We're Matthew, Lindsey, Cleo, Maple and Rosie - and this is our story
How it started
Matthew ran Rock & River for years, taking people climbing, kayaking and camping across Central Portugal. He took a break, met Lindsey, and together they built a life on their quinta in Central Portugal. Now it's time for the next chapter. We're both outdoor people at heart, so the decision was easy: get back on the water. Together. Oh, and we're never alone. Cleo, Maple and Rosie come everywhere with us.
Cleo is very used to the outdoor adventure life - she was Matthew's companion for years when he ran Rock & River. Maple and Rosie we adopted from the shelter in Seia at 14 years old and honestly, adopting them is one of the best things we've ever done. They were cellmates at the shelter and are still inseparable now. If you stay at our quinta, you will meet all of them, and our 5 cats!
We started Just Drift because we believe the best days are the simple ones. A river. Good company. No rush.
The Mondego River
The Mondego has never been about rushing from A to B. It begins as a small spring called Mondeguinho, high in the Serra da Estrela, Portugal's highest mountain range, and winds its way through mountains, forests, valleys and historic towns before reaching the Atlantic Ocean at Figueira da Foz.
At around 258 km, it's the longest river that both begins and ends entirely within Portugal. While rivers like the Douro and Tagus are longer, they also flow through Spain. The Mondego is uniquely Portuguese from its source to its mouth, making it a river that's deeply woven into the country's own landscape and history.
Along its journey, the river passes places like Gouveia, Penacova, Coimbra, and Montemor-o-Velho, each with its own character. Upstream you'll find granite landscapes and clear mountain water. Around Coimbra, the river widens and becomes part of one of Portugal's most iconic university cities. Further downstream, it opens into the fertile plains of the Baixo Mondego before meeting the sea.
Our stretch of the Mondego, near Tábua, captures what we love most about it: peaceful water, hidden beaches, native wildlife and the feeling that nature sets the pace. That's why we built Just Drift here. Not because it's the busiest river in Portugal, but because it's one of the few places where you can still slow down, drift and experience the river on its own terms.
Giving back
The Mondego gives us incredible days on the water, so giving something back is part of Just Drift. We organise Drift & Clean, our free community river clean-up where people join us by kayak or SUP to collect litter along the river. It's our way of protecting the place that makes these adventures possible.
But it doesn't stop there, 1 euro from every booking goes towards helping animals in need. Supporting animal welfare is something that's close to our hearts, and every adventure helps us give back, one trip at a time.
