Modern Vespa

The Vespa Club del Mediterraneo is currently touring Portugal on scooters.

16 are seeing this beautiful country.

My wife, Sarah, and I spend most of the days riding with our good friends Walt and Lostboater.

Lostboater plans and leads our rides and they never disappoint.

Here are a few shots from my phone. I will add more as I can.

Bill










Our new friend Joao in Monsanto, showing us his newest Vespa.

Thanks, Bill. I couldn't be there this year. Have fun and say hello from me.

Thank you! Looks wonderful!

Thanks for posting, Bill. Here we all are about to head off for Coimbra!

Looks horrible. You shouldn't post anymore pictures.

If you visit Portugal, you can rest assured that you will eat well.




Ham and cheese toast, our favorite sandwich

Thanks for the post Bill. Nice pictures, and a reminder of the larger world.

More Portugal fun. Coimbra, a university town, has lots to offer. After touring o e of the world’s oldest libraries, it was time to hit the road to visit a fabulous hotel in a former royal palace.




The globe represents Portugal’s exploration

The bells are still regulated like clockwork

Today Ken, Walt, Sarah and I rode from Coimbra to Porto, with the last 25 miles along the Duoro River into Porto.

The day started cold, damp and cloudy.

I had packed my sweatshirt and it was in the van so I had to make due with just a thin Alpinestar jacket with a short sleeve shirt under. No liner either.

We stopped to warm up with coffee at a tiny shop along the way. Walt loaned me his rain jacket and that helped a lot.

The proprietor of the coffee shop was a great fellow who spoke no English, but we managed to communicate enough for him to show off his two old Peugeots and the dance hall in the back of his shop. He even turned on the lights and disco ball.

The sun came out as we approached the Duoro River but faded behind clouds again as we approached Porto.

I had picked up a cold on day one in Lisbon. It had mostly run its course but today kicked it up a bit as I felt bad enough to send Sarah off with Walt to see much of Porto. It gave me time to sort through photos and post a few things while I warmed up.

Bill


Riding through Eucalyptus trees.

Our new friend in the coffee shop

A view while riding along a ridge.

A well maintained hedge.

I am still lost in France and missed this whole thread. This was another great trip and I want to thank Maria, Roland and Warren for their great work. Loved every minute of it. Slow internet so you get no pictures from me but you can read about it on my blog here : https://2019euro.blogspot.com/p/riding.html

Awesome pictures, and great narrative, Ken.

Thank you sir.