Portugal from Lés-a-Lés continues to “boil” – Calor scheduled a trip to the Lobos’ lair – MotoNews
Between Castelo de Vide and Covilhã, 360 kilometers of fabulous roads, imposing landscapes, and breathtaking discoveries. Or could it be the lack of air from the heat?… After all, it was not yet 10 o’clock and the thermometers were already showing more than 40º centigrade. And they would get close to 45ºC in some places, forcing participants to drink many thousands of liters of water and look for some shades or river beaches to avoid overheating the machines… humans. Because the others, like mechanics, seem much more accustomed to extreme thermal demands.
There were many strategies to avoid the heat, but one of the most used was the early departure from Castelo de Vide, taking advantage of the milder temperatures to discover the picturesque deserted roads to the oldest menhir in the world. The origin of the Meada menhir points to human work over 7000 years old when creating what is the tallest prehistoric monolith in the Iberian Peninsula. After all, this megalithic monument adds the 4 meters it reveals above the ground to the more than 3.5 meters it hides underground. All imposing, it’s true, but they didn’t stop the caravan longer than necessary for a photo and the card that ensures compliance with the one prepared by the Mototourism Commission of the Portuguese Motorcycling Federation.
Spain was the next destination, entering through the curious Cedillo dam, which has the particularity of representing two rivers making hydroelectric power separately. Roads with excellent pavement and wide curves, well designed, ‘returned’ the heterogeneous caravan to Portugal, not without having the right to a ‘smell’ from the historic city of Alcântara and the no less monumental bridge that, for about 2000 years, has guaranteed border traffic. With the heat intensifying, passing 40ºC very early, there is nothing like paying attention to the most experienced motorcyclists.
Luís Simão is one of the four totalist participants and is curious to have performed the same in the 24 editions with a Yamaha Virago 535 and, imagine, with the same thick leather jacket. “It’s best the best weapon against heat besides safety, as well as ensuring safety in all situations.” Even so, the experienced motorcyclist guarantees that “even though it was a hot day, there were other editions with higher temperatures and a much higher degree of physical demand”.