Sixteen bridges later, the journey closes the circle in Lisbon — from the 25 de Abril to where the Tagus meets the Atlantic.

Past Santarém, the Tagus opens up into rice-colored plains — the Lezíria do Tejo — and still holds four more crossings before delivering us back to Lisbon: a bridge that has never known lighting, a farm-to-table lunch in Cartaxo, a crossing signed by the same hand behind the Eiffel Tower, and a final stretch wrapped in carpets of green and yellow.

The most intense day of the whole trip: crossing into Spain and back over a dissolving border, riding through gorges carved by the Tagus, spotting vultures over sheer cliffs, and hugging a 3,350-year-old olive tree — the oldest in Portugal. Five bridges, one unforgettable day, ending in Abrantes.

What if a journey could be measured not in kilometers, but in bridges? This is the first of five chapters tracing the Tagus from Lisbon to the Spanish border and back — sixteen crossings in all. Chapter one takes us from the river's mouth through golden Alentejo plains to Marvão, a village perched like a stone nest between sky and earth.

In July, my husband Chad and I set out on our second motorcycle tour with 2RidePortugal — an unforgettable eight-day journey from Lisbon to Galicia and back along the Atlantic coast. From mountain roads and Roman ruins to fresh seafood and stunning coastal views, every day brought new discoveries and memories that will last a lifetime.

A Journey Through the Senses with 2RidePortugal – Part 3: Valleys, Deer, and Pools in the Sky

In Part 3 of our journey with 2RidePortugal, the road leads us into the heart of Spain’s wild beauty — ancient chestnut forests, dreamy mountaintop pools, and encounters with deer in the mist. We cross valleys, taste local cuisine, and wander through villages lost in time. With every twist of the road, the senses come alive, and the journey becomes something more than travel — it becomes a memory etched in feeling, landscape, and awe.