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.

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!