A Flip of a Coin.

16th June 2020.

The departure was earlyish, 08:30 from The Dog House. plan was to take off up the IC1 to Ourique and head West to Cercal before dropping down into Vila Nova de Milifontes for Lunch. We stopped for a coffee and a piece of home made chocolate sponge cake at the Cafe A Toca, whilst contemplating the weather and life, it started to drizzle a bit and with the forecast for rain by 1300 across the Alentejo, it was difficult to decide on the direction to avoid the worst. We tossed a coin and the coin said East, Off we went heading for Mertola.

Picking up the EN123 in Castro Verde, what a beautiful road, these lateral roads across Portugal never cease to amaze, this one parallels another great road the 124 to the South. The scenery is stunning, ahead was sunshine and brighter weather, behind was rain, a picture in time should have been recorded in the rear view, the Harley Davidson Deluxe with is custom classic livery centred on the road behind set between the yellow fields of barley lit up brightly by the sun against the dark stormy background was an image imbedded for life.

1104: Arrival in Mertola, far to early for lunch we cruised on heading South to pick up the 124 westbound. a brief stop for fuel at the Repsol station in Martin Longo and then on to A Tia Bia in Barranco do Velho for a plate of Black Pork……