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**saralou** · #**3496** 20 Oct 2024

The temperature was a cool 14 degrees this morning with mostly cloudy skies. We dressed in layers and added our rain suits for wind dampening. In the end we just had a few showers. Today’s ride is 332 km and is up and down over maintain passes and thru the Douro wine region. This route is said to be in the too 20% of motorcycle rides in Europe. It’s was an amazing ride, but a sunny day would have made it epic. The roads were very curvy and there was very little traffic. We ended the day in Vila Real where we found a very nice 4* boutique hotel at a very 2* price. Not too many photos today so you will have to check out the video below. Tomorrow we get the fab 4 back together.

**saralou** · #**3497** 20 Oct 2024

Douro valley video

Part 1

https://youtu.be/VEbTHXCClSc?si=j0VrkzPQJiEpC2Mu

Part 2

https://youtu.be/W7n0yvu9VZM?si=RkKiOPFvDwXXWb2V

**Flipflop** · #**3498** 20 Oct 2024

Quote:

Originally Posted by saralou

We can’t say enough about the great service we had from Carrie at Motorcycle Express. The bikes arrived at the freight forwarding office less than an hour from landing. The customs process was straightforward and the logistics brokerage cost was less than expected at 150E.

Carrie is brilliant

**saralou** · #**3499** 22 Oct 2024

The forecast again today is iffy. It’s an hour earlier in Portugal and we only have 63 km or an hour to Chaves where we plan to meet Trevor and Orvar. They have 222 km and 2 hours 40 min to meet us. We had no rain, but unfortunately they had quite a bit.

**saralou** · #**3500** 22 Oct 2024

We arrived several hours before them and we toured around the city. We had a photo op at the N2 or Portuguese national road sign. The km 0 is here in Chaves. We also wound our way up into the old city and onto the wall at the keep.

**saralou** · #**3501** 22 Oct 2024

Watch video here https://youtu.be/u12ksuiO_78?si=vXzkjwiPBVDF3Ag2

We had planned a 132 km route from Chaves to Braga that is supposed to be in the too 5 rides here in Portugal. Unfortunately it started raining about an hour into the 4 1/2 hour ride…..It was a very curvy road and there should have been great views of the lakes we passed and the views from the mountain side into the valleys. We had a few detours down some back roads to the lake at the bottom of the valley. We took a little break at the bridge and now there is just 108 km or 2.5 hours to get to Porto!

**saralou** · #**3502** 22 Oct 2024

In Braga we had the most incredible gps route to get to the N12 and avoid the toll roads it felt like we were driving around in circles for at least 15 minutes. Even more amazing we hit all the crazy loops and turns and we didn’t loose anyone. We arrived at out rental apartment and were met by our lovely hosts. We must be tired as they came out to meet us and were very excited we made it and it took us all a few minutes o understand they were speaking to us in French!

**saralou** · #**3503** 22 Oct 2024

Watch video here

https://youtu.be/T0S1ozuwXCU?si=Fx6NGK7Sh2iDmt2I

**saralou** · #**3504** 22 Oct 2024

We started our day out well with a nice breakfast in our apartment prepared by the Swede. It was an easy and inexpensive Uber ride into the city Center. We got dropped off at the Sao Bento train station with its iconic lobby and tracks.

**saralou** · #**3505** 22 Oct 2024

We walked uphill to the city hall for the PORTO sign photo.

**saralou** · #**3506** 22 Oct 2024

Some highlights of the city

**saralou** · #**3507** 24 Oct 2024

We decided we needed to return to the Douro valley now that the weather is sunny and the group is all back together. We headed out of our digs near Porto and spent the day curving our way on the small road and mostly along the river.

**saralou** · #**3508** 24 Oct 2024

Our lunch stop was at a churrasqueira on the side of the road that turned out to be packed and we had an amazing pork and chicken meal served by lovely people.

**saralou** · #**3509** 24 Oct 2024

Douro valley

**saralou** · #**3510** 24 Oct 2024

Orvar visited the Douro valley museum and got the scoop. We can take the local train about 35 min up river to Pinhão and many of the quintas can be reached on foot.