Portugal.....hopefully

[grez]

And so it begins, a less than well planned trip to Portugal over the next 2 weeks. Panniers packed last night, passport and bike documents found this morning (must get some euros), bike rolled out and ready to go. Start mileage of 50382 which almost finished at 50382 and 50 yards when some fuckwit who lives on the estate decided to use the whole road turning right and almost did me head on (steady on). Much foul language at 6-30 in the morning and off to work.

Hoping to get away from Manchester around lunch and off to Turing University in Canterbury for the night then early over on the train, illegal immigrants notwithstanding.

After that heading for Tours then who knows what route as I aim for Portugal (down and to the left I understand). As we all know history has taught us that whatever I plan rarely works out, perhaps this will be different.

 

[paul08]

If you are coming down from Tours, isn't it "down and to the right"? !!!!!

 

[grez]

Explains how I ended up in Albania when aiming for Bulgaria. Made it to Canterbury in 7 hours and one massive rain storm. Usual crap British driving standards, might as well make all motorways one lane.... the middle one. Spent the evening drinking in the university bar with an astrophysics student barmaid.... Universities are so posh nowadays

 

[grez]

Well I made it to Tours avoiding motorways and le fuckwit who pulled out to cross the road right in front off. Didn't know you could get tank slapped on a gs. Now riding with fingers on clutch and brake all the time. Day trip to Orleans and a chateau today, good job credit card worked in the petrol station. Photos to follow when I get the computer working.

 

[Viking]

When you get to Portugal. Spend a couple of days in Sintra. Near Lisbon. A magical place. Did the same last year with a mate. On our way down to Estopona a total month away.
Fantastic.
Enjoy your trip and stay away from those eejits out there.

 

[Nabbler0]

Looking forward to this one , pictures please

 

[grez]

Arrived at the Hotel Camponile-Joue-Les-Tours. OK for a budget motel, clean en-suite. Tried Picon Biere – 18%. Up at 9 am (blame the Picon from last night) heading to Orleans. Nice ride along the Loire River cleared the head before entering Orleans. First stop the Cathedral Ste-Croix started in 1601 by Henry IV, then the Hotel Groslot built for the city bailiff in the mid-1500’s.

Next ride to the Chateau De Chambord started in 1519 by Francois I. Took 15 years to build and he stayed there for 42 days in total. It has a double helix staircase that don’t meet, some attribute it to Leonardo da Vinci. Nice ride to Blois then Amboise for dinner along the south of the Loire and back to Tours for beer and bed.

My trusty steed

 

[grez]

The chateau, double helix staircase and Loire River

 

[Dahoum]

Recently back from a lovely 10 day break in Portugal.

Stayed in Estoril on the coast. Lovely area - and as Viking says a trip to Sintra will not be wasted, or Cascais - extremely pretty seaside town.

Sintra has quite a strong Lord Byron connection - but I'm sure you all knew that

 

[grez]

Left Tours and headed down to Biarritz for the night. Avoided the motorway so was a pleasant ride until 100 km from Biarritz when the sky turned black, the rain lashed down and lightening split the sky. Can’t say it was fun on part worn tyres, a dodgy throttle and a grabby clutch (it’s oil resistant and there is zero slip in it). Made it to the motel only to be told Biarritz is the wettest place in France. Turns out the motel is under the airport flightpath. Shower, dry out, eat and bed, tomorrow I am off to Toledo in Spain for a few days.

 

[grez]

A grey and dismal morning in Biarritz to start another 600 km leg. Vents closed, coffee drunk, bladder emptied and sat nav set to avoid tolls and off I went. Main roads run alongside toll roads and are almost as fast. Weather picked up and the miles ticked off, some nice roads and towns though nothing outstanding. Got cold in the mountains and mist set in. Once the mountains were behind me it got warm and headed to Madrid. Got lost on the motorway around Madrid, sat nav could not keep up but eventually made Toledo. Picture is a monument I passed somewhere.

 

[grez]

A day off the bike walking around Toledo. Impressive entrance leads up a steep hill to the plaza. First thing to realise is there is very little flat, the city is a maze of back alleys and narrow roads winding around each other and almost all a steep gradient. First stop the cathedral. Worth the entrance fee (8 euros) the architecture is stunning and so are the paintings, photos do not do it justice at all.

Wandered through the rest of the town through backstreets, little café for lunch, an visiting the Hospital y Museo de Santa Cruz to see the El Grecos.

Back to the hotel just out of the city for a shower before heading out for dinner in the old town......a good day.

View from hotel, entrance to the old city, view outside the old city, inside the cathedral

 

[grez]

The cathedral took over 250 years to build (1227 - 1493) and houses masterpieces from the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods for the cultured amongst you.

Just goes to show being a tourist has been around for centuries.

 

[grez]

Decided to ride a round trip up to Avila then Segovia and back to Toledo. First part up to Avila was to see the ancient city walls. Nothing exciting about the road but a few interesting things along the way. The town was very busy so after a quick excursion inside the town walls and a fuel stop headed for Segovia hoping for a bit more excitement........be careful what you wish for.

 

[grez]

Left Avila on the AV 500 which turned out to be a minor road with a long section as straight as an arrow to a reservoir. Thinking this is not going well I turned left onto the AV 501 which wound up into the hills…..at last. Stopped at the top and took a track to the left up through the wind turbines, which went nowhere so back down. Down the hill past a huge rock pit and wind down to Segovia.

 

[grez]

Segovia has a Roman aqueduct built around the first century. Over 800 m of granite supported by 166 arches and 120 pillars and standing over 30 m high without any mortar. You can park next to it and walk under to some nice cafes.

Then the ride back to Toledo on the CL 601 which was a great road that went crazy in the middle with hairpin bends and climbed to almost 1,900 m. Great ride down to the M 601, even navigated Madrid’s motorway system and home.

More excitement………….that was to come tomorrow.

 

[grez]

Well the day started OK, packed the bike, paid the bill, sorted the route and off I went down the road to the first roundabout where some myopic dago decided that he wanted to be on the same bit of tarmac as me and viscously assaulted me from the rear. Once I had picked myself up I looked at the vital fluids dripping from the bike and thought “F*#K” . He helped me get the bike back on its wheels and the thoughts were split “F*#K this hurts, the bike is bleeding, I am going to kill this f*#ker”. Dago was complaining about the damage to the front of his car, I couldn’t give a f*#k. Off he went to move it out of the way and that’s the last I saw of him as he scarpered up the road.

Turns out I had a smashed indicator and broken the mount for the cylinder head guard (Stanton type) but only a few scratches to the cylinder head itself. Fluids had stopped leaking (petrol apparently) and apart from scratches to the pannier all seamed OK. A friendly Spaniard stopped and asked if I was OK, if the bike was OK and did I need a hospital (lets not get carried away here - could always see a doctor in Evora if it was serious) or mechanic. He told me he had seen the driver hit me and drive off after helping me get the bike up but didn’t realise he had done a runner leaving no details, or offer to pay for the damage to my bike.

Headed off to Evora listening to every noise thinking something is going to go bang but seems to be running ok so got her up to 130 kph and hopped for the best. Ride was mainly fast main road, distance munching, but a few interesting sights on the way. Nice view of ancient, old and new bridges ...progress in one photo.

Got to the hotel and changed to see a huge swelling (not of the good kind) on my left leg. Managed to hit something hard in the 1 inch between the top of the boot and the knee armour (seems God still hates me). Sticking my leg in a bath of cold water got the swelling down and so far no bruise. Beer helps.

So the record in Europe continues – Albania (broken rear wheel bearing), Bulgaria (starter motor and sat nav), Spain and Portugal (myopic drivers). Is Iceland in Europe? – no doubt if I go next year I will be attacked by a whale.

 

[Davey B]

What a twat. Hope the leg is still OK in the morning.

 

[grez]

Decided to have a day exploring Evora. As usual the biggest attraction is the cathedral, makes you think they caught religion seriously down here. Bes t thing is you can get on the roof and walk about, with low walls and only a few warning signs, Health & Safety would Gets some good views of the city and the old Roman temple, they even have a sundial up there.

General wander round the cobbled streets and a little café for lunch, half the price of Toledo and just as nice if not as big. Wandered down to the Aqueduct built around the 1530’s that still brings in water to the city. Found a plaque commemorating the defence of the city against the French in 1808, though can’t imagine it took much effort.

Planned a ride up to Marvao and Portalegre tomorrow so here’s hoping all goes well.

 

[grez]

A few more pictures of the city.

Very cool how they have built houses into the arches of the Aqueduct.