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!

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.

From tomorrow: Kawasaki Versys

João Rebelo Martins talk about motivation for students

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.

14.3.15 - St. Rally day

The first rally of the year traditionally is the official start of Portugal Motorsport season.
For years it has been in Ponte de Lima, in Vieira do Minho, and there is time to this part, is in Fafe.
It's the rally where everyone wants to show the news: cars, sponsors, equipment, teams with new trucks, or the grill. Day of St. Rally because it is the reunion of the lovers of motorsport, after months of waiting for the noise of the engines, the smell of burning rubber and the audacity behind the wheel; ie the first rally of the year is, after all, a convivial between friends, colleagues, opponents. People who vibrates and loves the sport and that is able to travel hundreds of miles, cold, dust or mud, to applaud and live. I greeted people who do not know the name but that in there years now, we always find the same places, creating an atmosphere and family environment.
With this spirit, I saw thousands of people in Confurco in Lameirinha and Montim. Inhospitable places and almost deserted, that the annual visit of this cluster of people gives another life to the mountains.
Despite the cold morning and the afternoon heat, my suit Alpinestars let me comfortable all day, allowing me to travel on bike, the various paths that connect the tracks.
In sport, won the Azorean Ricardo Moura, getting Miguel Campos secondly and, as we talk about friends and socializing, my friend João Barros third. It was a very good match that rally, to be attached to living, became the great day.
Even in sport, was with nostalgia that saw Vatanen and De Mevius names to the windows of cars. When I was a kid I saw running their parents, and dreamed, like them, to be a racing driver. Now I see the children, younger than me, taking the first steps in this exciting sport. And the guys who have to leave!

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.

For next adventures: Alpinestars Andes Dry Star