06.03.2022 Ride thru EN108, Montemuro, Arada and Freita Mountains

Percorridos

263 km

Percurso seleccionado

Horas efectivas de condução

04h56m

Total de horas em passeio

06h44m

Altitude máxima

1130 m

Mota

Yamaha YZF-R7

https://youtu.be/qkVDttBAUuM

What wonderful ride I had … riding with Douro river at my left side with an amazing shiny day, riding thru Montemuro, Arada and Freita mountains with a chilly morning but with a beautiful blue sky.

EN108 is a beautiful road to all motorcyclists that love to lean their motorcycles. It’s a petty that thru almost all the road we are not able to see the river due to the bushes. I’m sure that if these are cut, this road will certainly become one of those roads that will appear in magazines dedicated to motorcycle travels.

During weekends we must be careful with cyclists that are also riding on this road…they ride side by side and sometimes 3 or 4 filling completely the road. They do not know the expression cycling in line!

EN108 has some stops really nice that obliges to stop and enjoy the scenery.


This time I only stop once because I already done this road for several times.

I was focused to spend more time capture moments while riding thru the magic mountains…one of my favorite “gardens” in Portugal.

These 3 photos were taken here – 3M48+634 Sebolido (just copy and past this code to google maps). 

But riding about a km ahead there is a spot with and extraordinary view over river Douro. This spot is called Miradouro do Sebolido.

Again hitting the road I continued thru EN108 till reaching Pala where I crossed the river at Mosteirô bridge and started to ride thru the “mystic” EN222 for a few km. Yes, few because not far, and before reaching Oliveira do Douro, I turned right thru the CM1027 and CM1029. 

Here I start a vertiginous climb to the heart of the Montemuro mountain. I was at, more or less, 50 meters and I reached 1127 meter high, one km or so after passing the village of Gralheira.

During this climb, and after passing Montão, I stop at this amazing spot to capture the moment thru my Nikon.



The spot where these 3 photos were taken was at – 3X9C+97F Freigil (just copy and past this code to google maps)

Unfortunately the photos does not show how beautiful is this spot and the road that winds up the mountain. Strongly recommend…

Some minutes enjoying the view and again the rubber restart to touch the tarmac.

Verdozedo, Paço, Ramires were villages that I passed and when crossed Pimeirô I turned left and start to ride on CM1030 that lead me to Gralheira.

Although this time I did not visited the beautiful spot of Panchorra Bridge, and all the area that surround it. For those that never visited I strongly recommend the visit.

CM1030 is an amazing road, not only because of the road itself but specially because of the dramatic scenery that joins us during all of it.


These two photos above and two below were taken at – 2XGR+XH5 Ramires (just copy and past this code to google maps).


After Gralheira I drove towards to Carvalhosa thru CM1030 and CM1026 till reaching the EN321. When seeing the plate indicating Faifa I turned left, changed to EM550-1 and started to see in front of my eyes Freita Mountains…my next destination.

Now I started a descendent ride towards to River Paiva, but I made another stop at – W2W2+PGX Castro Daire (just copy and past this code to google maps).


I made a stop here but thru all this road (EM550-1) they are immense spots where we can make a stop to capture the area thru the lenses of our camera.

On the first photo below Freita compose the picture and on the second we see Montemuro.

I do not get tired to emphasize how beautiful and dramatic are these two mountains. Different from each other but both incredible.

While Montemuro has a scenery more reach in terms of trees (Pines, Alavarinho Oaks, Chesnut, alder, willow, etc…) but also having very rocky areas, Freita has much more pothole vegetation…and there is an area when we are nearby Arouca where the Eucalyptus are immense.


Again on the road my next spot was nearby the Sanctuary of São Macário – VWGH+JV6 Covas do Rio (just copy and past this code to google maps).

Pena village is close and deep down in the valley.


On this village there is a known restaurant called “Adega Típica da Pena”.

I already lunch there and the view is amazing like the food.

Typical food here is “Vitela ou cabrito assado em forno de lenha and Arroz de Cabidela”…but they have as well other options on the menu.

On the first photo below I share the road that leads us to Pena Village.


I was now between Montemuro and Freita mountains, more precisely crossing Arada Mountain.

Another local that should be visited is the Sanctuary. I did not visit this time, because I already done it in the past for quite a few times, but strongly recommend the visit because the 360º view is incredible.

Now my next stop was Nodar. To reach it I drove thru EN225 and at Parada de Ester I changed into CM1212-1.


Paiva River passes under the bridge and now I was definitely entering on Freita mountain and I crossed Sequeiros, Sete Fontes and Além do Rio where some meters ahead I changed into CM1216, CM1123, EM567 and EM510 till Covelo do Paivó where I crossed here Paivó River.

But before reaching Covelo do Paivó I drove thru “Portal do Inferno e Garra”. 

With no comments I share some photos below.

This is “Portal do Inferno e Garra”.


MY Yamaha R7 is now get familiar with my special “gardens” and for sure, along with Corno do Bico, Montesinho and Castro Laboreiro, Magic mountains are one of my preferred destinations to ride in Portugal.

Again I share that more I ride R7 more I like it. Obviously it as not the comfort of my Super Ténéré or even T7, but I feel really good driving it.





This spot is becoming more and more popular among the motorcyclists in Portugal but as well abroad. 

It is not the first time that I see license plates from UK, Netherlands, Spain, France, Germany, etc…

Well but the road is waiting for me and next destination was, as I said before, Covelo do Paivó and Ponte de Telhe, thru EM510. During this road I crossed two rivers. The first one was when I pass the village of Covelo do Paivó and crossed the river Paivó and the other one was nearby the village of Rio De Frades where I passed the river with the same name.

The River “Rio de Fraedes” is a small but enchanting river that “obliged” me to make a stop to register the moment with my camera


More I see my R7 more I think that it is really well designed motorcycle and the color scheme is absolutely incredible.


It was getting late so I decided to do not stop anymore but keep faithful to the route that I planned for this day.

After Ponte de Telhe I continued thru EM510, pass Cela de Moldes, fundo de Vila and caught EM511 towards to Merujal, EM 550 towards Roge and, finally, A32 at Pindelo.

One more excellent day with my R7…

[zombify_post]

Facebook
Threads
X
WhatsApp
LinkedIn
Pinterest

Leave a Comment

Shopping Cart
Scroll to Top

STAY IN THE LOOP
RIDE SMARTER!!

NO SPAM… JUST THROTTLE!!