Leaderboard

At lunch time I left to pick up a replacement part for my brother's car, it was only a 80km ride on the main road to get there, on the way back I decided to ride through one of the nicest "serras" in this area, "Serra d'Aires e Candeeiros" A brief stop at Porto de Mós, just for a picture of a pretty castle while not really going into the town: This is an incredibly rocky area, the fields are divided using just rocks off the floor, it's amazing the number of small walls and fields. Took a little path out of the road and stopped to say hello to some very friendly cows Carrying on, this is a true maze of small paths around the fields, made my way back to the road I like simple flowers Stopped to check where I was and this lonely dude came by for a nose rub Got off the road again and stopped by this very pretty but weird and sad landscape. This area was all burned a little while ago, maybe last year, and the color of the moss growing really struck me, I don't think the camera made it justice. Stopped for something specially for Pete, there are lots and lots of old falling apart windmills in this area, these were pretty Even though this are tall hills, you can still see the ocean quite close by, I think this is a pretty cool area. Very cloudy today, the ocean is there though ... Now, coming back home stopped by Rio Maior to get some salt straight from the salt mines. There is a underground stream that crosses a salt mine so the water comes to the surface with a very high concentration of it. The salt they get here is more powerful than usual sea salt is, and I like this salt flower on salads and overall cooking It was a pretty nice afternoon.

Bunch of annoying old farts who eat like children and like butt jokes! Is that too much? lol

On a recently burned area, nature comes back

As opposed to Harley riders...?

I loved the cows too, that first one was such a sweetie. I ate no meat for dinner, can't eat meat after petting a cow. I did, for you and my neighbours, they like their salt. @Sofia is the authority on cows as far as I'm concerned. I talk to them but they never talk back. This area is like that, you ride one hour one way and on the way back you spend 3 hours to ride the way back if you take the scenic route and take pictures. Takes forever to do 200km.

Yes, we all know how fast you can be, barely an impression left when you leave the scene. ? Now you close your eyes, relax and I will be right back with that beer....

A vote for Michelle is a vote for a bright future! A vote for me is a vote for a long gone world of slags and gangbangs! There's no future!

DISCLAIMER: long story with bits of rant thrown in! My bike ownership involves dropping them, I have done it to all the bikes and normally in front of a crowd to keep everyone amused! There was the Hornet 250 I dropped at the fantastic Cat and Fiddle pub at the top of the Peak District and had many applauding patrons to whom I bowed in appreciation for their contentment!! There was the Speed Triple 1050 #2 in the Ferry from Santander, surrounded by dozens of Hell Angels returning from their annual gathering in Algarve, that in the highest gesture of chivalry run to help me pick up the poor green machine off the floor. There was the Speed Triple #1 at the Ace Cafe that I dropped on a warm Summer's night to the huge cheers of the local stunt riders and Rockabillys that won me a cracking sausage butty!! Many times have I dropped the bikes and as such I don't get too upset about it, I accept it as part of who I am, my clumsiness and hastiness, so always invested in good crash bars!! Dropping bikes is not something that hurts my pride as such, but with the current bike I have always been afraid and dreading the day it would happen because I had no crash bars, unlike in all the others, and I knew it was going to be a very expensive affair... And I was not wrong. The things we most fear are the ones that will happen if we can't shake off the fear and so it was that on the 26th of December 2020 I dropped it. Low Sun, lack of concentration, tiredness and momentary blindness led to to much front brake, slide and not enough control to miss @Pedro passenger foot peg that hooked my radiator. It was literally a 1 cm thing that didnt become a near miss, unfortunately! He has told me so many times to not ride so close, being the caring person he is, worried about my wellbeing, but I am not good at listening! 10 kms\h max meant engine covers, mirror, wheel, foot peg, radiator and a few little things that needed to be replaced for sure. I got on the phone immediately to Jack Lilleys Triumph in London, the place I bought all my Triumphs, to order everything because in Portugal Triumph is hopeless and they had no parts or any idea when the parts would come. What they did tell me is a radiator costs here 750 euros plus VAT as opposed to 389 pounds plus VAT in the UK... First rant: how can a brand like Triumph allow an entire country to be out of parts or decent support? The importer is in Spain and that is good enough for them. Not great having a Triumph Motorcycle here. Fortunately I have this great connection with Triumph in the UK and 2 days latter all the parts were ready to ship, apart from the wheel, that I chose to get on Ebay from a triumph parts supplier that is normally good, but we will get to that in a bit. The parts were ready but due to Covid they could only be shipped after the 1st of January, so they got caught by Brexit. Again, due to the amazing Kathy, the parts department responsible at Jack Lilleys, repackaging everything in the smallest way possible and choosing the right carrier ( UPS you rock!) I got everything in 10 days and after 250 euros paid to customs the parts were at the mechanic here. Second Rant: bloody Brexit!!! Could write a book of rants about it, but lets leave it. Now, the wheel... It looked good, had a new tyre as well, 200 quid less then a new one, seemed a good deal. As you can tell, it wasn't. The guy filled in the papers wrong and chose to use Parcel Force as a carrier, a black hole was born... Customs stopped the wheel for wrong documentation and Parcel Force's equivalent in Portugal is the local Post Office, a force for evil when it comes to parcel delivery!! 7 weeks later, the wheel was still stuck. Many phone calls, many emails, a lot of time wasted chasing people, eventually I just accepted the situation, chose the way of the Zen and at week 8 the wheel was delivered after 108 euros of fees to customs. Third Rant: it is unacceptable that we have to be hostages of the inefficiency and incompetence of services that work poorly and don't have any accountability. Me and @Pedro inspected the wheel and concluded it is in good nick and good to go to the mechanic that will hopefully get the bike finished in 2 weeks. The tyre, although new, is very old and glazed over, so will make a good dog bed after I am finished repurprusing it and will decorate the vet Practice in style! Its not all vets that have a race Metzler for the doggy patients!! In the mean time @Pedro got himself busy online looking for some crash bars for me to add to the bike and found something spectacular!! A Russian manufacturer called Crazy Iron makes some serious crash bars for those that don't mind looking like a Russian tank on parade!! Or stunt riders. They weight as much as a tank as well, proper Russian! The bike will be smashed to bits before the bars have a little dent!! Because the mechanic is an expert on suspension and is a Ohlins wizard, took the opportunity to service the gold stuff on my bike and it now has new oil and new acquired sportiness!! I miss my bike a lot, I miss ridding a lot and have to thank @Pedro for his help and support to cope with all the stress the wheel situation generated. Plus by finding the bars, has given me something that will remove the worry of dropping the bike and I can be a hooligan again!! He has also helped me rationalizing the cost of over 2000 euros for all this and found me a new helmet on sale that has made me very happy!!! So many new things to start again the new season! Bring it on!!

My KLR's brake lever has a nice "hook" bent into from hitting the ground so often, i actually like it for the ergos of it..lol Pete must remember the time when i shunted Tammy in the rear in New Jersey...after that i got my first set of scription glasses! Now i know how close to rears i am.

My bike has a scratch on the silencer! The triumph will return, with bright red engine steel cages!

You forget, I am partially colour blind, the blue doesn't bother me too much. You can buy the file only and get them printed up again if you know someone with a printer and the right colour plastic, I'll see how I get on with them.

Was it annoying or old that triggered you?

We should run elections and referendums in some countries, Pete, the world would be a better place!

Got my Polish 3D printed hand guard extenders. Just pushed them on and they seem to be tight. Did 70-90mph home on the motorway and they didn't move, stopped the cold wind shooting up my sleeve. I only fitted the right one to come home as a test of the difference they make. Might run a bit of glue or silicon on them to make sure they don't leave me. No tax requested, just came through the post.

Pete isnt in control, a big bubble is!

I like it.

Oh, i ll do it after eating my lovely soup!! But Im very bias...

For a short ride you packed a fair bit in there Pedro, some lovely vistas. These cows look like Jersey's to me..........

Now I thought you was overall gaffer, just because you are one of the choices you are tying to pass the problem on to someone else, I’ll ask @Grasshopper's Ride to remove her nice shot to make it easy for you.?(just joking moron).

No mention of Bruce's hairy butt ?? ?

If you repost it @XTreme, try one of the below and I will share it all over the place. I can't share it if it is too "ladies kick butt style", I need to keep that on the low down. We can not be too "cool" either, need to lighten it up and make people know it's not all about oil type arguments. "An Adventure Motorcycle forum with a colorful collection of people, places and adventures. A little different from the rest." "A uniquely fun and funky Adventure Motorcycle forum that welcomes you to share your adventures." "An Adventure Motorcycle forum for the love of motorcycling and sharing a good laugh with fun folks." Just a suggestion....works for me...

I've Whatsapped Tony the Tools......he'll be calling up when he can!

All you need is a hammer and some glue, you've got this!

A little Lipstick Cladonia Lichen for you today. ?

And they're here! Very impressive......twice the thickness of the Givi ones that were on the Strom! I looked at the instructions and it involves taking out big bolts going through the frame! Definitely a job for Tony the Tools!

Swagman after sending a PM......

What are you talking about.....that is one of the attractions of this place, luxury dock and all ?.

You're right, I might just end my account and move on to nothing at all if suddenly all the current weirdos would be joined by hairy butt fans from across the internet

Thanks! I ll do my best, but Im really hopeless at choosing the right spot to photograph anything!! My only hope is @Pedroand his talent!!

True!! Cant wait to see how it looks!! Like a pair of Louboutains but fatter!!

No. And impossible as well because they dont have them either. Its all very badfor Triumph in the Peninsula!!

I am glad you were ok, you seem to manage well through the drops. ? I particularly enjoyed your "Third Rant: it is unacceptable that we have to be hostages of the inefficiency and incompetence of services that work poorly and don't have any accountability." So well said. Enjoy the season and be safe. Be sure to share some pics when you get out there.

Fun ride report! The photos are lovely and the cows are awesome, love the cows. ? Such beautiful countryside to ride through. Remember those shots later, for the March BOTM!

“ This is Michelle, she likes us well enough...”

We don't want to be seen to big ourselves up too much Pedro!

Now in place!

Done @Grasshopper's Ride https://www.facebook.com/advmotoforum

That's an absolutely stunning area Pedro......it's got everything. And the quality of the pics is exceptional.

No Keith.....it's everybody's. All I did is just upload the software and make sure the place keeps running. That's it. Unlike on all these other places I don't play "Forum God" or "the Big Boss".......I'm just the Ringmaster in a circus of freaks! So everybody has a say in everything.......that's the way I prefer things! Tell him @Tym I'll tell you what, @Pedro is the BOTM adjudicator.....let him make the call if nothing changes by tomorrow morning!

The only problem I see with that is not everyone rides an adventure motorcycle, although all motorcycling is an adventure, but there are a lot of motorcyclist that ride road bikes you don’t want to alienate all of those if you want more posts on the forum, I know you ride both @Grasshopper's Ride but not all do, or can’t afford to or even don’t have the area with the chance, just my thoughts not a boo hoo to your ideas as they are great ads.

The first one could be an option Michelle! Can anybody else throw out a few suggestions?

Yeah they seem to be, although the fucking morons were flocking to the coast over the weekend. @XTreme

Waiting for the KTM recovery vehicle, again at Adven...

Was thinking of a new slogan for the pic... Waiting for the GS riders to catch up at Adventure...

People are throwing rocks at GS's now?

This ends tonight, and so far we've got Michelle and Pete with the same number of votes leading the results. Maybe someone who voted for Moon and myself (very much appreciated, you are obviously individuals of taste ) would care to change their vote in order to decide the result? If it doesn't I might let it go another day and see what happens?

That is the Oxford AstraZeneca @XTreme, they say they are both as affective we will see.

Maybe we are fishing in a pond with no fish.