Motorcycling Tour to Morocco 2023 Ep 16 Manteigas, Serra da Estrela, St Maria Del Páramo, Portugal

Motorcycling Tour to Morocco 2023 Ep 16 Manteigas, Serra da Estrela, Santa Maria Del Páramo, Portugal & Spain - July 2023.
Originally we had decided to go to the FARO RALLY in Portugal ( 20/7/23), but then the trip was extended to be able to fulfil another bucket list item and ride to Morocco....even though we knew it would be the hottest time of the year to visit, but we thought we would give it a go, and if it was too hot, we would return to Spain and tour there & Portugal. The route took Raymond & I from Tyrone in Northern Ireland, to Rosslare Port to Bilbao, Seville, Algeciras, Tangier Med, Chefchaouen, Fes, Ifrane, Er Rachidia, Ouarzazate ( The Gateway to the Sahara ), Todras & Dades Gorges ( the toughest 20 kms of road my Triumph Tiger Sport has ever been on - ever.....no prob to the rider on the Africa Twin of course), Boulmane Dades, Tizi n Ticha Passes, Marrakech, Essourira, Casablanca, Tangiers, back through Tarifa in Spain, and on to the wonderful FARO RALLY ( Bikes, beer, music and brilliant craic ), up the brilliant N2 in Portugal, before returning via the brilliant roads around Potes in the Picos de Europa, then home via Bilbao where they had a Blues Festival on our last night ( how cool was that ! ).
The Moroccan people, along with all those that we met along the way, were truly exceptional - though seeing people waving at you while talking on their mobile phones, while riding their donkey in biblical scenery, sums it all up pretty well.
We hit weather ranging from rain through to 52 degrees and brilliant sunshine for most of the trip, fed Barbary apes an apple from home, talked to really interesting people about their walk to work - sometimes 25 kms each way on foot once a week ( they lived in their shop and visited home once a week, which explained seeing people walking in the middle of nowhere, literally on the desert road) - inspirational people, doing what every one else in the world does....doing their best, looking after their family.
We had no breakdowns or problems thankfully, other than me dropping the bike twice - I had walked around Chefchouen in the heat, and my kevlar jeans stuck to my leg when I decided to pull over and take a picture, then couldn't straighten my leg which was stuck to the material - zero mph and no damage other than some specific language, but a lesson for the rest of the trip. The other was looking for a campsite at the Faro Rally - hit some deeper sand, and down we went - no damage, but beer needed asap.

We were extremely fortunate to get doing the bucket list trip finally, only possible by the support of those holding the fort at home !! xx

If you have ever thought of touring, going to Morocco or more locally - just do it.....the rewards are immeasurable - ENJOY !!