Specs Posted May 19, 2023 Author Share Posted May 19, 2023 Here goes, my third try on getting this post done. I seem to be suffering finger trouble and keep losing it! This was the day to take me across the border into Portugal. I'd found a place to stay in Pinhel, Beira Alta, that wasn't too expensive and used the "Adventurous Routing" option on the Garmin to give me an interesting route. It had been pretty good so far, once I'd found out how to use it! A great route with quiet roads, small towns and villages, and amazing scenery. Water levels seemed to be well down as can been see here. The bridge remains looked pretty old but I couldn't find any information. Had to stop for a castle photo. Near here I think. Snack break. People were stopping at the graffitied water spout across the road to fill up bottles. Haven't experienced fly splatter like this for years. Stopped at this bridge for a quick break and some water as it was getting a bit warm! Just had a look and it was in Portugal. I hadn't taken my lid off and could hear some bird calling with a weird call that I didn't recognise. Lid off to find that it was in the opposite direction to what I'd though and that it was frogs! I arrived at the hotel but no-one there as I was a bit early but I found a comfy chair and chilled until some staff turned up. Handy room on the ground floor so easy enough to carry stuff from the bike. I forgot to take any photos but took a few snaps of the village. There wasn't anywhere to eat or get a beer so I had to ride into the nearest town, Pinhel I think, for something. Lovely sitting outside waiting for the restaurant to open having a beer. I managed to work round the language problem by finding the restaurant on GoogleMaps and pointing to the food I fancied on the menu pictures. Result! Struggled to eat it all. All very tasty. Was fascinated by the painting on the wall showing how road construction used to take place, with all the different stages depicted. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specs Posted May 19, 2023 Author Share Posted May 19, 2023 I think it was round about this day or the next that Pedro contacted me and very kindly offered accommodation and a meal, but I was going in the wrong direction but it would have been good to meet up. He suggested some roads and it transpired that I was just off the one and would be going on another as the "Adventurous Routing" seemed to suggest the same route. Result. The roads in this part of the world are amazing. Surfaces generally excellent, low traffic density and splendid scenery. I will definitely be returning. Just had to stop and take in the scenery. Once again beginning to overheat, it must have been 25degC + as this seemed to be my comfort point. Water and shade. I think that the town was Mirandella. I missed most of it. It was getting hotter so I stopped for a break next to this place. Church? I'd just passed the local baker's van so took a walk back to get some bread, but it drove past. Too late to the party. Anyway could hear hooting so assumed it had stopped up the road and it had. I got some lovely fresh bread to go with my water. Really pushing the boat out! Some of the stonework here looked really old. Clouding over. Mackerel sky. A change of weather coming. Having crossed the border to Spain it wasn't getting any cooler. Another water and bread stop. The river here was typical of most that I'd seen, heavily overgrown due to drought conditions. Arrived at the hotel to be greeted with this note. I have a video that I took of the room but I'll have to figure out how to load it! Chance of showers for the next day and a bit cooler. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTreme Posted May 19, 2023 Share Posted May 19, 2023 1 hour ago, Specs said: I have a video that I took of the room but I'll have to figure out how to load it! Upload to YouTube and post the link! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted May 19, 2023 Share Posted May 19, 2023 1 hour ago, Specs said: He suggested some roads and it transpired that I was just off the one and would be going on another as the "Adventurous Routing" seemed to suggest the same route. Result. Actually, if you got on the 222 like on your picture, I think you missed the one I recomended. It's still a great road, and like you say, nice corners and good tarmac. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted May 19, 2023 Share Posted May 19, 2023 Ok . so from now on @Specs is to be known as Bruce Springsteen ............... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specs Posted May 19, 2023 Author Share Posted May 19, 2023 1 hour ago, boboneleg said: Ok . so from now on @Specs is to be known as Bruce Springsteen ............... Not a fan. 2 hours ago, Pedro said: Actually, if you got on the 222 like on your picture, I think you missed the one I recomended. It's still a great road, and like you say, nice corners and good tarmac. Could well be. It was the 221 for a while. All great though! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specs Posted May 20, 2023 Author Share Posted May 20, 2023 The Bruce Springsteen room at the Rock Star Hotel. Bed was huge. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckster Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 2 hours ago, Specs said: The Bruce Springsteen room at the Rock Star Hotel. Bed was huge. You probably wouldn't want to use a blacklight on that. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 2 hours ago, Specs said: The Bruce Springsteen room at the Rock Star Hotel. Bed was huge. I find that a bit creepy 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Fallsalot Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 Don’t you just hate it when a bird turns out to be a frog did you kiss it to see if a princess appears lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specs Posted May 20, 2023 Author Share Posted May 20, 2023 The ride to the next place somewhere between Santiago de Compostela and Fisterra wasn't as pleasant as the roads I'd ridden in the last few days. Traffic was pretty heavy and the scenery was more urban in nature. I only stopped briefly for coffee and doughnut and to check my phone. The room I'd found was only €40 for two nights! Cheapest stop of the whole trip. Downstairs there was a small supermarket with a bar- restaurant attached, and all run by the same family. The following day I'd planned to ride over to Fisterra to see the sea but it rained! I had a wander around the village or hamlet more like, and pent the rest of the time enjoying being cool, reading and dozing. My mate who has a house in Brittany contacted me and asked if I was popping over. This set me to thinking. I had no plan so rather than wander Europe aimlessly I decided to head up to his place. Stop for setting the Garmin Some photos of the village The bar Must have rained recently Trees breaking up the rocks Someone must have a wood burner There were several of these traditional grain stores about, some in use, and others seemed to be more of an ornamental thing. Horreo Local church and graveyard I've no idea what this is, but it looked interesting. Some sort of dead plant maybe. A modern take on the idea 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 The rooms on that route were probably cheap because of all the pilgrims that tramp along there . Love this photo ............. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specs Posted May 20, 2023 Author Share Posted May 20, 2023 I left the following morning in cold fog. Bliss! Just a motorway run to Bayonne only stopping for fuel. Wasn't impressed with the hotel as the bar and restaurant were closed and I ended up walking a few miles to a McDonald, but enjoyed the walk. The following day it was raining off and on all day so head down, pay the tolls and get to Brittany as quickly as possible. Fuel and snack stops Rain forecast along the coast road so headed inland I was dragged kicking and screaming to a bar by a lake run by Brits. Ended up being a late one. Made a friend. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specs Posted May 20, 2023 Author Share Posted May 20, 2023 Just now, boboneleg said: The rooms on that route were probably cheap because of all the pilgrims that tramp along there . Love this photo ............. Yes maybe. There were loads of them along the main routes either walking or cycling. Forgot to mention them! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 8 minutes ago, Specs said: Yes maybe. There were loads of them along the main routes either walking or cycling. Forgot to mention them! I've seen loads of them tramping through France and then the Pyrenees , a lot of their route coinsides with off road routes that we ride . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specs Posted May 20, 2023 Author Share Posted May 20, 2023 My mate's cooker was knackered. We went to Pontivy where a got a cheap replacement, but it had been fitted with jets for mains gas rather than butane so I was roped into changing them over. Then it was another visit to the lake for a walk and a couple of pints. Bloody strong stuff as we both felt half pissed after two. A ride report about changing cooker jets! Guemene Sur Scorff street view Outside my mate's place At the lake before hitting the bar: foreign goose. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 7 minutes ago, Specs said: Bloody strong stuff as we both felt half pissed after two. Was it some Belgian to stuff ? that gets you sloshed Love the photos, rural France is great and there's no f*cker around to bother you 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specs Posted May 20, 2023 Author Share Posted May 20, 2023 On my last day we met up with a load of other for an extended lunch and then a walk. A quiet night as I had to leave reasonably early the following day to get the boat back from Roscoff to Plymouth. More wind and rain forecast. Great! The lunch place at Melrand was a bit like a geriatric convention so I felt right at home! Liked the coffee so took this to remember the brand Past the local fire station The old Breton flag Lovely river In the trees there 's a water wheel, turning, although I don't know if the mill was still functioning. Not sure what this was about. Seemed old. Roscoff waiting to board. The guy in front of me on a Guzzi was the same on that was two places behind me at Plymouth on the way out, and that we'd met at Caceres Camping on our second night! Small world. A gloomy Plymouth Sound with a gloomier RFA Fort Victoria. An old shipmate knew that I'd be on the ferry so came down with a mate to say Hi. Nearly missed him, just heard someone call my name as I rode past. A pleasant surprise. Then it was off into the twilight wind and from Avonmouth rain until I arrived home at about 2330 to a small flood from a rotten hot water header tank in the airing cupboard , but that's another story. Just under 3k miles travelled. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specs Posted May 20, 2023 Author Share Posted May 20, 2023 12 minutes ago, boboneleg said: Was it some Belgian to stuff ? that gets you sloshed Love the photos, rural France is great and there's no f*cker around to bother you I forget what it was but it tasted ok and was on tap. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 Ok, so you like the french coffee that is actually from Napoli in Italy. We have a set of those espresso cups 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 This is a lavage , nearly all French villages have one as that's where the villagers used to do their washing . If I've got this wrong I'm sure @MooN will put me right 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTreme Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 That river is amazing Alan.......never seen anything like that before! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slowlycatchymonkey Posted May 21, 2023 Share Posted May 21, 2023 Sounds like you made the most of it regardless Some lovely pics. Thankyou 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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