When a group of retired motorcyclists decides the heat is no reason to stay home, you know the ride will be memorable. The Algarve Senior Bikers pushed back their September group run because of unusually high temperatures, and even on the rescheduled day, their bike thermometers were reading close to 40°C as they rolled toward lunch in Odeleite.
The route started in São Brás de Alportel, a quiet town in the eastern Algarve's hinterland, then climbed through winding roads into the hills above Tavira. Riders got sweeping views toward the coast and the Spanish border — a reminder that the region beyond its famous beaches is all curves, cork trees and empty tarmac, exactly why bikers love it.
Two groups tackled the route. The first was led by Hans Veninga, with Tus Gentes anchoring the rear on his eye-catching large yellow BMW sidecar rig. David Shirley and Peter Kenyon led the second group, helped by Frank Banha. A couple of unplanned turns crept in along the way, which the riders took in good humour — jokes circulated that the detours had revealed corners of the Algarve even longtime locals hadn't seen.
With the mercury still climbing, a stop at a small café in Pinto provided much-needed cold drinks, before the group paused at a viewpoint over the Odeleite reservoir. That spot is worth knowing about even if you're not on two wheels: the reservoir's winding blue arms have earned it the nickname of the Portuguese 'Grand Canyon' on social media, and it makes a striking photo stop on any drive through the eastern Algarve.
The day finished properly at Restaurant Bela Vista in Odeleite, where air conditioning, cold drinks and a long lunch awaited — a fitting end to a scorcher. The club's next outing is the Central Algarve Group Ride on October 7, meeting in Boliqueime, with members able to sign up via the club's website.
For travellers, this is a gentle nudge toward a side of the Algarve most visitors miss. The hills between São Brás, Tavira and Odeleite offer quieter roads, traditional villages and genuinely good inland restaurants, best explored in spring or autumn when the heat eases off. And if you're an older rider fancying a social riding holiday in the sun, this active senior club shows the Algarve does group motorcycling very well indeed.
