Pedro Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 I tried to make the title of the ride report as Portuguese as possible so it doesn't make any sense to anyone and sounds more exotic After a long week I was in need of getting on the bike, after lunch I headed to the hills where I used to ride my Transalp many years ago. First a few kms of motorway to get out of my town and then another 20 or 30 minutes riding up the Douro. Weather today was not sunny per se, but very warm for the season so a lot of motorcycles on the road along the Douro. The N108 is where most of Porto's bikers go to ride 20 or 30km up to a cafe, stand around in a group and then head back, it's a pretty enough road but plagged with traffic, I always forget crowded on weekends, with everyone trying to show off and trying to prove something. That was done with when I turned south and to Arouca, there I climbed the Serra da Freita and finally about 1 or 1,5 hours after leaving home in up in the hills, or as you'd say in the UK, the mountains : Albergaria da Serra, in Serra da Freita, nearby where I used to have bbq's with friends a long time ago: Coelheira, where I once stopped with a poorly Transalp after I smashed it's water pump on a rock, and then proceeded to blast up the hill before it overheated, to then coast down the other side eventually stopping here to then figure out where I was and call for help. A lovely bucolic place, with the children's slide showing there is new life around, I was glad to see that as these villages are getting older and older, and lonelier and lonelier for the older people living there. Up here in the hills water is flowing everywhere, lovely crisp clean water in the picture above. It is called the route of rock and water for a reason. Going from Serra da Freita to Serra de São Macário, you don't need to descend but instead ride on top of each one, on the way I came across a small herd of Arouquesas, the local typical cattle that roams free to feed on the hills. Diverted from the road on a dirt road for a little, but then found it to be too rocky and heading in the wrong direction so headed back as the sun was starting to set and I wanted to see the sunset on the other side of the hill instead of being caught in darkness on a dusty trail. As I was stopping for a scenic pee a young couple in their 20s was riding down on an MT7, they were following their GPS and saw me going down that way so followed, now regretting their decision. After a short chat they headed back up, very slowly, not the ideal bike or tires for that. With that I peed in peace. A couple of kms after, with the rocky part dealt with I stopped for another view of the lovely evening light on the hills. I was now lost. I had decided to not use navigation as indeed I don't really know where the place I wanted to go through is on the map, but after the dirt road detour I go a little disorientated, an historical village sign caught my eye as the name sounded familiar from a tv program, so that's how I ended up visiting the historical Aldeia da Pena. It is located down a steep valley, the only road down and back is a delight and exactly my kind of road. Wide enough for 1,5 cars with a characterful surface and a few switchbacks with "interesting" surfaces for a road. Once there, I went for a walk along the Rua Principal (Main Street). The three open establishments there are two restaurants serving typical dished and one crafts shop selling small souvenirs made from the abundant chist. It was too late for lunch and too early for dinner, I just had a walk but will be back: Main Street: Sun was starting to set behind the hills, and temperatures dropping. iPhone struggling with the light facing the setting sun, but down below there's the village as I'm starting to head back home. I had just missed the sunset proper and never got a direct view to it from the top of the hills as it kept hiding behind the hill while I chased, but still the light was very pretty. After a stop for the customary espresso stop, as I pointed the GS for Vale de Cambra, 55km of very twisty road, from there it would be another 45 or so minutes to get home now via more boring roads. Usually this 55km stretch is a fun road to do fastish, a few sections of tight bends with no straight between them, but night descended quickly and conditions dictated some caution, still fun though. A brief stop to raise the headlight beam a little bit, and headed home. Turned out to be a nice afternoon on the bike. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTreme Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 Superb Pedro! They love cobbled streets over there don't they? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saul Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 Stunning photos Pedro. Its content like that, that brings me here, bloody brilliant. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six30 Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 26 minutes ago, Saul said: Stunning photos Pedro. Its content like that, that brings me here, bloody brilliant. me to ... i think i'll probably go live with @Pedro at some point. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Fallsalot Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 A title saying I rode my bike today doesn't make sense and sounds exotic to most in here Pedro lol Great photos love those roads/tracks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTreme Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 15 minutes ago, Sir Fallsalot said: A title saying I rode my bike today doesn't make sense and sounds exotic to most in here Pedro lol I've had a sick note! Not sure what reasons @Six30 and @busabeast have? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Fallsalot Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 Just now, XTreme said: I've had a sick note! Not sure what reasons @Six30 and @busabeast have? Talking of that shouldn't you be getting your last ten cups of tee down you ready to meet Skippy 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busabeast Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 7 minutes ago, XTreme said: I've had a sick note! Not sure what reasons @Six30 and @busabeast have? My reason is working away all week then spending time with the daughter, very nearly got out yesterday afternoon because skye had a friends birthday to go to but I got roped in to going too 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six30 Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 55 minutes ago, XTreme said: I've had a sick note! Not sure what reasons @Six30 and @busabeast have? shit weather ...i dont go out in shit weather 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busabeast Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 4 minutes ago, Six30 said: shit weather ...i dont go out in shit weather Pete is that you? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Fallsalot Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 5 minutes ago, Six30 said: shit weather ...i dont go out in shit weather Use this in that situation 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted January 28 Author Share Posted January 28 1 hour ago, Six30 said: me to ... i think i'll probably go live with @Pedro at some point. I hope you meant “near” Pedro 17 minutes ago, Six30 said: shit weather ...i dont go out in shit weather me neither, except if already on tour. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six30 Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 1 hour ago, busabeast said: My reason is working away all week then spending time with the daughter, very nearly got out yesterday afternoon because skye had a friends birthday to go to but I got roped in to going too 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted January 28 Author Share Posted January 28 Aldeia da Pena is known as “the place where the dead man killed the living”. I just looked it up and many years ago, a casket bearer lost his footing on a steep slope (no roads back then), the casket fell on him and killed him! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 2 hours ago, Six30 said: shit weather ...i dont go out in shit weather 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 Very cool @Pedro . I've been through villages like that in the Pyrenees , we were sort of questioning ourselves whether you were allowed to ride through those narrow streets. This is the coolest road ever................. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted January 28 Author Share Posted January 28 39 minutes ago, boboneleg said: Very cool @Pedro . I've been through villages like that in the Pyrenees , we were sort of questioning ourselves whether you were allowed to ride through those narrow streets. This is the coolest road ever................. If there’s no sign allowing just habitants, it’s usually ok as it crosses the village. Some of them end up in villages where a car can’t turn around hence the forbidden signs, also in the summer tourist traffic would make them impossible. That one in the picture though, that’s a main road entering that village, used daily by everyone, but there was tarmac leading up to it on the main road. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six30 Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 38 minutes ago, boboneleg said: you go off road ..thats diffrent 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Fallsalot Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 5 hours ago, boboneleg said: Very cool @Pedro . I've been through villages like that in the Pyrenees , we were sort of questioning ourselves whether you were allowed to ride through those narrow streets. This is the coolest road ever................. I was looking on google street view of Serra da Freita and went for an office chair ride along this road not sure if it's just a path though https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8684352,-8.2632122,3a,75y,181.11h,82.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDu9HvWKVanNn_jjD4bUc2Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted January 28 Author Share Posted January 28 14 minutes ago, Sir Fallsalot said: I was looking on google street view of Serra da Freita and went for an office chair ride along this road https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8684352,-8.2632122,3a,75y,181.11h,82.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDu9HvWKVanNn_jjD4bUc2Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu It’s a pretty little road that one. Feels like 100 years ago. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YamaHead Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 Some sweet roads to explore there @Pedro.....brilliant pics! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 On 28/01/2024 at 18:34, Sir Fallsalot said: I was looking on google street view of Serra da Freita and went for an office chair ride along this road not sure if it's just a path though https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8684352,-8.2632122,3a,75y,181.11h,82.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDu9HvWKVanNn_jjD4bUc2Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu I looked for a few ancient pictures I had from that little road, but have lost them. If the weather is fine and I've got a couple of hours to waste towards the end of the week I might pop up there to take a few modern ones, gives me a nice reason for a ride instead of aimlessly going somewhere. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Fallsalot Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 1 hour ago, Pedro said: I looked for a few ancient pictures I had from that little road, but have lost them. If the weather is fine and I've got a couple of hours to waste towards the end of the week I might pop up there to take a few modern ones, gives me a nice reason for a ride except aimlessly going somewhere. Please do 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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