A really sociable group made for a brilliant tour – amazing roads, great hotels, sights & (mainly) good weather – fab!
We start with a pre-tour briefing
Vince, Stoner & Russ are already in Spain
Arriving in Santander
We have a new Suzuki GSXS1000
A briefing before we set off
We have to take main road
Short stroll to dinner – Rod & Caroline join us
Down the Boulevard de Cidre
Dinner’s in a local restaurant
“A brilliant trip, so good I’ve done it twice! As usual, the roads are amazing and very quiet, the hotels are perfect and it was great to ride and socialise with such a great bunch of people. John and Jen really have every last detail covered, so you can simply follow the bike in front and look forward to a cold beer, a great meal and good company at the end of the day. See you on the next one later this year.”
Andrew Page, 2nd tour, BMW R1300 GS, Glamorgan
Thanks Russ!
Cidre poured the traditional way
John has an announcement…
It’s Carole & Wayne’s 10th trip!
“Just finished the Spain/Portugal tour, so good we’ve done it twice! Great roads with likeminded people and all the stops along the way for food were great. Hotels were very good. John & Jen are great hosts and can show you around towns and best places to eat. Porto was especially good and John and Jen shown us how Porto should be done! Can’t recommend this company enough, we’ve been on 10 of the tours and enjoyed every one of them!”
Wayne & Carole Williams, 10th tour, BMW R1250 RT, RCT
Stroll round the old town
Start of the Camino de Santiago
In our 4* hotel
Morning briefing in the hotel garage
Coffee stop
“Hi John and Jen, thank you for another brilliant Portugal & Spain Tour , three years on the trot and the tour is as amazing as ever. Great hotels and food, lots of which is provided, we don’t know how you do it for the price! The routes are amazing with great scenery and the roads deliver great excitement every day. A well thought out and brilliantly run tour, can you book me in for next year please 
Best Regards”
Russ Mac, 12th trip, Honda Africa Twin, Leicestershire
Monument to Immigrants
We stop at a viewing area
But it’s a bit misty!
Superb roads…but watch out for locals!
Jen’s leading on our GSXS1000
“It was our first trip with John and Jen and we had a great time. It was everything they promised – lots and lots (and lots!) of fun twisty roads on great quiet routes with amazing views to keep pillions happy too. Unique small hotels, great food and even better company. We could not have asked for a better first group bike tour in Europe and have already booked another trip next year. Thanks guys. You are the best!”
Dick & Jackie Wall, 1st tour, Honda Africa Twin, Berkshire
Vince – BMW F900 GS
Bob – Honda X-Adv 750
Great views
Parking at lunch stop
And at our next 4* hotel
Which is right in the city centre
With a lovely indoor pool
Jen, Jackie & Dick are first in
“We found the whole experience amazing and the superb organisation allowed us to arrive at each stage knowing we did not have to plan the next – we could simply relax and reflect on the days riding. The riding was fantastic and as newbies, we now realise something that your regulars already know; that the experience of riding in Europe is not to be missed (and in fact, if possible, repeated regularly). The hotels were all very good or excellent (and we’ve travelled a bit in our time), so it made the stops comfortable and relaxing. All the inclusive meals were great with a broad variety of local styles that allowed us to enjoy regional specialities and not just standard ‘international hotel fare’. Probably one of the most important factors was the friendship and camaraderie of all the other people on the tour – we were made to feel welcome very quickly and so the social side of the tour was excellent. We loved the fact that the group was made up of a broad spectrum of people from different regions who share a passion for motor bikes, and this made for really interesting evenings chatting away about their experiences and sharing ours.
Clearly the fact that the whole tour progressed efficiently and seamlessly is down to the effort you guys put into the detailed organisation. I think it would be fair to say the harder you’ve worked at it, the more effortless it seems to us – so a big thank you, WE’LL BE COMING BACK!”
Rod & Caroline Boreham, 1st tour, BMW R1200 GSA, Wiltshire
The Cathedral at Santiago de Compostela
It’s a great city
There are lots of tapas bars
We had paella & sangria
There’s a traditional band playing
The amazing breakfast room
Always a morning briefing
Jen’s leading again today
Stoner – KTM 790 Adventure S
Vince – BMW F900GS
Rod & Caroline – BMW R1200 GSA
Steve – Kawasaki SX1000
Dick & Jackie – Honda Africa Twin
Daryl – KTM 1290 Super Adventure
David & Lin – BMW R1200 GS
Graham & Lynn – Kawasaki Versys 1000
“Back-markers” Wayne & Carole – BMW R1250 RT
Morning coffee stop
We stop for photos…
It’s a lovely view
Carole’s giving Stoner some tips
Bob
Incorrigible !!
Russ – Honda Africa Twin
Lunch stop
Jen on our GSXS1000
Fast sweepers after lunch
Fuel before we head into Portugal
John added our sticker!
We ride through a National Park
Lovely views in Portugal
Our next hotel
Has a fabulous swimming pool
Many of us enjoy a swim
Ooh Jackie – nice pins!
We have aperitifs & Mateus Rose!
Cheers!
Stoner was missing!
Dinner is included tonight
Always a morning briefing
John’s leading today
We stop for photos
A huge reservoir
John
Great roads
Coffee stop
Most go to the same cake shop…
Daryl, Stoner, Russ & Vince
Carole & Wayne have huge eclairs!
Dick & Jackie
David & Lin
Lynn & Graham
Stuck behind a lorry
We ride the famous N304…
But we found better than this!!
Lunch stop
John followed by Stoner
David & Lin followed by Bob
Andrew – BMW R1300 GS, then Daryl
Steve
Graham & Lynn
Wayne & Carole
We have two nights in Guimaraes
Many eat in the same (usual!) restaurant
Next day is a day off…
Some of us take the train to Porto
The station is amazing
Walk up to the Cathedral
People were hanged here…
Lots of buskers
Wayne & Carole
Cross the bridge for a great view
Walk up to the Monument
For an even better view!
Us!
With Wayne & Carole too
Lots of market stalls
The oldest Port house
The House of Sardines
Still lovebirds after over 50 years!
Us!
Don’t miss the super bunny!
You can take the cable car
Stop for a port tasting
Five glasses but it’s 7.50 euros now!
These guys were good
All the port houses are here
Brazilian street entertainers
It’s a fabulous city
It’s so colourful
A great saxophonist
And a great still life artist
Don’t jump!!
Not for us!
Back in Guimaraes…
The crowds are gathering…
For a piano recital
By an opera singer
There’s an eco-market
It’s another free night
Many are in the same restaurant – again!
Another lovely morning
Always a briefing
Coffee stop
With a great view
We stop for photos
Overlooking the Douro river
Caroline & Rod
A great group…where are we going??
To Infinity & Beyond!!!!
Jen taking the photo!
Stoner
Vince
Lin & David
Next stop – a Port Quinta
With a Michelin * lunch
Followed by a visit
These three “monkeys!” have done it before
Daryl’s chillin’
Great roads again
Stoner went the wrong way!
Drinks at our next hotel
In a medieval town
We lay on a Port tasting
Dinner is included tonight
Daryl & Vince have also done 10 trips!
Another lovely morning
Daily briefing
New coffee stop
A car bonnet sale!
Not on this tour!
You MUST be happy with twisties!
There are HUNDREDS on this tour!
This is a brilliant road
Lunch stop
Medieval house for sale!
We stop at a huge dam
Russ is first for ice creams!
Newbies Dick & Jackie
Also newbies – Rod & Caroline
And newbies – Graham & Lynn
Brilliant roads in the Serra de Estrela
John’s leading
Daryl
Stoner
Vince
Dick & Jackie
Andrew
Rod & Caroline
David & Lin
Steve
Bob
Russ
Graham & Lynn
Wayne & Carole
We stop at the Torre…
Portugal’s highest point
Amazing roads
Our next hotel for two nights
Has an indoor/outdoor pool
Dinner is included both nights
Wayne’s impressed with our GSXS1000!
A day off – many go for a ride-out
More fab roads
Stoner
Vince & Daryl
Daryl
David & Lin
Dick & Jackie
Vince
How quaint!
Another new coffee stop
Has a wine cellar
Rod & Caroline
Dick & Jackie
Villages tucked away
We’re going there for lunch
Russ
John has new leathers!
Andrew
Daryl
Wayne & Carole
Back at the hotel – dirty beers!!
A little lizard joins us…
Time for a swim
Drinks before dinner
Six of the Best!! All been 10 times!
Thanks everyone!!
Dinner’s included again
Our morning briefing
Fuel & coffee stop
Lunch stop
Back into Spain – on FABULOUS roads
Coffee stop – we’re buzzing!!
Our hotel is in the town square
More “dirty” beers !
The church lights up
Superb murals in the town
The Gaudi Palace
The Cathedral
Secure parking
Briefing in the hotel garage
Storks as we head to the Picos
After coffee, Andrew marks the junction
We stop at a viewing area
It’s stunning scenery
Our sticker’s there!
Just lovely
Heading into the Picos
More twisties!
Potes for lunch stop
Wayne & Carole with Dick & Jackie
Lots of Griffon Vultures
Fuente De is closed – unless have a reservation!
Our final hotel
Drinks before dinner
Dinner is included again
Thanks to “Back-markers” Wayne & Carole
We move outside for a game of “Mr & Mrs”
Dick & Jackie go first – no match!
A match!
Another match!
Graham & Lynn go next – a match!
No match!
Another match
Rod & Caroline are next – a match!
No match
A very definite match!
We had to do it – Stoner & Vince – a match!
No match
It’s a match!
After a tie-break the winners Graham & Lynn
Andrew kicks off the jokes
Then Daryl
Rod’s next
Then Dick
Stoner’s up next
John “treats!!” us…
to the “Penguin” joke!
David takes a turn
Then Bob
John’s up again!
And finally Steve
Another lovely morning
The t-shirt shop’s open!
Daryl, Stoner & Vince are staying in Spain
Our final briefing
We head out through the Picos
Coffee/lunch stop
We finish with some motorway
And everyone back to the port
Boys will be boys!! Stoner in the Picos…
Still incorrigible!!
For those who didn’t see the whale!!!
Thanks to everyone for making this a fab tour with great riding & participation by all – can’t believe there were six who have done 10 trips with us! Thanks to Wayne & Carole for doing a great job as “back-markers” and to those who’ve sent us photos. We look forward to seeing many of you again on future tours. Ride safe, John & Jen
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