ASB October ride.

The October ASB group ride took 28 motorcycling enthusiasts to the hills and coast of the south-eastern Algarve on 29th.

While the arrival at the starting point in Boliqueime was slightly wet, we were fortunate to stay dry all day and even enjoyed a few rays of sunshine!

We took off in three groups, heading east through Vale Judeu, via country roads through Goldra, Gorjões, Bordeira and Murta to the first stop, at the top of São Miguel.

We enjoyed the new swing that was recently installed by the municipality of Moncarapacho and the view of the Ria Formosa was magnificent.

Via a steep descent from São Miguel to the south, we reached Moncarapacho and the village of Fuseta with a coffee-stop at the beach with a view of the island of Armona.

On we went past the salt pans, under passing the smallest and lowest rail crossing this side of Portugal, north towards the outskirts of Moncarapacho and then south-east to Pedras D’el Rei, close to the famous old tuna-fishing beach of Barril.

With a good view of high tide in Canal de Tavira in Ria Formosa, we passed through Santa Luzia and reached the furthest south-easterly point of the ride: Tavira.Possibly the most beautiful route in the area is the road on the western side along the Gilão river from Tavira to the north and in a big loop to the quaint village centre of Santo Estévão.

From here we went due west and finally on the smooth tarmac of the N270 from São Brás de Alportel to the restaurant Zé Dias in São Romão for a really good meal.

Written by Tom van der Sar

Photographs by Sandra Greger