27.12.15 - Abrantes | Mora | Alcaçovas | Aljustrel | Ameixial | Faro

The sun was shining in the Tejo river, I was full of desire to ride a motorcycle, reigning in good mood. To sing Jorge Palma's song, I quickly reached Ponte de Sôr, Montargil and Mora.Between Ponte de Sôr and Montargil, for the "small" private jet parked at the airfield, the houses and condominiums on the dam and some cars, it seemed that was in Switzerland.In Mora, when I entered the village, I had an Australian view: in order to divulge the river, they put yellow plates on the road with the species that can be found in the rivers, as is seen with kangaroos, crocodiles and sharks in Australia. Very cute!Also in Mora I had the first long delay of the day: fill the tank and tell the reason for my trip to the petrol station lady, whose nephew has a very good car and also travel very fast until reaching the Algarve.It was time to go to Alcaçovas. I don`t know why, I took this part of the course much more slowly than I had until then.From here I started to see something that I really like: the riding. What should be Portuguese agriculture, for the sake of quality and sustainability: cork oak, pork and other animals. In a perfect ecosystem, in a unique symbiosis that shows in the quality of the products that arrive at our table.In Alcaçovas, given the bational TV - SIC Notícias program "Ir é o melhor remédio", with Teresa Conceição and Martin Cabral, I went to the Rattle Museum. "Closed, it's Sunday." The factory, also closed.I wanted a rattle, now that it is the immaterial heritage of humanity, and I got a gentleman to open his shop for me to buy one. Used, more beautiful than the new ones that still shine a lot. "You know, I also manufacture, but I don`t advertise it," said the man in fear.In Torrão I took pictures at the entrance of the village, near the fountain; From Odivelas, but especially after Ferreira do Alentejo, was to much wind, causing some chills: now it was a brake or it pushed me laterally.After Ervidel, near the Roxo Dam, I saw a group of hunters. It was lunch time and I stopped to ask where I could have lunch and regional products: "enter Aljustrel, there is all good." I went to the head.From starters they served me a piece of black pork and roe salad. The paio was magnificent. Then a cation soup, with a lot of bread, coriander and two generous fish pieces. A divine taste!After lunch, instead of nap, I made myself on the road.With the strong wind, he wanted to hurry Castro Verde and Almodôvar and enter Serra do Caldeirão, to be more sheltered. That was it.When I started to climb the Caldeirão, the wind stopped. With the curvy Caldeirão, I felt like a Rossi, with his boot brushing the road several times, in a dizzying carousel. It goes up and down, open curves, fast and tight turns, made in 2nd and 1st speed, with the knee going to the ground. Madness, well said the plate that this road to heritage!I don`t know if it's fate, if it's a feitio or my fear of running out of gas: like all the times I've been here by car, I stopped at the Ameixial gas station where, the same petroler with an ACP Portugal, served me. Two more fingers of conversation before heading to Faro and to frame number 737.I lost in S. Brás de Alportel - there were no indications of the N2 - in Faro I had to shut up due to the works in the city but I arrived at the said whose landmark.What a joy! It felt like I had won a race.It was a milestone, there was a check on my travel map.I strongly advise you to take this route, by motorcycle, car or bicycle. Enjoy.A road that has 737 reasons of interest, which passes through beautiful locations of our Portugal.I did it in two days because I know most of these locations; But it may take a week or more, and there is so much to see, read, eat, drink, live. I passed through 10 districts, innumerable villages, towns and cities. I saw birds of prey, storks, sparrows, herons, pigs, cows, sheep, horses. I was in the mountains and in the country, I crossed the Douro, Mondego, Zêzere and Tejo, just to mention the largest. I passed lots of reservoirs and dams.Playing with numbers and taking pictures in the landmarks of these numbers is a must: 100, 357, 555, 666, just to give a few examples.Portugal has a maximum length of 561 km, from Melgaço to Cabo de Santa Maria. The road has 737 km, that is, almost two hundred kilometers of curves that add interest.At this moment rest at the Stay Hotels of Faro. Affordable central, friendliness of service, a good bath and excellent bed: the luxury q.b. For a lonely adventurer.Embrace, tomorrow I'm coming home.

29.8.15 - Chão da Velha (Nisa)

Yesterday i travel to the Alentejo, following the stars towards the south, with the sun setting in the west.Down by Penela towards Figueiró dos Vinhos, Serãa; after cross Fratel dam, a score welcomes us, Alentejo welcomes us.I woke up in Chão da Velha, near Nisa. Yesterday, in addition to travel, as reporting Pedro`s welcome - no longer seen each other since the presentation of Armas de Papel,a book from Pacheco Pereira. We talk about life, the present and the past, we talk about history, fans that populate the mountains, the existing parties and the past, from the ML to "reviralho". With a glass of red wine, with the heat of the night not differentiate much from the day's heat, we walked for centuries, ending in sec. XX the people century.This morning, awakened by the sun rays that insist on going through the shutters, the will to go to Tejo river was the driving force that made me get out of bed.Monte Campo at the back, equipped indeed, all way down from Rua Principal. At the end of the paved after the corrals, begins the steep descent and a dirt track that leads me to the main river of the peninsula.Two kilometers down, through small gardens, eucalyptus, strawberry. Some bees and other insects accompany the past; I had told that, with luck, might see a deer or other; if it were night had foxes. No luck.Reached the Tejo the black water mirror reflecting the mountains and the train went on the other side, the side of Vila Velha de Ródão.Always going down to the river, always climb back to the village, two kilometers. It was done PR 2 of the walking paths of Nisa - Discover the Tagus.Before lunch, there was time to go to PR 4 - Conhal rails.The village of Arneiro, towards the river, they come up huge stones that make the Alentejo countryside in a Martian landscape. Through millenary stones are born olive trees, isolated and strong, as are the robust trees.Lunch? In Arneiro, at Tulio: carp, pike and perch fried. After some migas with fisheggs, olive oil ,pennyroyal, baked fish and water from his cooked do the rest. Divine.Three in the afternoon and a full stomach. Like any self-respecting Alentejo - in Rome be a Roman - I was napping; and slept and slept and slept.I woke up in time to take a dip in the municipal swimming pools of Nisa, before returning to Rua Principal and get-together with the neighbors, with the empty glass to refill, talk of life.

26.7.15 - Oliveira de Azeméis | Cambra de Vouzela | Aldeia de Pena | Oliveira de Azeméis

Sunny and warm Sunday. The Classic Racing Team achieved another victory in the Algarve; I should be there. It was another adventure ... but the great Australian adventure begins in a few days and I don`t want a homely adventure cast doubt on the trip. So I stayed for Oliveira.
Yet Multimoto gave me, for this weekend, a Kawasaki Ninja 300, celebration edition. Beautiful!
Plotted as a destination Castro Daire, a land i didn`t visited since childhood, a time when travel to Penedono didn`t include IP5.
I should be on competition, so I carry the carbon Nau Helmet and an Alpinestars top gloves,like a world champion.
Quickly I went from Oliveira de Azeméis to Albergaria, thanks to bike aerodynamics. Then it was below the threaded curves along the Vouga; a road that already dubbed as a lamprey road.
With the constant zigzag, with low and medium speed corners, I could test the excellent Ninja body, very light and agile. I found the best way to bend on this bike: the knee; and I never asked anyone to marry.
After Cedrim, following a sunny corner, several Famel, V5 and Casal, shone. A sign "for sell" reminded other times, the novelty of those bikes, such was the condition. Between 700 and 2000 euros depending on the state of recovery, the owner of an old workshop deliver its motorcycles, with original paintings and decals, which he does not like modern stuff.
After the friendly conversation, near Oliveira de Frades and lunch time, instead of following the Vouga,I turned to Cambra de Vouzela and went to the Taberna do Lavrador.
Typical food, made ahead of all: black pudding, sausage, chorizo ​​and fried bread for appetizer. Rice coming-of-garlic as a main dish and a bowl of red Silgueiros to push. Dessert? There was no space because the distance between the seat and the tank doesn`t grow.
With the bountiful repast to invite the nap, the direction of travel has changed: I went to S. Pedro do Sul spa, where it was in a medieval feast. Then I went quietly in the direction of Castro Daire.
Halfway through, the Aldeida de Pena statement made me turn left and climb to S.Macário in the far east of the Serra da Freita. From there do Aldeia de Pena is always going down by a narrow path that once should be painful.
The village is being recovered, leaving its original character. Incoming us a restaurant where, inside, we can find crafts, sausages and homemade cheeses, visitors cards. And many have there been!
With the sun falling down, I headed to Arouca. Pssing Portal do Inferno, with towering cliffs on one side and the other, I stopped the bike and photographed it with the Gobbo the abyss.
Then I went quietly to Arouca and then to home. But before reaching the capital of brown eggs yet been chatting with a couple from Munich that was lost looking for the road to Espiunca. So lost that they were I almost lost me too!