Day 6: Foz do Sabor to Castello Branco

Route map for day 6

Had a great stay overlooking the Sabor river in the Douro valley last night in a really nice guesthouse. This morning for breakfast, my host had asked his neighbor for fresh oranges, and i put 4 fresh off the tree oranges through the juicer. Fortified with fresh juice and a few cups of good coffee i headed out around 9:45. The temperature was 6 degrees when i left, but the sky was clear and the sun was shining.

Due to the temperature, i had to stop every 30 minutes or so to warm my hands, which gave me time to get some images along the way.

Views of a river valley and bridge early in my ride,

View in the other direction, looking down the river valley,

Another 45 minutes into my ride, i was riding through the town of Almeida when i saw fortifications above the town. There was a very rough dirt path that i followed up to the walls to get a better look.

Outside the walled town.

Another shot along the wall.

Countryside outside the walls.

Inside the walls of the fort.

More information on Almeida fortress can be found here: Castle Fortress of Almeida - Wikipedia

After taking these images, i was in a hurry to get back out, as i was starting to get the impression that i should not have driven the motorcycle onto the field outside the walls.

2 minutes later i found a road that led into the walled town, and allowed me to ride the cobblestone streets all around the old town. The space inside the walls could not have been more than 10 acres, but the walls that surround the town were fully intact on all side.

Another 45 minutes or so down the road, i was going through the town of Sagubal when i saw this sight from a stop sign.

Sagubal Castello from a road in the town.

Getting up to this castle was an adventure. I was very concerned about dropping the bike due to both the slope of the very narrow cobblestone alleys as well as the sharpness of the turns my gps was asking me to take. These paths were not made with cars or even motorcycles in mind.

I eventually got up to the castle and decided to break out the little pendant camera and hold it as i walked around the outside, and eventually the inside of the castle. i apologize for the lack of camera stabilization and for the terrible running commentary.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/1d37dd_2c7851d2628843db85aaceae92dd0b2c/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Sagubal Castello part 1.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/1d37dd_4dfc3257808244b6a25237be867f3ad5/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Sagubal Castello Part 2, inside the walls.

More detailed, and more accurate information can be found in the Wikipedia post at the following URL: Sabugal Castle - Wikipedia

I left Sagubal, and the weather was finally starting to improve. I really enjoyed the riding today. I started to feel really comfortable on the bike yesterday and realized today that i was riding without even thinking about it. I was tipping into corners at speed with no hesitation, i trusted the bike and that led to a really great riding experience.

I also started to get that feeling that you get when you are more than halfway through a great trip, where you just dont want it to end. I could happily carry on riding 250KM per day seeing new things every day for at least a few more weeks, months....who knows. I only know that i am not ready for this to be the last adventure like this that i take on 2 wheels.

Leaving Sagubal, i was only one hour from the end of my riding day. I did stop one time about midway in this last section by the side of the road when i saw the snow capped peaks of Sera de Estrella in the distance.

Views of the Serra de Estrella peaks.

Across the road i saw a strange antiquated structure that i am still not sure i understand completely I believe this must have been a rest stop, but have no idea how old it might be.

View from across the road.

Water fountain in full operating condition.

The Deluxe seating options at the rest stop.

From the rest stop i carried on into Castello Branco. After a quick stop at my guest house, i headed back out on the bike to explore the town, and most importantly to get the to castle on top of the hill in the center of the city.

There were no interior structures to enter at the castle. Entry and parking were free, and i was able to wander the ramparts of this centuries old Templar stronghold.

Steps leading onto the castle ramparts.

One of the views from a rampart tower over the city.

A second view from the same tower showing the coverage the castle had over the surroundings.

Looking back into the castle yard.

Inside the main tower of the fortification.

All in all it was a fantastic day filled with great riding and the exploration of three castles along the way. The beauty of the interior of the country is astounding. You move from mountain ridge to mountain valley over and over and the number of vistas that are worth stopping to photograph is overwhelming. If i stopped at every spot that deserved to be photographed i would never get from one location to the next.

Tommorrow was scheduled as a very long day of riding as i was scheduled for 4.5 hours of riding, which with breaks probably means more like 7 hours in the saddle. I decided to cut out three of the points of interest which shortened my day by an hour at least. My final destination is the Unesco world heritage town of Elvas.