Pedro

What sort of speeds can she maintain comfortably on the sorts of roads you do? Is the little 125 too slow or is it just her confidence?

Cold morning, but only blue skies and the rains had all moved North, we headed South towards the Algarve hills, happy times! There, in the distance, it's the ocean sparking behind the hills. These are very nice motorcycling roads and usually deserted By the afternoon, we made it to Portimão, met up with our friends, looked around the pits and saw some people riding around. Scott Redding's training bike, pretty cool! He was obviously very fast, but the event was being used by a couple more racers for training, so the fastest guys in the faster group were really fast! Cool van We made it to our hotel, which had a nice view with the track in the distance: Someone had a blue cocktail, and spirits were high. Next day, and it was Sofia's birthday. We left the bikes in the garage, the plan was to walk to the track and hang out with Niel and Anne a little, walk around and then have dinner somewhere. Breakfast with the track in the distance, I like that! The dip at the end of the straight must be intense on a fast bike: There's a crest as you exit the last corner into the straight, faster bikes would float their front wheels for quite a distance after that: By mid afternoon it started to look like rain so most people cut their track time short. It was a three day event and nobody seemed like they wanted to ruin a nice experience by riding in the damp, it started to drizzle a little after that. I had a buzz around the pits in the Suzuki, it's incredible how easy and docile it is if you don´t poke many of the 200 horses. By the time we made it to the hotel the rain had officially arrived. We had a friendly van driver give us a lift to dinner, and much fun was had. The food was great and wine flowed merrily. It was a great evening filled with laughs and tales of motorcycling and life. In the morning the rain was all rained, we packed and left to visit Sagres before going to our home for a few days. Overlooking the beach and my favourite lighthouse in the distance, from the tip of Sagres: Stopped in Lagos for a bite to eat but got lost inside the old town. So parked the bikes and went on foot to find a snack. Just so you don´t think it's all scenic locations : Exiting Lagos we stopped for a while for some calls. After getting home I went to a local supermarket to fetch groceries for dinner, GS went into shopping trolley mode with the luggage stretched wider. Next few days, Algarve.

@Sofia was in need of a lazy holiday in the sunshine, even if warmth would be too much of an ask in January. A friend kindly let her use a holiday home in the Algarve for a few days so a plan was made to head south, stop by the Portimão track to visit our friend Niel who was there for a trackday, and then hang around the Algarve. She didn't really know the seaside that well, and that gave us a chance to take a few little trips on the bikes. I headed out of my place by myself to then meet up with Sofia, had a couple of hours to kill so took the long way there, with a little exploring detour. The previous days' rain caused the compacted dirt roads to be a little soft, and eventually came across some mud, I took the chance but it got worse after that and I don´t fancy mud on my bike, more so when it's fully loaded. Turned back, crossed the inicial mud bit, and stopped for a picture. The hunt for Bike Of The Month picture started Back on the road, and cruised happily on nice tarmac. Not for long, after a little bit took another short dirt road detour, this one I knew and it's a safe mud free one. Stopped as the dark cloud above turned into heavy rain, but before putting my phone away took another picture: Sadly that pristine dirt road is not longer than a few kms, got back on tarmac and rode out from under a heavy downpour, left the dark rain clouds behind and I stop again, now for a phone call. The view around was typical north Alentejo, I love entering this area of the country. The rain was now gone and the skies were blue, quite cold though. Sofia was on the motorway on her way to our usual meeting point and I waited. Half frozen, she arrives: Unfreezing over a hot late and some chicken pies. These are similar to the pies you have in the UK, but tiny and chicken inside. After transferring her big bag onto my bike , as someone likes her Speed Triple nice and nimble, we head out for a short hour or two heading to our final destination for the night. It was getting really cold and maybe about to rain farther ahead, so we stopped so Sofia could put her overalls on and heat up a little. After some more rain a great rainbow appeared. First stop to try and get it on a picture, big fail, but the rain was doing wonders for the green fields around. However, a little farther ahead and I get my chance: By 4, we made it to our home for the night. Sofia went for a warm up shower and relax by the fire, I took the last hour of daylight and went out searching for dirt roads around the lake. Didn't take many pictures as the day was quickly ending, found a few choice nice alternatives to tarmac but they all ended in a private property closed gate Last stop to put on navigation and find my way back to the hotel before night. Sunset here increases the chance of deer and wild boar crossing the road substantially. In fact I spotted a deer coming back, made it just in time for dark. Next day, Portimão.

Hornet 750, my guess!

I’ve lost my license once, they took it for two months but there were no points system at the time. I had one normal speeding fine, one dangerous driving offence, and one serious speeding fine, in less than a year. Currently, I have a couple of small speeding ones but don’t check the website, I worry they’ll know I’m nervous

I think so.

What @Catteeclansaid, plus a light filling on the edges of the pads if they’re squared edges. If you’re up for it? Like so:

Hanged around Portimão all day today, now I kind of want something to do a trackday on.

There was van action today, something for everyone. And also :

It bothers me that you don’t get an invitation to visit someone for a warm dinner at least.

I was looking at it for miles waiting for the right spot

Report impending over the next few days

How can January be a dry month with all that rain?

I once faked covid symptoms, that was an easy out to a trip to Spain.

You could go and visit them, get drunk on their booze and then you can’t drive home! There, solved it!

And also took Maria’s car to go shopping

Went up to the Dainese outlet and somehow now solved my pants problem by buying something with gore tex, plus my first ever pair of proper touring boots. I’m used to more casual boots more like work boots with proper leather and stitched soles. Hopefully this’ll feel better in the proper winter and rain. Will leave my rain gear at home, and that’ll free some space in the right case.

Don’t be so hard on yourself… See? You’re doing something!