's near Ericeira, it's a world surf reserve and one of the most constant waves in Portugal.

It does look massive on top of that tiny stand.

I don’t know …

Terribly sad today, Sofia’s puppy, Lea, passed away yesterday night. I knew her for 9 years now, and we were very dear to each other. It was a rough night and we now have a dog that doesn’t understand why the favourite thingin his world is not around, it’s heartbreaking.

I meant it as a joke, but not directed at you or your daughter!

Have you ever thought about buying your daughter a Transit, @Saul? She could drive the CBF to places. Take a page from Six’s book.

So you can write text!

Congratulations @boboneleg, great picture!

Keeping it open for another day, to untie.

You're just being rude now.

The low ride height girly harley with fork gaiters?

I voted for Bob. It looks like he's trying to win it on account of hiding behind the guy with the beard and cool classic bike, but nevertheless it's a brave picture to submit to the Internet's eternity.

Sorry, Road Kind FSTDRF

No Electra Glide this month, then.

It seems like the heat is arriving with a vengeance here in Portugal. Tomorrow we're supposed to be facing 38º and over in the interior, which doesn't suit me as I'm meeting Sofia's Triumph club for a ride with a sleepover in the Douro. It'll be blistering hot and my car's AC would feel a lot more like an adequate choice, but we can't all be like @Six30. There's going to be gin tonics by a swimming pool too, so I went shopping. I just hope it's not too unbearable as I've not gotten heat yet this year, just now coming back home the ride was coldish and wet with thick fog. What are you all up to?

Non straight tyres on the GS today

Here we have our four submissions for this month, you have one vote and the poll will close automatically tomorrow at 21:00. @boboneleg's Vespa 300 GTS, styling and profiling for awareness towards men's health: @JustaPor's Honda CB750 Hornet, looking mean stopped by the Tejo River in Portugal: @Pedro's BMW R1200GSA, exploring Serra de Montemuro in Portugal: @Saul's Honda CB750 Hornet, out for a ride racing around the south of England: Few valid submissions this month, but I'm just happy I didn't have to research how to spell Buckster's Harley's model.