Sofia

Merry Christmas!

I got it now... Thank you!! You are not a twat at all.

I think I am, although @Pedro is trying very hard to change that so I dont feel so disconnected here, in no man´s land, its not a fun place to be!

thats the way to do it!!

Thank you for keeping it going! Happy holidays!!

You deserve it 100%!

Ok, stand corrected!!

What has he done? Oh, I know, Doesn't use an Harley to deliver presents!!! With comments like that, the TOTY is going your way!

Would like to wish you all a very lovely time, with lots of good things and, above all, love, a lot of love! This is not an easy time for me now, like for so many that have suffered loss along the way. They say grief is the love we carry and will not be able to give to those that left to early and I carry some of that love. Christmas, in the caos that was my childhood, was normally a very nice time!! Not because of the presents, I never did get that medical kit I asked Santa many years in a row, but spending many 24th and 25th of December together with the Army "family" was a lot of fun!! My Dad was on duty many years and the cute little girl that I was loved running around the Regiment and the Officers Mess, softening the hearts of the hard man, not used to a cheeky, non stop talking, mischievous small person!! They taught me that hard can be soft, that loyal is more important then novelty, that family is not necessarily defined by genetics. I loved Christmas the most in the UK, because its free from all the Catholic obligations, its very funny, with the crackers and the paper crowns, the burning puddings and the grannies drunken on Port!! Its all so special and funny for a non British person!! My older brother, a special needs child, was absolutely in Love with everything Christmas and I was fortunate to share the British Christmas with him while I lived in the UK. His happiness with the paper crown on his head while he opened his presents is a cherished memory I will carry forever!! He was, on paper 11 years older then me, but he stopped growing mentally at 10 years old, so the eternal child that, in a way, always believed in Santa, for Christmas or other wise. We lost him 6 years ago and with him went that joy that only children impart in this very special time of the year. In the past, I have channeled his love for all Christmas things via cooking and normally get busy baking fruit cakes and mince pies, all from Nigella Lawson recipes, the true Goddess, and surprise the Portuguese with these "exotic" foods with a depth of flavour not typical here. This year I didn't do said backing and I'm now really regretting it, I have realised I miss it and I need to do it double next year!! I find the best thing to do when we miss someone at these special times is to honour them by giving all that stored love to as many people as possible, as far reaching as possible, so here goes lots of love to you all!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

It's looking better by the minute!!

I have seen it, but it's a Tuono wanna be... if I was on the market for a super sport naked, I would just get the Tuono. I'm really loving this one now, looking forward to see the difference with the risers up and back so it's not so pitched forward!!

I have detested the salted cod and boiled stuff all my life, until @Pedro Mum told me about the trick that makes it all very delicious!! Now I enjoy it like never and will make it for me and my Dad! In the UK I learned to make a great Turkey, with the invaluable help of Nigella, but just me and my Dad,we will stick to the cod!!

What a lovely place!!!

proper hipster!! Looks cool, I have thought about!!

I have everything set to english rather then portuguese, my brain seems to work better like that. Still, as you can see, I dont do what it tells me to do, always end up going round the houses and lost!! But its in being lost that I find magical places and people!

A little bit of yesterday. Its a crap video, please forgive me!! Its a helmet camera, so every time I shake my head you know about it!!

I have... but lost between the love for the speed triple and the need for something more adequate to the current setting.... I fancy the Scrambler 1200 XE or the Norden 901

Luke is a cross, I suspect of Jack Russel with the Portuguese Podengo, which is, in fact the Portuguese terrier! So he is 100% terrier, and that might explain why Lea, the Fox Terrier Princess, fell in love with him when normally she is the biggest doggie snob to all the other dogs that have spent some time with us. Luke was found on the streets, unwanted, and was supposed to be adopted, but not by me... First Pedro and after Lea made such a campaign for him to stay that he stayed!! It was a great thing all round, happy story for humans and doggies!!

Gorgeous fotos!! The muffs dont look too bad...

So, the forecast said it was going to rain, a lot. A storm was heading to Portugal West coast and all sort of warnings were on the news advising people to be careful and preferably not do any unnecessary trip. On hearing that, I decided the best thing to do was to go out for a ride!! And reminisce and relive memories of ridding in the UK, in the wet, with ultra sport tyres!! Anyway, I am slow enough to not be a problem on any level and in fairness the Pirelli Supercorsa are so good, even in the wet and coldish December stormy day, they had lots of grip, I had to push them hard with a fist full of accelerator exiting the motorway service station for the traction control to kick in, making me laugh like a mad hooligan!! Yesterday my goal was to reach on of Wellington's Torres Lines Fort, the "Forte do Alqueirão" ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_of_Alqueidão) . @Pedro has found a couple and my Dad as mentioned a load more, so I ached a plan to visit them all on the Triumph! I have now realized my plan is flawed because the access to these Forts is fit only for 19" wheels on knobblies.. So I will save my off road excursions for when I have no choice and can't avoid them and shall visit the Forts by car! Some how I picked up a screw in the back tyre and ended the ride at the tyre shop getting it sorted. The bike was so mega dirty, I chose to leave it there so they could fix the puncture and clean it and pick it up today, which gave me an excuse to ride again under very dark clouds and a blustery South West wind!! Managed to escape the down pours and had a quiet moment overlooking the Atlantic, contemplating my bike and feeling massively grateful for all the wonderfulness I have in my life! Top gratitude goes for the doggies that were patiently waiting for me to take them for a stroll at the beach! One little note here for the blue thing you see on the handle bar! That is the attachment for the phone from Quadlock, something @Pedro has been campaigning for me to get for a longggggg time!! He gave up waiting on me and actually got the whole thing and I only had to get the cover for the phone. This thing is, indeed, marvelous!! Cannot recommend it enough. !80 kms/h its safe as houses and does not budge. It is a luxury to be ridding along and seeing the screen with whatever the info is. Really happy with this!! thank you Pedro for yet another great improvement to my life! Yes, I was very reluctant to have something like this for a long time, but like inter-coms, this makes life a lot easier. Not going up there... It is like 3 kms of off road to get to the monument, not a clever idea, so I didnt do it. Hey-ho, the road with tarmac is one of my favourites so I just enjoyed that! The restaurant was shut as well, definitely must return!! Today's moment of reflection, framed by 2 gorgeous things, the Ocean and the Speed Triple!!! With the doggies, no bikes in sight!! Lea the Terrier is experienced with the big waves and wild sea, not fazed by any of the crushing waves, Luke Skywalker is not so sure and looks on with apprehension to the sizable waves rumbling towards the wall and spraying us with salty water! I made a video, but its proving impossible to edit... will keep trying and if I manage I will publish here!

2021 was a good year for me and my business. Had good rides and lots of great meals and wine in good company! ( thank you @Pedro for so many great moments! ) The balance is very positive and to finish the year in a very high note, I have found my confidence back and also clicked with my bike and feel like ridding it non stop!!

Only until tomorrow...

Yesterday had to pick up some medical products at the Veterinarian Hospital I work with, normally 28 kms, but decided to go the longer way round, including a ride up the highest elevation near me at 395m. It was very windy up there, but it was worth it for the views and the peaceful feeling I enjoyed there. On previous visits, mainly with @Pedro, the location always provided us with big views for good pictures! And because it is my intention to not miss out on BOTM in December, I have collected some material!! On a previous post, mine or Pedro's, not sure, we talked a little about this location and its history. One of the most not-so-amusing moments of my incursions into off-roading was going up this hill a couple of years back! Suddenly there was no more tarmac road, just dirt and loose rock for the Pirelli's to deal with! Here is the video. This road is now fully tarmac, thank God! At least for me, others AVDs will disagree!! The road winds it self through wine country and the vineyards, now naked from their leaves, but still very pretty and the land hugs us with its undulations. It is actually a very pretty region this, with well established wine houses that produce many litters of nice wine. It has its own route of Wine helping the tourists find find a good tipple!! On the road to Torres Vedras, the N8, a new bikers cafe has opened and I was able to enjoy a lovely pork steak sandwich and the traditional expresso, the cafezinho! Lovely crowd that, like me, lived in the UK for almost 20 years. Its called Route N8 Cafe, which is cool!! If any of you ever visits this region, for a sure a good place to stop. Here are some pictures! And to end the day, took advantage of a gorgeous Sunset, spreading a little more magic over the Triumph!

I hit @Pedro totally unnecessary when the traffic was stopped and he slowed down as one correctly does. Obviously I had other ideas... The End

absolutely loved this!! Thanks!! I particularly liked the bicycles an the old computer!! There is a bunker near the Nurburgring, it was for NATO Commanders to use in case of nuclear attack. I think you would like to visit!