6.12.15 - Oliveira de Azeméis | Vouzela | Folgosa | Vila Nova de Paiva | Freixinho | Moimenta da Beira

Sunday; The sun grew timidly and the temperature seemed to rise. But the body called for action and action was from where the sun comes: to the mountains.
I prepared the new Monte Campo, blue and gray, with 30 liters, and made myself on the road.
N1 to Albergaria and then up the Vouga. The road was slippery and didn`t allow great fancies; The sun penetrated the branches and tree leaves, creating a welcoming atmosphere.
With so much curve-turning, the hunger pressed and the first stop was for a coffee and a cake, in the Vouzelas`s Cafe Central. A delight, as always.
Good lunch and early in Cambra? Or lunch wherever and whenever?

The idea was to cross Castro Daire - for not happen like the last time here!! - I decided to continue traveling.
Passing S.Pedro do Sul is time to remember childhood, remembering this same road on the way to Penedono (the final destination), is time to remind me of the parallels road with oranges vendors, the blue Peugeot (or gray, depends on the Year), the car full of nuts and potatoes, things "that the earth gives".
Good asphalt and a course of great beauty between S. Pedro do Sul and Castro Daire. With the dry weather of the last days, the trees hold the leaves and give an autumnal color to the whole scene: yellow, orange, dark red.
How beautiful is my country!
At the top of the mountain, where the N226 leads to the N225, at the junction with the N2 and A24, I went down a narrow and steep road that led me to the river beach of Folgosa.
What a charm. A clear, crystalline water that the cold helps to make it even brighter. Horses and a flock, birds sipping in the water. With a certain step, a set of stones help cross the Paiva river, on the way to Santiago.
From there, with the hunger to tighten, the destination was Vila Nova de Paiva.
"- Where can I find a traditional food restaurant?
- From where?".
There was no musk rice and the goatling had been a young rebel... some years ago.
In Vila Nova de Paiva I went up, through a cobbled, mossy, to the chapel of Sto. Antony and the belvedere. Wind farm, a viewpoint for wind farms. Sad eastern country.
With the spirit of Aquilino, wrapped in the womb of fog, I rode to Freixinho, right next to Vilar dam.
The rest was in the Hotel Rural Convento Nossa Senhora do Carmo, a restored convent, with a beautiful dining room adorned with a large mirror. Rooms with a decor that is congenial to the convent and the ideal place for a short break with the right company.
Speaking of dinner, I ventured into the fog and went to Moimenta da Beira, to taste the cod with Cabicanca. Very good!

6.6.15 - Oliveira de Azeméis | Vila do Conde

Sunny days and I was presented by Kawasaki with a J300 scooter for this weekend.
Scooter ?! Countryside or city ?!
The scooter is ideal for city, with its agility and simplicity handling. However Kawasaki exhibits an excellent 300cc engine and, therefore, decided to take that fact and a larger test route with the longest acceleration zones.
Countryside ?! With this heat? If i where inn Germany or Austria, certainly i choose the field. But being in Portugal, nothing better than enjoy our coast and beaches.
Looking at the map, my eyes settled in Vila do Conde: excellent beaches, bikes crowd usually go there, eating well and, above all, I have some great friends there and a house where I go since the middle eighties.
Vila do Conde, for me, is all about races: Praia Azul, Jardim, S da Piscina, Seca e o Castelo.
Vila do Conde was in adolescence, August holiday destination.
For all this, when I looked north and saw Vila do Conde, I had no doubt in ridding there.
I packed the Monte Campo under the seat, used a Nau Helmet, green metal flake - to match with the scooter - and Oakley to cover the sun, shorts and t-shirt, got out from Oliveira de Azeméis towards the Vila.
As the intention was to take the road, the sun, and relive the past, follow up to the Nacional Road 1.
By the middle of traffic, Kawasaki behaved beautifully, allowing me to make a quiet and inexpensive trip.
Then I had to take the A1 and VCI to get back on the national road; this time the National 13.
In the final part of the highway it was easily to reach 140 km / h ... and so I stayed. Not worth go faster.
After entered the N13, I returned to zigzag on traffic.
I remember in June and July of last century cross this road on Friday night to go watch the races. The trailer was a luxury, nobody thought in motorhomes as those nowadays come in our paddock. So for me, it was a treat to see go racing cars on the open road. VW Polo, Clio, Starlet, Corolla and many others. A golden age of National Speed.
Arrived in Vila do Conde, Ave river present me like a mirror reflecting the prison majestic building.
Before a beer near the old boxes, I revive the circuit and stroll through the historic district.
By the evening, with Vilacondense company from the last 30 years we went to sushi, followed by Expensive Soul.
Friends, heat, good music and a scooter. "What else" ?!

15.3.15 - Oliveira de Azeméis | Castelo de Paiva | Entre-os-Rios | Crestuma | Oliveira de Azeméis

When it comes to go to Castelo de Paiva some people think it is like going to the end of the world. Well, I went to the end of the world!
In times of lamprey, a trip to Entre-os-Rios is something mandatory. And when the ugly animal as an excuse, enjoying the spring sunshine, i used and open Nau Helmet. Quickly on the road from Oliveira Azeméis to Vale de Cambra and Arouca.
From Arouca, virtually alone on the road, I was skirting the mountains, a slow step, observing the marks of the road once.
On Castelo de Paiva County I went down by a narrow road to Ribeira. The Douro, the great river runs just a few miles away, with all its splendor. But that small waterfall, lost among the mountains, the sun seemed to peek otherwise.
I crossed the bridge to Entre-os-Rios, and observed real festival: between the bridge Duarte Pacheco and the new bridge, the lampreys were on sale "door yes door yes". What real treat!
From there, as the sun download, followed the river to Crestuma dam, where the back to cross and enter in Santa Maria da Feira County.
A nice Sunday ride, where I bumped with many bikers, giving a different color to our roads.

7.3.15 - Oliveira de Azeméis | Cedrim - Lamprey Route

Every year, at least in family, it`s mandatory to go to Cedrim to eat lamprey. In a small restaurant, identical to many others that can be found at Vouga, the lamprey was made "à Bordalesa" and with rice .Crème brûlée and cheese with jam for dessert. Together with a Quinta do Estanho Reserve, of course!
However, before lunch, it was necessary to reach Cedrim.
Taking advantage of the good weather, debuted the off road Nau Helmet, I used with Oakley; and speaking of premieres, took the new Alpinestars pants, very comfortable - and rode the bike the cameras Liquid Image. I felt like a top rider!
I left Oliveira de Azeméis and headed Vale de Cambra. Followed by São Pedro de Castelões, I went to Senhora da Saúde and then was always down to the Vouga, by Decides, Dornelas, Boialvo, Sever do Vouga, Pessegueiro do Vouga.
Crossing the bridge, turned left - right up to the Rallycross circuit - and the village of Cedrim appears in the right.
A nice village with houses where the time went and where he still reads "Vota AD", from 1980 campaigns. A stream crosses the houses and is lost later.
A footpath of great beauty aids digestion and and sets the mood for the evening stage: return home.
Down to the bridge, turned left and followed the river. Yellow spring buds of trees and gives another color to the trip.
I crossed the river in order to go visit the railroad Sernada Museum. There I decided not to go; I need a guide to this museum and no one better than Ricardo Grilo

.
Ricardo, for when the visit?
The homecoming was due to the N1.

He could have done all the way by motorway. Faster, is right. But had not the same joke.

1.1.15 - Oliveira de Azeméis | Caramulo | Oliveira de Azeméis

First day of the year and it's time to start setting goals for the objectives of the year. In 2015 I will dedicate myself also to travel around. Bike, car, train, airplane; of whatever. I want to know new places, new people and cultures.
I got up early and tied the Monte Campo on the bike. I looked at the map and decided to take a tour of places that i didn´t for a long time.
I left Oliveira de Azeméis and headed to Vale de Cambra to enter the road of S. Pedro do Sul. Few kilometers and had the first stop of the day: The Eng. Duarte Pacheco dam, along with Roge.
Breathes tranquility that little piece of paradise. Near Serra da Freitas, could put the legend Bariloche that few would have given the difference. Wonderful, sublime, the trip had been worth it for that landscape.
Follow way to Oliveira de Frades, a cold coil that accompanies every corner of the mountain, a constant up and down. A road that passes through Cepelos, Junqueira and Arões, mythical names of rallying.
Reached Oliveira de Frades, I headed to Caramulo. Always going up!
No longer would there since my last participation on the hillclimb, in 2011. The town is so friendly and picturesque, along with the villages around them. Witn no racing, everything takes a different rhythm, much more calm and quiet.
Go up to the Cabeço de Neve and had lunch: one sandwiche. Then followed by a dirt road that connects the various electric windy towers

. I saw the Serra da Estrela, Serra da Freitas and the sea.
The way back home was by Agueda along a road with nested curves and at three in the afternoon had not yet dried. I went through several streams that after Pateira of Fermentelos, help fill the Vouga.
More than 150 km of knowledge, to revive the places where had passed. It was a good day 1 January.