SKS Algarve Run 2022
Biking among flowers
The seventh Algarve Run by SKS Reisen offered street art in two senses: graffiti in Olhão and Race of the Baggers on the last day of the tour. Robinson Quinta da Ria impressed with its flowers and hospitality in the south of Portugal.
Mogendorf, July 21, 2022
The time flies by. It's almost hard to believe that this year's SKS Tour in the Algarve was the seventh of its kind. One would think that the event in late spring with almost “weather guarantee” was only recently added to the portfolio of the motorcycle travel specialist from the Westerwald. And the week itself also passed in a “didn’t you see” way. As soon as the luggage bag, specially designed for SKS trips, was put into the walk-in closet, the shuttle felt like it was waiting for the return transport. But in between there were actually six days full of driving fun, impressive nature and lively conversations with like-minded people over wine or cocktails in the evening.
By the way, I really liked the walk-in and illuminated wardrobe because it is extremely practical. You immediately have everything in view and quickly at hand. Overall, the room at the Robinson Quinta da Ria was great and obviously newly renovated, the bed was comfortable, the bathroom was huge and the view over the golf course to the sea was unique.
As Sunday progresses, more and more participants arrive and are warmly welcomed by Kim and Sabine. After all, there are well over a hundred of them, with over 80 motorcycles. Not a big logistical challenge for the guys from SKS, which they mastered with ease with three bike shuttle trucks. Under the direction of Adrian Kießling, the senior boss himself, an orientation trip for “first-time offenders” is organized in the early afternoon. The official welcome follows on Sunday evening, outside in the club's beautiful park. Because of the wonderful weather - around 25 degrees, light breeze - you spend a lot of time outside, even away from the motorcycle.
The bikers' own dinner area is open-air and afterwards the drink tastes best at the pool bar with a view of the stage. The blossoms throughout the complex do their part to keep guests in the fresh air. Hibiscus, bougainvillea, oleander and hydrangea, to name just a few, are in full bloom and jacaranda trees with their numerous blue flowers look almost unreally beautiful.
For the guided tours, you meet at the entrance to the club after breakfast and usually ride in groups of 10 to 20 bikes. “Over the Mountains”, “Riverside” and “The Tour to the End of the World” are regularly the most popular. The latter leads to Cabo de São Vicente , the most southwestern point of mainland Europe. “The last bratwurst before America” with a certificate and a view of the lighthouse is a must.
Photographers and their drivers are tolerated on the “Ladies Tour”, which this year included, among other things, a “bike portrait shoot” at a former church in Olhão. The abandoned church was designed by the street artists Dario Silva and Sergio to be so impressive and interesting that it is almost no longer suitable as a photo background, but rather forces itself violently into the foreground.
But that didn't dampen the ladies' fun at the shoot. The conversations on the sidelines also put us in a good mood. One of the participants runs her own coffee roasting business. During a break from driving, she illustrated the disadvantages of “industrial roasting” to the other ladies so vividly using the example of a bad sauna session that not one eye remained dry and I have found it difficult to buy cheap coffee ever since.
I also have fond memories of the “tour for advanced and intrepid riders” on the last day of the ride. Under the expert guidance of Adrian Kießling, it was once again proven that even big excavators can move quickly around the curves, while the only bobber traveling along had to leave a few millimeters of his running boards behind on the asphalt.
The performance of the photographer “Kalle” is also impressive. In order to capture everything in the best possible way, he spent most of the tour sitting upside down as a backseater on my Pan America . Without the top case I would definitely have lost it on the way. The only stop that day took us to a wine and spirits shop with some exclusive goods. “Exhibits” might even be the more appropriate word here, as some of the numerous bottles of the fine wines had price tags with five-figure amounts.
The oldest sales trick ensured that the friendly business owner at least achieved almost four-digit sales: he poured out a bottle of well-chilled champagne without being asked. So it didn't take long until the excavators' saddlebags filled with fine port wine.
A wonderful week on the motorcycle with nice people in a perfect atmosphere went by far too quickly. On the day of departure I managed to walk for a quarter of an hour through the golf course to the bar on the beach to enjoy the direct view of the sea. Next year I'll definitely have a cocktail here...or two.
Photos by Marcus “Kalle” Arnoldy* and Andreas Scholz, SKS GmbH Schröder-Kießling Spedition**
