4 years, 4 ride reports! 2018 to 2021, Portugal as a playground.

[Sofia]

 

For the past 4 years, around this week and on this day, me and @Pedro have been out around the country together, riding roads of stunning scenery, eating special food and enjoying mega good wines! 

Its no news for anyone how much I appreciate Pedro and the blessing that is having him to share so many great things in life.  It is difficult to find a better friend, more dedicated and caring, that remembers the little things I have forgotten I love!!  There are many reasons to praise him, but I shall not do that, we dont want him to get a big head!  .Even if he absolutely deserves the praise and equaly the big head!!

  

We have been literally everywhere, from North to South, East to West, from the gorgeous beaches to the green forests, from the flat lands to the big moutains,  in the last 4 years we have travelled extensivelly in this week of June that marks the beggining of Summer time and warms the skin and the soul. 

We are, indeed, fortunate to be able to enjoy such pleasures ( and some luxuries! ) together, having a lot of fun on our favourite form of transportation! @Pedro always on the big 1200 white Mammoth, me on 2 different creatures, the Tuono 1000, first edition, 100% V2 Mille rawness and then the Speed Triple  1050R, a more well mannered companion.. 

 

In 2018 I rode from Germany to Portugal on the Aprilia Tuono ( another possible ride report! ), we met in the center of Portugal and traveled  up all the way to the very top of the country., to the  Peneda-Gerês National Park,.

Its a vast area of unspoiled wilderness, with granite boulders coming out of the ground and rocky peaks as far as the eye can see. It is a magical location, with hidden forests and lakes, a freshness  that only crystal clear water can give.  Its rugged hills are home to deer, wolves and golden eagles. Many small roads criss-cross the whole of the 70.000 km2 of this beautiful nature reserve, offering us the chance to enjoy many hours of discovery.and adventure.

The beggining, first stop! Still wearing waterproof cloathing, soon to come off at the next stop, the Sun was coming out of the cloads and little Snoopy could come out of his bespoke Gore-Tex suit! 

 

 

 

This year the choice of  location was down to me, seeing I had been through here in 2007 and decided then I wanted to return to explore the region more after falling in love with its lush greens and the feeling of being overlooked by fairies and elves everywhere,  blessing us with magic dust! It took 11 years, but there we were! 

 

We stayed in a little stone house converted, like so many in Portugal now, to cater for people looking for peace, the type of peace one only finds in remoteness and wild nature. With the particularity that 50m away from this little, adorable, house  there is a famous  restaurant with a super location to enjoy a sunset drink and the pleasures of  good food in great company after a day's riding! 

 

 

 

The little hamlet has around 18 houses, but only 4 people live there permanentely at present. The 4 have a few cows that go out in the morning and come home in the evening, we had the plesure of meeting both cows and their aging owners! And the wild horses that are now tame and eat out of our hands! 

 

The owner of the little stone house is a very, very enthusiastic person, also a biker, and was kind enough to take us round the region and show us the little roads and the places only the locals know of. 

It was a very hot and sunny day and it had been decided the day before that Pedro, a lover of a swim after riding  and before dinner, would take his swimming trunks and go for a dive in the fresh waters of the nearby dam. I was not so keen, so didn't take my swimwear and proceeded to regret it and almost went in just with my underwear, but somehow had an attack of puritanism, most unusual for me, and never made it to the water!! 

 

 

We had a really nice time in the restaurant. The food was average, but the drinking was epic and we finished 2 big bottles of bubbles plus a few other things! I left my phone charger behind, but was adamant I must have dropped it on the way there and so we spent 1 hour up and down the road, in darkness, wondering when a wolf would come and eat the unsuspecting tourists looking for a mobile phone charger! The next morning we saw it through the window inside the restaurant, exactly as Pedro had predicted, but my giddy head didn't want to accept! 

 

 

 

 

It was a great day!! In fact the whole week was great, but this day will stay in my memory as one of the best days ever!!  Thank you Pedro and thank you life!! 
 

 

[Pedro]

Some big cows, with my bike for perspective:

 

[XTreme]

Fantastic shots Sofia.......what are these?

[Pedro]

19 minutes ago, XTreme said:

Fantastic shots Sofia.......what are these?

Those were/are used to store corn and other grains while they dry while keeping them safe from rodents.

[Buckster]

46 minutes ago, XTreme said:

Fantastic shots Sofia.......what are these?

It’s Baba Yaga’s house.

[yen_powell]

46 minutes ago, Pedro said:

Those were/are used to store corn and other grains while they dry while keeping them safe from rodents.

See similar here sometimes, little sheds sitting on stone stilts with overhangs the mice/rats can't climb over.

[Sofia]

3 hours ago, XTreme said:

Fantastic shots Sofia.......what are these?

Pedro explained and I hope you like the writing as much as the shots!! 

FYI, all shot with sony xperia ZX2 phone. Xx

[XTreme]

6 hours ago, Sofia said:

Pedro explained and I hope you like the writing as much as the shots!! 

Absolutely Sofia........it was a great report!

[boboneleg]

Superb photos and stunning scenery