9 February Santa Pola

9 February Santa Pola

Still running and cycling weather good 23 C.

Went off to a small caravan show with Patsy and Paul then on to a small village Callosa (not a tourist in site just locals) just below the mountain we climbed a few years before for a super Tapas lunch stunning food highly recommended.

Toscana Restaurant Callosa
Toscana Restaurant Callosa

Sunday lunch with Patsy and Paul FAB as usual with a visit to their local PUB.

1 February 2016 Santa Pola

1 February 2016 Santa Pola

Restaurant in Santa Pola trying to look like shipping containers!
Restaurant in Santa Pola trying to look like shipping containers!

Having trouble updating the blog here due to Slow InterNOT… as we call it. But we are having fun watching a close caravan fitting a double sink unit and washing machine into their awing a slow job as he spends time chasing around after his large dog with a shovel placed just under its bum to catch s??t before it hits the ground. Lovely weather touching 28 Centigrade to hot at times, good running and cycling.

28-31 January 2016 Calpe

28 January 2016 Calpe

Run today round to the Ifach and then some people watching and some shopping. We were actually tried to be sold a carpet today? yes a carpet to go with our Rolex and fab sunglasses yeah I know how cool we are. Watched a wind surfer today with a great board it hydroplanes he actually floated 3 foot above the waves doing about 60 knots looked astonishing.

Hydrofoil wind surfing board
Hydrofoil wind surfing board

29 January 2016 Calpe

Darian Cycle-Moraria
Darian Cycle-Moraria

Cycle day today to Moraira stopped for coffee and I made a HUGE mistake (English)did not see restaurant called THE CASTLE.

  1. Only Instant coffee power off in town
  2. Waitress spilt coffee in saucer BIG time
  3. Waitress forgot sugar and biscuit.
  4. Cup dirty dried food on rim.
  5. Did not complain due to the way British workers handle difficult customers? SHAME on me. VOTE with your feet.

A good day out but a bit cloudy but still better than in England and no doubt snow coming from America next! Started topping up food for our move on Monday.

Maureen-Cycle-Moraria
Maureen-Cycle-Moraria

30-31 January 2016 Calpe

Said our good byes to friends over some coffee / tea and had a good walkabout.

Our last run in Calpe a good run with some hills to a small harbour round the corner all ready now to move on in the morning been a lovely stay as usual but on we go.

21-26 January 2016 Calpe

21-26 January 2016 Calpe

Walk out to the Ifach after booking in. Called to see friends on another site here that we haven’t seen for a couple of years. Maureen has started running again with a short run to Calpe harbour.

Calpe
Calpe

Darian started running next day with a run in the opposite direction with Maureen.

Patsy and Paul drove up from down the coast and we all went out for a meal tried a different restaurant this time Capri, pleasant outlook but the food was a little disappointing and poor value for money compared to Romantica. A good day with family.

Fountain-Calpe
Fountain-Calpe

Run day both beaches and lots of walk about. Despite the earthquake near  Malaga we felt nothing.

Maureen-Cycle-Benidorm
Maureen-Cycle-Benidorm

Cycle down to Benidorm from Calpe via Altea a good way to get there as the railway from Calpe to Altea is closed for upgrade. Walk about and coffee with some more friends Ray and Linda from Harrogate.

17-19-21 January 2016 El Saler Valencia, Denia and Calpe

17-19-21 January 2016 El Saler Valencia, Denia and Calpe

Maureen Cycling in Valencia
Maureen Cycling in Valencia

Arrived at Valencia and went up into town for 51/2 Hr. walk about doing our usual mix of touristy and back street walkabouts seeking new things. Next morning cycled up into town from El Saler a great cycle way that took us right up into the centre of town where we stopped at a Costa Coffee shop to have a civilised coffee nothing wrong with Spanish coffee just a bit to  strong (pass another 12 sugars please Maureen). A good stop over at Valencia really enjoyed the cycle.

Valencia
Valencia

Down to El Pino at Denia, the women running this site has done wonders for it with the help of some hard working staff. Again walkabout time and a walk up the Baranco to see if the fire damage is recovering from 2 years ago. A short stay here as we drove down to Calpe to try our luck at Calpe Mar Campsite and behold a cancellation wow 10 days lucky us so some cycling to Benidorm and start running again after our Barcelona BUG.

16 January 2016 Benicassim

16 January 2016 Benicassim

San Antonio Abad Parade
San Antonio Abad Parade

Last night at Benicassim we have had a lovely 14 days here but unfortunately did not manage to do all we wanted due to us both getting a cold, but it has been good with lots of new things to do. Last night was a parade with the banner of San Antonio Abad.

Children Bull Fright
Children Bull Fright
Bull Fighting !
Bull Fighting !

This afternoon we watched the children been chased by little bulls on wheels in the Bull ring. Tonight we are going up to watch them lighting hundreds of bonfires all over the streets. Hope we can get passed in the morning. This festival lasts all week with bull fights and lots of competitions and craft fairs.

Afro Dog ?
Afro Dog ?

fire2

fire1

ride1

ride2

ride3

7 – 8 Jan 2016 Benicassim

7 Jan 2016 Benicassim

Lovely day today having a rest temp 20 C today. Pictures today are Maureen’s sweets from the 3 Kings Parade these are the ones that actually hit me when thrown from the floats.Ouch!

Maureen's sweets from the 3 Kings Parade

Good Place to meet a Date on the Promenade

Palm Tree Benicassim
Palm Tree Benicassim
This evenings (sky click for larger image).
This evenings (sky click for larger image).

8 Jan 2016 Benicassim

Cycle down to Castellon a really good cycle way follows the coast then turns up into the town 2 1/2 Hr with a stop at town for a really good coffee a good day out. Stopped a Mercadona super market for a soft drink and a Pepito Crema on the way back FAB.

Maureen Castellon
Maureen Castellon
Another Church
Another Church

5/1/2016 Benicassim

5/1/2016 Benicassim

3 Kings Parade Benicassim
3 Kings Parade Benicassim

3 Kings Parade day and the weather is FAB. Had a cycle up to Orpesa and on to Marina d’Or. The below picture is a beach shower you press a button on the elephants leg and the water comes out of the trunk (even these beach showers suffer from poachers, no tusks!)

Beach Sower Marina d' Or
Beach Sower Marina d’ Or

What a lovely day US below….

Us

3/1/2016 Benicassim

3/1/2016 Benicassim

Arrived here today and caught up with a friend who organises motorhome tours and shared our latest travels. Had a walk about to look for a good Spanish tapas restaurant. Spotted some great graffiti see pictures. (click image for larger picture).

Graffiti
Graffiti

2

3

Look at the size of this Graffiti
Look at the size of this Graffiti They are BIG

5

6

Benicassim is famous for its music festival in July but we love the history of the seafront villas click link below.

http://en.comunitatvalenciana.com/happening-now/benicassim/news/villas-benicassim-hell-heavenly-court

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

31-12-2015 Vilanova I La Geltru

Getting ready to party
Getting ready to party

Party Night tonight on the campsite so lots of noise wine beer music and food it will finish about 0200 as they all wait for 0100 when the British celebrate our new year. Been running today with Maureen her first run for a couple of weeks then into Sitges to top our food up for the next few days as all shuts up here in Spain, next BIG thing is the tree kings look forward to the parade at our next stop.

http://irbarcelona.org/christmas-barcelona/three-kings-day/

Our new cooker
Our new cooker in the van ?

15 years 150000 miles of European Travel through 16 Counties