Today on our first riding day, we get in touch with our new bikes. Of course the weather was on our side, 20 degrees and a blue sky. Our first stop was at the Cabo da roca, the most western point in portugal, where we got a scienic view on the atlantic. The next stop was the Palacio Nacional da Mafra, a baroque building with more than 50 years of construction. After a good Lunch at the Beach House we drove on to our last Highlight of the day- Obidas, a small village with a big history. The Castello there is worth seeing, just like a short walk to the stores.

On our second day of riding, the fun could really begin. There were various highlights in store for the day. Our first stop took us to the famous Alcobaca Monastery, one of the largest in Portugal and a World Heritage since the 20th century. One photo stop further on, we had a wonderful view of the castle De Mos. After a lunch break in Tomar, we headed into the hinterland, where bend after bend showed us the true motorcycling paradise of Portugal. To be continued.

Finally the time had come. Pure sunshine. The morning dawned with a crystal clear blue sky. Unfortunately, it was also cold. We set off eastwards along the Mondego river valley with its mystical rising humidity. The still young sun broke through the mist. 

We make our first stop at Palacio Bussaco to warm up. A short walk around the palace warms our cold bones. A truly extraordinary place.

From now on, we have almost no straight road to Porto. We wind our way through enchanted eucalyptus forests and remote, idyllic villages with countless, perfectly manoeuvred bends.

Trummy awaits us with a marvellous picnic right on the river beach in the shade. What a wonderful place to take a deep breath and refuel.

The afternoon is no less intense. Small roads with little traffic invite us to practise our lines and dance with the bike. Today we have definitely become one with our bike. Happy and exhausted, we arrive in Porto just before the rush hour. We will stay here for two nights to have enough time to explore this historic city.

A small, select group sets off today to explore the Douro Valley, more precisely Alto-Douro Vale. We make rapid progress and arrive at the coffee stop after just over an hour with a grin on our faces. Relaxed curve dance. 

In Lamego we take a well-deserved break after 120 kilometres of winding roads.  A traditional bakery invites us in. A classic cheese sandwich and pastel de nata get us back on our feet.

The afternoon runs like clockwork. A quick stop in Amarante at one of the larger Ponte Romanas in the area and we're off again. We want to ride today. But not a full day either. We are back at the hotel at 3.00 pm and can relax a little and enjoy the city.

In the evening we go to a fado concert with the obligatory port wine. A successful day!

To avoid the rush hour in Porto and get through the urban sprawl quickly, we take the motorway north towards Braga for the first hour. We make a stop at the Unesco World Heritage Site of Bom Jesus. A unique Christian complex with an infinite number of steps. However, we drive straight up and enjoy the view and a small snack in a peaceful morning atmosphere. 

We then head into the Geres National Park for lunch. Fantastic watercourses and a crystal-clear sky are a delight. The national park is not very busy today and we can enjoy the beauty at a slow pace. On the Spanish side, we get down to business again. Perfect bends and no traffic. A paradise.

Shortly afterwards, we cross the border back into Portugal and stop off at the Espigueiros, which are so widespread here in the north. Small old stone buildings for drying wheat etc.

The afternoon ride is then absolutely spectacular through the hills and valleys of the enchanted north of Portugal. We enjoy the view in Sistelo and hardly want to go any further. The evening in Tui, now on the Spanish side, ends with a great view over the town. Another successful day!

After just a few minutes, we are back in a paradise of bends. We drive through remote countryside, with Spain almost within sight, through the Alto Douro valley. A lovely morning invites us to enjoy a relaxed ride. We swing from one bend to the next, drive through sleepy villages and see the odd tractor making its rounds. 

Arriving in Miranda do Douro, we enjoy the view and the first stop of the day. 

From here, we continue along the Douro Gorge and cross the border into Spain. Everything is in bloom and smells enticing. In the middle of the idyll, Julian is waiting for us with a great picnic. Everyone is delighted.

Now it's not far to Salamanca and we really want to visit the city. So it's a very straightforward route straight to the hotel, a shower and off to the cathedral.

This morning we made our first great mountain pass (1201m o.s.l.) with a lot of hairpins and a lot of fun. Some corners later the group stopped for some beautiful pictures at one of the biggest eucalyptus trees in spain. They were huge and of course you can smell them. The highlight of the day was the village Sortelha- one of the oldest in portugal-only 3 people live there, the rest of the houses are for touristic purposes. We end our ride with some nice corners trough de national parc and arrive Manteigas.

It was going to be an absolutely spectacular day. But let's start at the beginning.

First, we head along the Rio Zézére towards the top of the mountain at 1993m. The sun is shining and there are great views of the dramatic rock formations. There is even snow at the top. We find a few interesting souvenirs in the local store. 

The descent and route to Piódao is legendary. We arrive with broad grins and order a few sandwiches. 

For the next few hours, we ride along car-free, winding, perfect roads through the mountains. Portugal is a motorcycle dream.

But the heat is getting to us and we stop in a small village with a nice square. Of course, a café is also open.

Now we leave the mountains and cycle through gentle hills to the River Tagus. A great view and 10 minutes of temperature regulation in the shade.

Then another truly magnificent stretch of road and we arrive at our equally spectacular hotel for the day. An 800-year-old castle.

Everything has to come to an end. Unfortunately, today is our last day of driving. It starts with a light mist and we drive through wide landscapes with cork oaks, olives and orange trees. It clears up and we stop at a vineyard. We enjoy the idyllic setting and stroll around. We also pick up a bottle or two of wine. We then head to Èvora and a macabre chapel made of bones. We stroll through the town, have lunch and don't miss out on an ice cream at almost 30°. From here we have a short stretch of country road and then we take the highway to Lisbon. 

In the evening, we sit together for a long time and reminisce about the moments of the last few days.