Douro, Wine country

[Pedro]

This might be a little repetitive, but if you like vineyard pictures this a good one.

Around 9AM left home, 20 minutes later I take the small road along the northern bank of the Douro river, the N108, moving inland away from Porto. It's a nice 20º and I'm glad I brought a long sleeve t-shirt as a mid layer.

First stop, to make a phone call, the river mist is starting to clear

 

A few meters ahead I realize there was a much nicer place to take the same picture, so I stop again feeling a little foolish to do so

This isn't amazing scenery yet, but what is so great is that it is a nice road to ride, and this place must be about 20km from the center of Porto, which is Portugal's second biggest city. No chance of enjoying the road like this on a weekend, though, as it's full of bikes and cars coming here to meet for a coffee, and that takes away from having the road to yourself.

 

Further inland, in Baião, we start to reach the Douro wine region:

 

Mesão Frio, and there is nothing but vines all over the place. The Douro is the first demarcated wine region in the world, they´ve been making wine here since before the Romans arrived.

 

Around 10km to Régua, maybe, the main town in this area.

 

Didn't take any pictures of Régua, but you're not missing much, it's a nice enough place but not really photogenic from this side of the river.

After, between Régua and Pinhão, my goal for lunch, if you take the nacional road on the south bank it'll take you 20 minutes but I decide to take the really small roads on the northern bank even though I have to move a little away from the river. It was a nice choice as those were my favourite roads of the day, really enjoyed my bike there.

 

The Chapel of São Leonardo da Bafaruda, nice and small, surrounded by trees and cool shade in a place that is unbelievably hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Hence the nice grapes.

 

It's got some view behind it:

This is a nice enough place, deserving of bringing lunch from home just for a picnic. Maybe an idea for the autumn with some chorizo and cheese.

Made my way to Pinhão, amazingly fun roads, very narrow but with good tarmac, although with enough dusty and gravelly corners to make it interesting. Went past a few of the vineyards from the best wine makers, extremely well maintained and pretty. Apart from producing wine they use the farms as luxury restaurants and hotels so they should keep them looking pristine. No pictures of any of that, this detour took a little longer than expected and I was hungry 

 

When I get to Pinhão it's getting warm enough, at around 30º. I'm proper hungry and hot, and I forgot my mask so as I'm rolling into town wondering if I'll find a nice place to sit on some shade, I take the first chance I get:

 

Daily specials were perch or mutton stew, given my effort to slim down and how hot it was, I went for the grilled perch with some fresh salad instead of potatoes, not the most amazing fish as daily specials are usually made to a budget, but it was grilled to perfection and juicy, and suited the ride perfectly. 

 

I couldn't say no to their polite offer of some cold white wine, but instead of a small jar I asked for just a glass.

 

After eating, I lingered for a while, enjoying a second small glass  because after riding through one of the world's best wine regions, it would be just rude not to. Try to take a picture of the eagle that had just catch a fish, and failed miserably, you get the scenery though.

 

Riding back I am feeling sorry for having brought my gore tex jacket. It's not a proper warm jacket but only good up to around 25º. This is the first time I use it in warm weather so now I know. My summer jacket is 300km away at home. On the way back I stop at a hotel I stayed once before, but that time in a cold February drive with Maria, and wished I had brought a change of clothes and shorts as what I really felt like was checking into somewhere with a swimming pool and stay there. 

 

On the way back I returned by the south bank of the river. This is meant to be Portugal's best driving and riding road, but I fail to see why. Also, I start getting a LOT of polen alergies, sneezing horribly, congested sinus, the works. Having no mask I choose not to be a twat and avoid going to a pharmacy and freak everyone out by sneezing uncontrollably with no mask  , but there are no pictures of the return ride either. Getting home, after a shower I start writing this and fall asleep on the sofa, to be waken by a call from my mate David who has already gotten some nice steaks for the grill and asking if I'll take long, so I am quick to get there and only return home by  3AM 

It was a nice day.

[XTreme]

Brilliant Pedro! The GS looks amazing!

[Sir Fallsalot]

That looks great 

[Catteeclan]

Nice one Pedro.

When we went through Portugal we stayed at a vineyard up on the side of a river very much looking like that. https://golddrink.pt/en/estates/quinta-de-marrocos

Did a white port which was very nice, one glass wasn't enough.

[Pedro]

I rode past that farm on friday, that it on the south bank near where I took the last picture on my post.

[Grasshopper]

I know this is from last year, but I have been reading some of the ride reports that were posted just before I joined the forum last May.

Nice scenery and enjoyable motorcycle rides don't get old if you ask me.

I enjoyed this one, some really nice photographs @Pedro 

I just love the organized structure of a vineyard. 

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

Thanks for giving this a bump @Grasshopper's Ride the pics are great.

Love how verdant it is and Pedro’s enjoyment of food. Pairing a view with an autumn ride and cheese and chorizo is great.

Might add antihistamines to a back pocket before returning.

[Pedro]

Thank you both, indeed I usually carry an anti histaminic spray with me, or pills on a several day ride, but this one caught me off guard.

On this one I share a little bit more of the country and my enjoyment of food, @Slowlycatchymonkey. This one of Portugal and the one from Morocco in 2017 are my own favourite ride reports