Traveling Woodpecker

Spain / 2024

October 1–5, 2024 · Motorcycle ride

Spain to Portugal: Madrid to Lisbon

A BMW R 1300 GS from Hertz Ride in Madrid, south across La Mancha to Valdepeñas, down to the cliff-top town of Ronda in Andalusia, west into Portugal to the hilltop fortress of Marvão, and on through Évora to Lisbon.

miles
~782
riding days
5
countries
2
Route map of the ride
The route as ridden, Madrid to Lisbon, about 782 miles.

Day 1 · Tue, Oct 1

Madrid Valdepeñas

~134 mi (215 km)

Pick up the BMW R 1300 GS at Hertz Ride in Madrid at 3 pm, then south to Valdepeñas, with a thermal-water spa circuit booked at the hotel for 6 pm.

The BMW R 1300 GS waiting at Hertz Ride, Madrid
The BMW R 1300 GS waiting at Hertz Ride, Madrid
Pickup at Hertz Ride
Pickup at Hertz Ride
The church on the Plaza de España, Valdepeñas
The church on the Plaza de España, Valdepeñas
Hotel Veracruz Plaza & Spa, Valdepeñas
Hotel Veracruz Plaza & Spa, Valdepeñas

Overnight

Hotel Veracruz Plaza & Spa, Valdepeñas

Day 2 · Wed, Oct 2

Valdepeñas Ronda

~220 mi (354 km)

South into Andalusia to Ronda. Dinner at Gastro Bar MK.

A whitewashed street in Osuna
A whitewashed street in Osuna
Jamón and the Traveling Woodpecker helmet
Jamón and the Traveling Woodpecker helmet
Meeting fellow riders in Osuna
Meeting fellow riders in Osuna
Bikes lined up in Osuna
Bikes lined up in Osuna
The Traveling Woodpecker sticker
The Traveling Woodpecker sticker
Hotel Ronda
Hotel Ronda
Ronda on the edge of the gorge
Ronda on the edge of the gorge
The Puente Nuevo, Ronda
The Puente Nuevo, Ronda
Vinoco's Tienda Gourmet
Vinoco's Tienda Gourmet
Dinner at Gastro Bar MK
Dinner at Gastro Bar MK
A Ronda street at dusk
A Ronda street at dusk
Jamón and red wine in Ronda
Jamón and red wine in Ronda

Overnight

Hotel Ronda

Day 3 · Thu, Oct 3

Ronda Marvão

~287 mi (462 km)

The long day, across the border into Portugal to the hilltop village of Marvão. Dinner at the hotel.

Crossing into Portugal
Crossing into Portugal
Inside the walls of Marvão
Inside the walls of Marvão
The view from Marvão castle
The view from Marvão castle
El-Rei Dom Manuel Hotel, Marvão
El-Rei Dom Manuel Hotel, Marvão

Overnight

El-Rei Dom Manuel Hotel, Marvão

Day 4 · Fri, Oct 4

Marvão Évora

~76 mi (122 km)

Through the Alentejo by way of Estremoz to Évora. Dinner of Alentejo cooking: migas and açorda.

Évora
Évora
The Chapel of Bones, Évora
The Chapel of Bones, Évora
Inside the Chapel of Bones
Inside the Chapel of Bones
Restaurante Guião
Restaurante Guião
Igreja da Graça, Évora
Igreja da Graça, Évora
Largo das Portas de Moura
Largo das Portas de Moura
The pool at MouraSuites
The pool at MouraSuites
Alentejo dinner
Alentejo dinner

Overnight

MouraSuites Hotel, Évora

Day 5 · Sat, Oct 5

Évora Lisbon

~82 mi (132 km)

West across the Tagus to Lisbon, the end of the ride.

Sana Rex Hotel, Lisbon
Sana Rex Hotel, Lisbon
Codfish cake and port wine
Codfish cake and port wine
A Lisbon street
A Lisbon street
A Lisbon artist with her prints
A Lisbon artist with her prints
A glass of red at Pomme
A glass of red at Pomme
A Baixa side street (Oct 6)
A Baixa side street (Oct 6)
Pastéis de nata fresh from the oven (Oct 6)
Pastéis de nata fresh from the oven (Oct 6)
A historic Baixa shopfront (Oct 6)
A historic Baixa shopfront (Oct 6)
A wine tasting in Lisbon (Oct 6)
A wine tasting in Lisbon (Oct 6)
The tasting lineup
The tasting lineup
Port to finish
Port to finish
Wine Lover, Lisbon
Wine Lover, Lisbon

Overnight

Sana Rex, Lisbon

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