Episode 9: Living Like Royalty - Our Night in a Medieval Fortress!

[@stewartnorton6386]

I cannot believe how empty the roads have been, it looks like you almost had Portugal to yourselves! This is the kind of video that seriously makes you want to move abroad just to have those wonderful riding conditions.

[@lovegar]

I was there last May, went from the north right downn to the south, it was absolutely empty - Could have pitched a tent in the middle of the road - sometime i would stop for a nap at the side of the road LOL

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

So true!

[@jedw9983]

I live out here, and in the rural part of the Algarve, I can do a day's biking and rarely see more than ten cars. Empty isn't the word. It's deserted. But wonderful.

[@robertwhitemoto]

Some awesomely beautiful country in this video Mr. F.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TheGreatStKat]

Portugal keeps on getting more gorgeous, *actually* envying the hotel stays, as you make your way into the hills. More impressed. Great work, the enjoyment is palpable, thank you both!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

I'm glad you're enjoying the series!

[@billcotton1551]

Coolest Hotel so far! I bet it didn't even need air conditioning with those thick walls.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Correct!

[@dankorolyk5917]

Incredible scenery, and that hotel in the fort,brilliant!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Wasn’t it!

[@palantir135]

When you ride next to the river Moselle in Germany you will see vineyard after vineyard. Great motorcycle roads. Yesterday we had about 18°C and a lot of sunshine. The first real nice Spring day. Temperatures will decrease again and 🌧️🌦️🌥️.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Sounds great!

[@garyhope0103]

Even more amazing empty roads, and terrific views. The hotel looks amazing to, you have all been very lucky with your stops on this trip.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Carefully curated for the more discerning tourist!

[@DubleRRedBronco]

Love this touring series! Be safe.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Delighted you’re enjoying it!

[@spetersonmusic]

Outstanding!!!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Thanks as ever!

[@grantkokich6906]

That fortress hotel was very novel.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Sure was!

[@OntarioAndrews415]

Looks to have been a lovely ride. Sunshine, easy roads. Cheers!

[@peterhobbs7609]

A lovely watch Andy, beautiful roads and scenery

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Glad you enjoyed it Peter!

[@mauriceborsboom40]

Nice Rukka jacket ..got the same :). next year I am going to transport my GS adventure to Algarve and cruise around for 7 weeks there.. Man what a great trips you have all around the world .. came a cross your page and my compliment for all the content... great footage and well edited .. Gr Maurice Holland

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Thank you Maurice - that's very kind of you to say....

[@UncleWally3]

Looks heavenly; based on UK journalism, I assumed “living like royalty” was a curse.

[@richhelm21]

This is a great series Andy, one of your best trips to follow. The scenery & climate in Portugal look spot on for touring, what a beautiful country. Watching this makes me want to move and get a GS! 😀

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@stevebolton8471]

GS! Steady on! 😁 I am sure I could enjoy riding Portugal on almost anything, but I would be very happy to take my T100 there. It's a lot lower than a GS for the slopey cobbles in town.

[@Banditmanuk]

Not sure if your castle hotel was a Parador brand. Some of the most amazing and unusual hotels in Spain are Parador, usually based in historic buildings. Some amazing scenery in this one with perfect weather. I can see you're a man who likes to live dangerously calling Mrs Flyer 'Wench' 😏

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes got away with it this time!

[@roviwoteap2375]

Portugal sure looks a great place to tour on a bike... as you’ve been showing us.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

It really is!

[@manuelbritorides]

What an amazing series of episodes👌👌! Portugal it's one of the best countries to ride on a motorcycle. Your route was amazing! Cheers to your tour leader 👍

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@scottbower5850]

Very impressed it took you until 16 min in before you mentioned the cobbles 😂

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

I managed to hold off!

[@brulaapgaapmeester8052]

@@TheMissendenFlyer Cobbles are great in town, they look better than asphalt and just because they are unpleasant to drive on, they slow you down and that is exactly what you want in a town. :-)

[@neilurquhart8622]

Fortunately not wet cobbles ….otherwise the ‘adventure bike’ riders would be crapping themselves🤣🤣🤣💩

[@andrewdyson4255]

Wow great facilities in the 1600s even TVs

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes surprising isn’t it….

[@peterdane9138]

Nice Saturday morning tour and my bike is still in the garage!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Summer is around the corner - your time will come soon!

[@martinehulme8743]

Looks so relaxing, now that's the way to see Spain and Portugal, wish I was there instead of rainy blighty 😮.. enjoy everyone ❤🎉

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

….we did - sadly this was recorded last September!

[@martinehulme8743]

@@TheMissendenFlyerI drove across Spain alone with my dogs September 2021, it surely changes you as a person, there's a world out their, let's all push our boundaries 🥳 Great episode 😜

[@loddude5706]

Rode in to town, to find it deserted? - you're on the wrong bike pal, they think BMW stands for 'Bull & Mongo Warning!' : )

[@BlakesPipes]

That fort you stayed in looked amazing. Kind of place I would stay in if I had a chance. Not sure for a week, but for a couple of days! Wow.

[@Themotograndpa]

It’s a lovely part to ride around weather better than we had Andy !!! Looking forward to the next one 👍

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Were you unlucky with the weather in Portugal then? What time of year?

[@Themotograndpa]

@@TheMissendenFlyer went in June Andy northern Spain first then down to Porto and across 10 days around 2000miles 4 days rain. Going to France this June for 10 days finger crossed weather a bit better!!

[@helenhughes9130]

Love this episode and the Fort is amazing x

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Delighted you enjoyed it….

[@marcfalardeau6058]

Andy definitely dislikes cobble stones! 🤣Another marvelous scenery, thanks! Marc, Quebec, Canada (presently on the Costa del Sol ) 😉🏍🇨🇦

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

OOh nice - enjoy (presently in the French Alps).....

[@marcfalardeau6058]

@@TheMissendenFlyer Have fun! 😉

[@thecivvie]

That hotel looked amazing. And the scenery was fantastic. Great video

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@thecivvie]

@@TheMissendenFlyer alway enjoy your videos. You have a great mix. I rarely comment as I watch on a smart TV and forget to say thanks

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

You're very welcome - I'm delighted you like them...!

[@thecivvie]

@@TheMissendenFlyer I will try to comment more

[@johnvaleriewelbers2995]

What a cool place to stay there 🤓. Great riding area for sure 🍻😎🏍💨💨💨💨💨👍🏻🇨🇦

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

It sure is

[@rhamjasrami3900]

Squeaky GS!

[@shadowred1980]

Enjoying the series. :)

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Glad to hear it!

[@keitht3055]

I was getting really worried for you initially as you hadn't seen a bridge! Thankfully you eventually got to see your favourite piece of architecture 🤣. As always, I'm looking forward to the next instalment 👍.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

One more to go next Saturday!

[@stevepreston3151]

HI Andy & Carol thanks for yet another great touring video when you see all those lovely roads with no cars on them that’s why we tour out of the UK, we did 14 days last summer only traffic was riding through Andorra. Looking forward to next video. I’m on the Cowboy tour in a week and can’t wait looking forward to getting back on a GS as now im a 1290 sas man. 😊

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Thanks for watching and enjoy the cowboy tour! Say hi to Lyndon from us….

[@paulegan7250]

Hi Andy , Thank you for another great video very well put together as always. My god you do like living dangerously, calling Mrs Flyer "wench " that will cost you in the end you know. Fantastic roads taken at a nice pace and NO traffic, wonderful. Take it easy mate and Thank You both.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Our pleasure! (And I like to live dangerously!)

[@ES44AC-2]

Really nice ride. I really don't see how you have time to answer all the comments you do, but thank you. I've wondered the whole trip why we see so few people, kinda strange 🤔.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

I spend more time answering comments on KZbin than I do anything else in my life!! If people watch my videos I think it's the least I can do but it is getting difficult as I answer hundreds every day, 7 days a week! I learn a lot though...

[@philchadwick1156]

Another great series Andy - quality viewing as always. And well said re. 'The Small Print' which gets my support - even though it did indeed challenge my pausing skills to read!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Well done Phil - nice finger work....

[@thesilverfoxtravels6653]

Finally managed to pause on the "Small Print" and I feel as though I've achieved something now so will celebrate with a cuppa & biscuit..! By the way, I agree with everything you say and I always look forward to your videos. Currently enjoying your Spain/Portugal/Spain tour. Cheers.👍👍

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Well done - nice pause work!

[@peteeldridge1783]

Sandemans vineyard….that must be for port. Obviously always pass to the left until finished!🤣. The converted fort looks fab…if anyone’s touring the Pyrenees there’s a similar citadel at Jaca to look around although not converted into a Hotel.

[@glyn829]

Nice one 👌 something I'd like to do one day .. great weather and tour .. regards Glyn 🇬🇧

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Thanks for watching!

[@ragerider6283]

Another lovely episode TMF, very pleasant. I'm sure if you had the time, money & a GS of course, you could happily just keep going & tour the globe for ever more without a care in the world.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Wouldn’t that be nice!

[@ragerider6283]

@@TheMissendenFlyer Indeed it would. I've never done a tour but I feel I'm building up to one. Although I don't fancy a cold one so it has to be somewhere warm as well as preferably exotic & far flung like your Thailand trip maybe, really enjoyed watching that one.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

You'll enjoy the tour we have planned for later this year then (I'll say no more!!)

[@ragerider6283]

@@TheMissendenFlyer Excellent, can't wait!

[@mattbeth7180]

Another great ride.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Cheers Matt!

[@migueldecarvalho8012]

I came to Britain, lived in Kings Langley, not too far from you, and started to ride. I've been watching your videos for a few years now. Welcome to my neck of the woods - Idanha, on the Pt side, near the roman bridge. The reason you didn't find many people in those towns and villages is because, like me, they left to work somewhere else.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Is that so? Where do you live now?

[@migueldecarvalho8012]

@@TheMissendenFlyer Royal Tunbridge Wells. On the bridge there is a plaque in Latin listing all the peoples who built that bridge.

[@waltbarbour207]

Great video showcasing some of the great roads through the Douro Valley and that fort hotel looks amazing. Tell me something though, is it obligatory to stand up while riding a GS or does that guy who rides in front of you have piles? 😂

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

I suspect the latter….

[@helenhughes9130]

He is a meerkat!!!

[@JohnSmith-uy7sv]

😁😁🙂😁I wish I could drink coffee and then ride. I would need a diaper or catheter or a bladder bag. "E"= EMPTY. 😁 So funny. "to the winch wench" 😁 I don't think I've ever seen you or your group sleep out in tents and roughing it. 🙂 I am guessing cobblestone roads are as bad as the metal grate bridges and worse when it rains. Like ice. Another great relaxing peaceful docu video. Yes, you missed your calling as a voice over technician / storyteller. you make me sleepy. 😁 in a good way. thanks.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Very kind of you - thank you!

[@jrm1946]

Yep, if the sign says Centro Histórico you can almost guarantee: cobbles, narrow road, steep climb, weird camber, gullies/drainage in unexpected places. "Interesting" if you are in the mood on the right bike but two up on a tall bike better to walk. The blue tiles decorations are called Azulejos

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Thank you for that - every day is a school day on the internet!

[@pedromiguelareias]

I am pleased that "the only animals you've seen on the road" are dogs. Well, in my case, I commute to Lisbon every day, I've seen more animals on the road than just dogs :-)

[@nickthequick]

In my experience most of these little towns in the south of Europe are quite empty during the day, but might come to life in the evening.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Indeed - that is my experience too….

[@tonytasker489]

Looks a bit overcast ☁️ with all them clouds. 😂

[@justininfrance]

See, my missus would never agree to a holiday like this because she wouldn't want to spend all day sweating or dripping on the road, passing through places and never having time to properly explore and rest. But I guess these tours are for those who understand the phrase 'to travel is better than to arrive'.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Very much so....

[@oldmanvlogger9259]

Loving this series, however, I know it's not biker scran, but, you used to show the food offering on an evening on some of your previous tours. I'd really like to see this so I can see what's on offer should I be near to one of your routes. I realise that some members don't want to be filmed eating, however, the social side of the tour as well as the riding, is in my view, interesting. Any Thoughts?

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes I agree it’s the off bike stuff that makes tour video’s interesting - I will focus on that in future. Thanks for watching.

[@Andy.N-_-]

Certainly makes me want to jump on my bike, unfortunately the weather has other ideas at the moment. So i shall sit and enjoy the show instead.

[@JohnLongdin]

I'd be interested to know how you pack for a tour like that, when you're flying and using one of their bikes Andy?

[@JohnLongdin]

Sorry Andy, I'd no sooner hit send when you explained there's a support vehicle 🤦

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Maybe I’ll cover that on the next tour - thanks for watching….

[@martinslocombe2288]

This is the world famous Duero river valley famous for the wonderful Port wine like sandeman and the amazing terraced vineyards . You have to take the smaller roads either side of the gorge to really apreciate it though .Your guide must be teetotal not to have mentioned this Andy .

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Pretty sure Dom isn't tee total....

[@stevenholton438]

Did you mention the hotel/fort name?

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

I don’t think I did no….

[@filipepaninho6558]

N222 awesome as always with good weather ❤️ What's the name of that fortress hotel in Spain?

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

I’m afraid I don’t recall 😬

[@filipepaninho6558]

@@TheMissendenFlyer found it! Hotel Eurostars Fuerte de la Concepción

[@filipepaninho6558]

I stayed in Caceres and back to Portugal from Picos da Europa by the road you're taking next episode and loved it ;)

[@SuperWellington1815]

Did you post the name of the fort hotel?

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

No I didn’t but it’s called the Eurostars Fuerte de La Concepcion

[@SuperWellington1815]

@@TheMissendenFlyer oh thank you heading that way in May Love the vids 😊

[@steventhomson8387]

You're a game man using the word "Wench'. Me and my wench are fine with it though!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

I got away with it (narrowly) on that occasion…

[@CrouchyOnBikes]

To be honest Andy, that felt like a bit of an awkward moment. I hope you apologised profusely afterwards. On a positive note, love the series and now thinking about signing up for one of these tours.

[@johnkerry6133]

How much does touring cost

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Check out toro adventure's website for details (link in the description).....

[@hoofhearted1955]

Calling Mrs. Flyer "wench", you do like to live dangerously Andy.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

I like to live on the edge.....

[@hoofhearted1955]

@@TheMissendenFlyer England's answer to Evel Knievel, Awful Knawful.

[@ticthedog6095]

Many thanks for another enjoyable video and a bit of sunshine on a gloomy morning in the shires. No wanting to sound like a Corbin voting socialist but this is an expensive tour, how does it compare to your self organised bargain 5 country’s tour, which looked great at 1/3 of the price

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Personally I prefer to do my own thing on a European trip like this so I preferred the Luxembourg trip - but if you haven’t the time or inclination to organise a trip yourself then this type of organised tour could be worth the money. If the trip is a bit more exotic then organised tours come into their own…

[@riderramblings]

It's a bu@@er that you _don't_ need a passport to cross from Spain to Portugal and vice versa 😀 If you're going to ride in Europe you're going to need to get more practice on wet cobbles. They are everywhere (dry ones too)!