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.

26.4.15 - Monsaraz | Flor da Rosa | Oliveira de Azeméis

Sunday woke up gray, rainy and cold.
After it has rained all night, it was quite muddy.
The morning meeting of adventurers dragged on due to the rain that fell copiously.
Sunday's stage contemplated 100 km, very technical and difícult.Beasides that conditions I had to ride another 400 km to get home.
At day before the Versys had already proved to everyone that, despite its vocation to tarmac, she is plenty good on gravel. But was mud and tires weren`t the most appropriate, at all.
I made a difficult decision: abdicated Sunday's stage and, for safety reasons, returned home early. The return trip was the same road that had come; but with different stops.
Monsaraz to Reguengos yet been buffeted by rain but then the sun came out and made the trip very enjoyable.
Alter do Chão had to take a detour because, at the expense of TVI and its Sunday programs, the road was cut off in the town center.
A few kilometers further on, I left the IC linking Portalegre and entered the old national road, near the Coudelaria Nacional and Crato station.
The road is beautiful, and from there to Flor da Rosa, through curves, bridges, mystical lands and full of meaning for the history of Portugal, recalled old times (here, or here). So good!
I stopped at Flor da Rosa, in front of the monastery, nd like D.Nuno Alvares Pereira, posed "my horse".
After evoking O Condestaval, it was time to return. No more stops, I thought ...
Until cross A23, I was little shower, but after that, a thunderstorm came over me.
Rain, rain, rain and more rain. Added to that, a very strong wind that made the ride very difficult and freeze the bones.
Skip Proenca-a-Nova was painful. The reach Figueiró dos Vinhos, I decided to stop under a bridge to shelter me. The rain was so much and came from all sides might as well not have stopped.
Quietly followed him to Coimbra and, even more quietly, faced traffic N1, in full sunday.
It was a hard return and fortunately I got well.

25.4.15 - The Great Lake

I woke up in Monsaraz, by the sound of birds chirping at 6:30 in the morning. Today was "the" great day, that I put the Versys on gravel.
Before the stage start, the staff of bikes with studded tires looked at me askance and friendly ironic chat.
I joined Miguel, Diogo, Pedro, Luis and João, the night before group and headed to where the GPS sent; Olivenza, in Spain.
To get there were 100 km of rubble, soil, mud, sand, rivers. There was a bit of everything and all the Versys transposed it like dog like a bone.
But it wasn`t all facilities! At about 15 km, a sharp decline with loose soil and a hole, the front wheel was where I didn`t want to and I went down the bike. "It happens," I thought. "Only me, I'll be the laughing stock of the group," rethought. Well, I just debuted the floor. From there it was such a personal view out of the bikes in unorthodox positions. Craft things.
Getting around the Alentejo plain has the particularity that we might come across animals of many species. Besides bulls and cows, donkeys, horses, pigs, storks, hares, foxes, goats, I got to know the "corkscrew tails"; is a species of ferret but with a larger tail.
Arrived in Olivenza, I came with the idea of ​​regaining and the rest of the group with ideas to have lunch. We chose the second, we left the track and headed to the gokart track restaurant.
With new forces, it was time to return to Portugal.
Villanueva del Fresno - "A Esquina" - and the Mourão Castle were the last stops before reaching the camp in Monsaraz.
Before dinner there was still time for a gin taste proof at Sharish distillery.
After dinner, with the bike well stopped, was time for more Sharish.

24.4.15 - Oliveira de Azeméis | Anadia | Aldeia da Serra | Monsaraz

The Versys was shinning at Kawasaki stand and the odometer marked 900. Almost brand new!
The tank was filled, Monte Campo backpack tied on teh bike, Liquid Image placed in appropriate places and I was motivated to do nearly 400 km to Alqueva Great Lake.
Out of Oliveira Azeméis of the N1, the first stop was in Anadia in factory of Nau Helmets. A "hello" to who manufactured and painted with such affection, my latest helmets, always with the desire to be the world's best but never needed!
After the break I continued towards the N1 south to Condeixa. Then I started Portugal east crossing by IC8.
Showers were making their appearances and the road was treacherous. Before reaching Penela, in a space of less than 1000 meters, two ugly accidents. Served to dampen the spirits and the Japanese Kawasaki horses.
From Proenca-a-Nova the cold and the rain intensified, taking advantage of the service station A23 to wear another coat and wait a bit for the rain dropping.
Meanwhile, two Belgian riders showed up for the same reason: shelter from the rain. They were ridding for several days and the destination was the Costa Vicentina. After that? They didn`t know ...
The rain subsided and left towards the Aldeia da Serra, passing



Alpalhão, Alter do Chão, Fronteira and Estremoz: almost all lines, with dry, empty road, follow moderate speed, standing on the bike, with a spirit of adventure .
The smell of soil, grass, stone pine: fantastic!
Between Estremoz and Aldeia da Serra i felt just like a child, with Serra D`Ossa turns.
At Aldeia da Serra, had the obligatory stop at Herdade Agua D`Alte. A beautiful space to relax; another "hello" at doctor visit speed, despite not being a doctor!
Monsaraz was "already there", after the Redondo.
Reached the Great Lake was time to assemble the tent, my private apartment for two nights.
Mosquitoes, rain and cold let me think... and I could get a room in a nice house in the middle of Monsaraz walls. A good mattress and hot water!
After the usual presentations, went to dinner: "Carne de Porco à Alentejna", accompanied by no less Alentejo wine.
Right there I joined a group of buddies and I have a group to run tomorrow.
The trips require us to meet people. It's fantastic!

From tomorrow: Kawasaki Versys