Text: Paul Guillien Photo: Mathias Wolpert
Much of the Azores is untamed. The wild waves of the Atlantic crashing against the rugged rocks of the coast. Active volcanoes with occasional earthquakes. Hot springs with boiling water bubbling up from the ground. Rainstorms that come out of nowhere and completely soak people and machines.
Perhaps most surprising were the strong winds, which brought people to a standstill and blew even heavy motorcycles over with ease. This photo was taken as Paul leaned into the gusts of wind while Charley shouted over the noise and tried to answer the questions from the BMW emergency call system. Moments later, the two had heaved the bike upright and continued their journey around the Caldera de Sete Cidades. A breathtaking five-kilometre-wide funnel created by a volcanic eruption some 22,000 years ago.
Charley and Paul had just fought their way against the wind on the slippery roads to the viewpoint at Cruz Peak at the western end of the island of Saõ Miguel. The two expected breathtaking views and photogenic landscapes but found only inhospitable conditions: single-digit temperatures, pouring rain and wind speeds that far exceeded the speed limits on the island.
