Gravel Birds 2026: six days to slow down a little

For six days and nearly 1000 kilometers, we traversed mountains, dusty tracks, forgotten villages, rain, heat, fatigue, and suspended moments. A longer adventure to better absorb what surrounded us: the landscapes changing with the hours, the tastes discovered around a village, the long discussions and laughs with Rui, but also the kilometers of silence where only the sound of tires accompanied our thoughts. During the **Gravel Birds**, we tried to share as much as possible in stories, photos, and short reels to take you with us daily. Now that the dust has settled, here is the full story of these six days, divided into three video episodes.

Departure and arrival at the same place: Castro Verde. In between, six days through Upper and Lower Alentejo. Vast agricultural lands, the reliefs of the Serra do Caldeirão, the salty air of the Atlantic, then the gradual return inland.

The first pedal strokes always have something special. The excitement of departure, fresh legs, final adjustments, and that strange feeling that for a few days, the only mission will simply be to move forward.

Very quickly, the Gravel Birds rhythm sets in. Long trails, thunderstorms, the first climbs that remind us why we came to ride here. The landscapes fly by, mud already clings to our tires, and slowly, daily life disappears behind us. We talk a lot, laugh a lot too. And then there are already those moments of silence on the bike. Those when nothing is rushed anymore. The first day is wet, sometimes even stormy. But inside, it's impossible to feel anything but good: dry, happy, and lucky to be riding here, in Portugal, surrounded by simple, kind people, and an energy that feels good.

Moura → Mértola: We already know this day will be shorter. We need to save energy to cross the Serra do Caldeirão the next day, one of the stages that promises to be among the most difficult of the adventure. So we savor it. Every pedal stroke counts, but we also take the time to contemplate the mines of São Domingos, their almost unreal setting, and their unique heritage. Upon arrival in Mértola, this endearing town I love so much, we prepare food for the next day and try to rest as early as possible.

Odemira → Castro da Cola. A short night awaits us, as a new big day calls us out: 190 kilometers and about 3500 meters of elevation gain. But this time, there's an extra motivation: today, we're going to see the ocean. And then there's also a nice surprise. Martin is waiting for us at the CP. He has already completed his 350 km route and is now enjoying Portugal at a more relaxed pace. Finding him there, in the middle of the adventure, gives even more energy. We celebrate with a good breakfast with the CP volunteers, Pedro and Sofia: smiles, stories, "tostas", hot coffee and that smell of iodine announcing the nearby Atlantic. The day will be long, bright, and happy. For the first time in a long time: almost no rain. The kilometers accumulate, the hours pass, and we finally arrive late, around midnight, in Castro da Cola. Tired, of course. But also happy, because there's almost nothing left to do.

Two weeks later, there's still a bit of dust on the bike, some aches in the hands, and many images in the mind. That strange feeling unique to long adventures is still there: the desire to set off again, even before having completely finished. Because deep down, that was the idea this year: to make it last a little longer.