The Road to Portugal: Rain, Pains, and Heated Grips

And so it begins! The first day of my grand motorcycle adventure to Portugal is officially in the books. The plan was simple: point the handlebars south-west and ride. The weather, however, had a more complicated agenda. The day started with a downpour, which graciously gave way to a sliver of sunshine, only to be ambushed by more rain. It felt like I was in a meteorological mood swing.

I spent the first half of the day in a constant struggle with my gear. Rain gear on, rain gear off, repeat. It felt like a bizarre roadside workout. Eventually, with the temperature dropping and the wind picking up, I gave in. I decided to just leave my rain suit on for good. It turned out to be a brilliant move, not just for the random showers, but as an excellent windbreaker. Suddenly, the ride became a whole lot more comfortable. Speaking of comfort, let’s have a moment of appreciation for heated grips. Seriously, those things were absolute lifesavers today. My hands were toasty warm while the rest of the world was cold and damp.

The last 50 kilometers were a real test of endurance. My butt was officially letting me know that it’s been a while since our last long-distance chat. Getting back into the rhythm of the road definitely takes a moment! I also had a classic “what is happening” moment when water kept dripping down the inside of my visor. I furiously wiped the outside for what felt like an eternity, achieving absolutely nothing, before realizing I hadn’t clicked it fully shut. You live and you learn, right?

Rolling into Beaune was a sweet relief. A long, hot shower worked wonders on my aching muscles, washing away the grime and fatigue of the road. With a fresh set of clothes on, I headed out to the nearby Carrefour for a well-deserved meal. It wasn’t fancy, but it was exactly what I needed.

My evening was a quiet one. I got the booking sorted for my next stop in Limoges and took a peek at the weather forecast. To my absolute delight, it’s predicting nothing but sunshine. The day was a tough start, but it ended on a high note. Curled up in bed, I can only think one thing: let’s see what tomorrow brings. It can only get better!