In Guarda now. That's the town on the hill we stayed at where we changed Bernards tyre at the petrol station.

I'm sort off in the same hotel... got to the hotel...sorry we're full. So I sob story a bit saying we stayed there 3 years ago etc... the hotel owner comes out and says the hotel is full, but you can stay at my house just up the road. Result!! Not only do I have a house to myself, my bike is parked in the front courtyard and there was a bit of paper on the sideboard with the wi-fi password!!

No detours today, so did the same route as we did last time. Couldn't remember where we had lunch last time round, I certainly didn't find the same place today. And I didn't get wet either!!

This is where Doug's pannier fell off:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/15/zyjyqa2a.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/15/2y9y7yqa.jpg

First glimpse of the River Douro:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/15/ure3u9yn.jpg

Starting to get a bit sandy...

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/15/unyme8et.jpg


Nick

.

I though the picture was here ....

http://www.smokingtailpipes.com/Gallery/Port014.JPG

But they would have needed to remove a whole mountain!!!

It was just past here were Bernard and Doug kissed....

http://www.smokingtailpipes.com/Gallery/Port019.JPG

Loving this thread Nick.

Maybe it wasn't where Doug lost a pannier, but I remember we stopped there for a spanner session...

Bit more road work yesterday, maybe a 60/40 trail/road mix.

Had two detours due to Locked gates. Missed a chunk if trail due to the first one and just found another easy around for the other.

Sun was out today.... at last!!

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/17/8amerygu.jpg

Somebody nicked the bottle top spout...
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/17/ganuju7e.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/18/2yjahyzy.jpg

Nick

In Portalegre now, good mix of trails today, nice forest tracks and then sandy roads.

Came up against Bernards hill today and it beat me again! I reckon I could have got down ok, but I'm sure I couldn't have got back up if I'd needed to..
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/18/use5yqun.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/18/eqevybyp.jpg

Went back to the road and joined the trail again about 5km away.

Was this the day we bailed out and stayed in the hotel with the pool?

Did some nice trails after rejoining and only had one detour.

Three days left to get to the Algarve, should be ok but I think the sand starts tomorrow.....

Nick

Fantastic report and pics Nick.

Hope your well and that Ktm is doing the job.

Let's have some more pics once your in morocco.

Gary

Hello from the sunny Algarve. Got here late afternoon yesterday. The last couple of days have been a mixed bag. You guys didn't miss much last time. Lots of access problems, no entry signs and locked gates. What needs doing with this route is keeping as it is down to Castelo Branco then heading across to the Spanish border and funding some trails that head back up north. The trails down here are not as good as those that can be found further north. I did do some nice trails in the hills before you drop down towards the coast but mostly it's sandy roads on flat open country and with the access problems it just wasnt very enjoyable for me. I did some trails that I dont remember doing last time and missed out quite a few chunks that we did do. Weather's great down here mind!!

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/20/gyry6yju.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/20/tamy8uty.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/20/usujyhub.jpg

Nick.