I arrived in Alvor in December 2022 and spent a week there waiting for the rain to stop before heading off on my Morocco trip on the motorbike. Having spent Christmas and New Year in Marrakech I was back in Alvor in early January to take up my apartment rental through until the beginning of March. The weather this year was quite different to 2022, when I spent 7 weeks here and didn’t see any rain. This year seemed quite a bit colder and we had quite a lot of rain. Unfortunately this meant that a lot of the off road trails were quite wet and muddy. After the Morocco trip I didn’t use the CRF very much, preferring to use my Trek electric mountain bike or take long walks around the marshes or along the beach to Portimao. I did manage my usual 8km beach run almost every day – just a couple of days missed due to the rain. I joined up with the Algarve Senior Bikers club for a road ride one day which was very cold but great fun. Georgina came to visit for a week before heading back to Vancouver and Sara was here for two weeks.

Rather than write a long description of all the things I got up to I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves…

Christmas decorations outside the Plaza cafe.
Test run on the CRF before the Morocco trip – out to one of the Atlantic surf beaches on the West coast.
One of my favourite destinations – the Velochique cafe in Monchique.
In the clouds up above Monchique.
Wall art en route to Portimao
On the beach
Traditional Portuguese restaurant A Nora…
…where they serve the best tuna steaks.
Another local restaurant – plenty of fresh fish here.
Breakfast in the apartment…
En route to Monchique on the Trek.
Avocado and eggs on toast at Velochique
Coronavirus wall art.
Velochique greek salad with sweet potato fries.
Vegan restaurant in Portimao.
Coffee stop out on the Trek
Tuna and tomato toastie – not bad…
View from the cliff walk to Portimao
Morning coffee at the Plaza, just opposite the apartment…
Lunch at Rocha Poke, above Praia de Rocha, Portimao.
Catching the sun rising from the sea – early morning beach run.
Even the stools in the velochique cafe have a bike theme…
Ominous clouds on the morning run.
Walking to Portimao.
Sun starting to rise…
Pure gold pouring onto the beach…
The impossible hill climb…
Lovely sandwich at Cafe de Paula.
Frost on the boardwalk.
Morning coffee with George.
Oranges and lemons everywhere.
At Velochique for coffee and cake on my birthday.
Birthday beach walk to Portimao.
The reward – Mint Choc Chip Ice Cream !
Portimao wall art.
More coffee and cake.
Harvester on a hill – en route to Monchique.
Up in the hills.
Squid things at Duartes.
Stawberries and chocolate.
Yet more coffee and cakes.
Avocado and mushrooms on toast at Velochique.
Cake selection at Mel & Canela.
Lunch at A Nora with Sara.
Company for my morning beach run.
Fat lady in Portimao – en route to ice cream…
Made it !
Nice day for the Portimao beach walk.
Storm clouds brewing.
Different day, different weather…
Taking the short cut as the tide was in…
Unexpectedly massive toastie.
Free fruit en route to Monchique on the Trek.
Avocado and poached eggs on toast – Velochique.
Mint tea and rocky road.
Paddle.
Yet another huge toastie.
In the sun after biking to Monchique.
On the beach.