TWIKE 560 Adventures

As ever so often during a longer trip, this isn’t a TWIKE-trip-related entry. It’s rather an entry to keep the day count in the title consistent and to let you know that there is – believe it or not – a life that doesn’t include driving a TWIKE for days on end somewhere out there… After our rather long but very nice trip from Lisbon to the southernmost point of Portugal and further eastwards along the Algarve, we eventually arrived at the villa we rented close to Albufeira. For us parents the plan is to spend some time on the […]

Whilst our kids sleep in, my wife and I start bright and early on our trip to southern Portugal. Today we will push the southernmost point TW560 has been in Europe from 38°19’52.4″N to 37°00’05.4″N. (Fun fact: The closest TW560 has been to the equator was: 11°23’41.9″N during WAVE2011’s transfer to India) We’re planning on sticking to the coast as closely as possible and avoid any major roads for a full day of TWIKE Nirvana. In the interest of time well spent, we decide to cross the river via Lisbon’s iconic instead of adding another 30+km driving around it. It […]

Just a quick – non-TWIKE-related – entry for Lisbon. I’ve been to Lisbon many times, as has my wife – so no extensive description of the town this time. Our kids and haven’t been to Lisbon yet and given that one didn’t feel like doing the hard-core discovery with me and my wife was more for some relaxing drinks, I decided to take the rest on a whirlwind touch-and-go of Lisbon. One of the best ways to get around in Lisbon is by metro – a day- ticket is super affordable and quickly bought. We’re ready for some fun! I […]

Far too quickly our few days in Porto have gone by and it’s time to leave for Lisbon. As in Lisbon any check-in (and during week-ends also to enter restaurants) has to be either by recently tested or vaccinated persons, my family had to find a place and slot get a test done in Lisbon when arriving to ensure their test status was continuous until the very south of Portugal. As the current government mantra is Test, Test, Test, many of the testing places and their slots were already fully booked with tests for the weekend. I, on the other […]

Another sunny day greets us. We slept very well since our Hotel was far from any road or any other source of noise and the night’s temperatures allowed us to sleep with an open window and enjoy a cool breeze. We’re really looking forward to our drive to Porto today – we’re just 30km from the border and the road I chose for today, coupled with the topography should be interesting. Northern Portugal is an endless mix of hills and valleys – there is virtually no flat road except around and in towns and cities. Our TWIKE awaits us with […]

We get up bright an early, unlike our kids, who will sleep another 2 hours. They will drive to Porto directly whilst we have chosen to stay at a very small village a few kilometres from the Portuguese border tonight. As always, I timed the overnight charge to complete around the time we’re leaving and thus giving us the maximum of energy available.   Miranda de Ebro is located around 500m ASL – I assumed that from here we would go back down to the boiling temperatures of lower Spain as I saw yesterday. The distance we are planning to […]

Yet another night of full sleep and no distractions sees me wake up like a freshly born baby. Ahh! My day starts around 0830 – heading out to the square just a few steps away from my hotel I sit at a small bar and order the usual set everybody else around me is also having.   Besides the very buttery croissant that is distinctly different to the ones in France, having a freshly pressed orange juice and a cafe con leche does make the day start very smoothly. Especially if consumed slowly and whilst watching life go by on […]

Today, I wake up to the faint sound of one of the peacocks somewhere further away … and, unlike the last few days, I feel great! No pain in my joints, no weird feeling – nothing. Back to 100% and ready to take over (and until that happens, to explore) the world. My hosts have made fresh brioche and offer me other home-made treats. The place I’m staying is truly stunning and the ease with which my hosts make me feel at home is impressive. With dogs, chicken, cats and peacocks walking in and out of the house and ‘saying […]

My day starts less then ideal: After yesterday’s cold and rainy marathon drive, I only felt marginally better after a long and hot bath and fell asleep quickly – only to wake up 2 hours later to violent shivering fits and intermittent cold sweating until early morning. I always try to see the upsides of less than ideal moments: My joint pains from yesterday are much better today … also, according to a few health professionals I asked, a strong response to the vaccine seems to indicate a strong immune system. Both doses have been pretty harsh on me and […]