Last month was the first time my new Sonho (2003 K1200 GT) and I have traveled to a different island, and it was such a blast we’ll be doing more of it very soon. (Sonho is the Portuguese word for Dream, it was the name of my favorite identical BMW in the states for about 11 years, and then we searched until we found this one in Leira, Portugal, the European version of the same bike:) We enjoyed a 5 hour ferry ride, almost 1,000 km on Pico, and then a lazy float back home. This is the life!
Riding here is not dependent on weather, even in 2026. With brutal heat, wildfires, tornados, and flooding throughout both Europe and the U.S., Terceira offers it’s usual cool breezes, great sunrises and sunsets, intermittently interrupted by rain and wind. (I continually invite the couple who sold me the bike to visit here from Leira, just to get away from those “heat domes.” He admonished me “the reason I had to sell my beloved BMW was because my wife and I hardly ever have time to ride anymore.” So far, they’re too busy, but we keep hoping.
Sofia still doesn’t ride with me, she gave up bikes after serious neck surgery in the states years ago, so Sonho gives me plenty of “me” time. I have also pledged to never drink while I’m on the bike; drivers and road surfaces on Terciera are well beyond dangerous and uncomfortable enough. (BTW, roads on Ilha do Pico are FANTASTIC, well maintained, rarely patched, and mostly up and down. I swear when I’d get off, my beast would be smiling back at me.) So Sofia and our friends flew over, rented a car, and we would meet together for meals around the island, stay at B and Bs, and then they’d go do things they enjoy and I’d explore the island.
So forgive me for not blogging much during summer months, but rest assured I’m spending my travels gathering content and photos. Hope you are all enjoying (or least tolerating) the summer, before snow flies again…. except not on Terceira.