2 MID-LIFE CYCLISTS IN A MOTORHOME: July 2016

Albufeira

1st July. We decided to start the month with a ride into Albufeira. It wasn't a particularly scenic route as the road was a bit too far inland to catch a glimpse of the sea. It was quite a hilly route although nothing too steep until we got to the outskirts of Albufeira when we suddenly found ourselves freewheeling down a really steep hill that required us to keep the brakes on all the way down. I certainly wasn't looking forward to getting back up that hill!! The town itself was also built on a series of hills and every road seemed to have a steep incline or decline apart from the very centre. Thank god there was a breeze which made the heat more bearable. It was very touristy as you would expect with hundreds of bars, restaurants and tourist shops selling hats, sunglasses and those 'must have' souvenirs however it was still a pleasant town. It was nice and clean and we enjoyed exploring the narrow streets but after a quick coffee stop we decided to head back.

Lovely house at the top of the steep hill

As we left the town I could see the really steep hill that we had sailed down. I told Glynn that I was absolutely determined to get up it without stopping. Now I would see if all those wall sits I have been doing have helped!! I decided to get as much speed up as I could and I quickly overtook Glynn trying to keep the momentum going. I soon ran out of gears as I dropped to the lightest one and with my legs pedalling like crazy and my lungs burning I eventually made it to the top. I looked back to see Glynn pushing his bike up which surprised me as he is much stronger on hills than I am. When he got to the top he told me that halfway up the hill he had swallowed a fly which knocked his momentum and because of the steep incline he couldn't let go of the handlebar to reach his water bottle so he'd had to stop. That is his story and he is sticking to it!! When we got back we headed for the pool which Glynn declared too cold for him after dipping a toe. While Glynn relaxed on a lounger I swam 30 lengths although before you get too impressed I should probably point out that it was a very small pool and it only took 7 strokes from one end to the other!!

Armação de Pera

3rd July. Yesterday we enjoyed a lazy day as the wind was gusting too strong to risk cycling. It's interesting the way the wind on the Algarve seems to go from non-existent one day to really strong the next day. We weren't too sorry as it was the first stage of the Tour de France so we enjoyed watching it on the big TV in the games room.

Today we deciced to explore in the opposite direction and did a lovely ride to Armação de Pera and then looped round to Guia making a nice 26km ride. The beaches along this coast are lovely golden sand bordered by limestone cliffs making the area very attractive. It is quite a hilly area without being too taxing (apart from that hill out of Albufeira!!) so a good training ground for improving fitness but not really the terrain if you are just a leisure cyclist. After a lovely afternoon by the pool (Glynn still declared it too cold to get in!!) we watched the last hour of the Tour de France. What a perfect way to spend the day.

5th July. Yesterday we cycled back in to Albufeira so I could get a new data SIM card, NOS do a sim that's €10 for 10 days with unlimited data, perfect. The hill out of town seemed harder than before but we both made it up without stopping and added another 22kms to our total.

Raquel, Miguel, Diana and Glynn

Today we declared a day of rest and spent the day chilling. We had a lovely Portuguese family parked next to us, Miguel, Raquel and their daughter Diana. Raquel had offered to show us how to cook sardines the Portuguese way so when the fish van arrived Glynn went with Raquel to see what they had. They came back with some lovely mackerel and Miguel got to work getting his miniature barbecue going. While he barbecued the fish Raquel showed me how they do crushed new potatoes in olive oil and garlic. We had the fish and potatoes with a lovely chopped salad washed down with a beer and it was excellent.

6th July. We got up to find cloudy skies making it an excellent day for cycling. After breakfast we set off in the direction of Guia and then carried on to Algoz. As with the coastal roads the inland routes are equally hilly and it was a great ride although the state of many Portuguese roads are so poor that you have to be on the alert all the time for pot holes and dips just waiting to throw you over the handlebars. We were both still suffering from our respective crashes so we definitely weren't keen to repeat the experience. From Algoz we carried on to Tunes which initially seemed like a deserted ghost town with the lack of traffic and people. Glynn commented that he almost expected to see tumbleweed rolling down the road. We found a nice little cafe and stopped for a coffee break (and a cake!!) before heading off in the direction of Ferreiras. When we realised we were close to Albufeira we decided to carry on towards the coast and ride back via the big hill. Why we get these crazy ideas I don't know but anyway I suddenly find myself yet again in my lightest gear pedalling like crazy and regretting all the years I used to smoke!! I swear that hill got harder every time we went up it. This was now our third time and definitely the hardest although I was somewhat motivated when I saw a man up ahead who had given up and was pushing his bike. Spurred on to make it to the top I kept going and as I passed the man he grinned at me although wether it was from embarrassment at getting caught walking up the hill or from humour at seeing a crazy English lady with a face like a burnt tomato I don't know. After cycling 33 Kms we decided the rest of the day would be dedicated to nothing more taxing than a cooling off in the pool and watching the Tour.

Altura

10th July. We left Vale de Parra 3 days ago and spent a night on a Camperstop at Moncarapacho before carrying on to Altura. We had initially planned on staying inland at Alcoutim and the scenery en route was absolutely stunning. It was very mountainous with views of the Odeleite river down in a valley which is also known as the "Blue Dragon River" because of its colour and curvy shape. The view from the Camperstop at Alcoutim was equally stunning but the temperature inland was even greater without the benefit of the sea breeze so we decided to head back to the coast and Altura.

Castro Marim

The Camperstop at Altura is basically an enormous car park with space for approximately 100 Motorhomes. The only facilities are fresh water and the ability to empty the toilet cassette. The car park was almost full when we arrived and this is probably because not only is the Camperstop free to stop on but it is adjacent to a gorgeous golden sandy beach that stretches as far as you can see in both directions. The beach was as popular as the Aire with hundreds of brightly coloured umbrellas shading people from the sun. It was a real contrast to the almost deserted beaches we had visited on the western end of the Algarve.

The far edge of Portugal and the Gulf of Cadiz

Over the last 2 days we have explored the relatively flat roads around Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo Antonio, clocking up over 60kms. We cycled to the furthest tip of the Portuguese coast where the sea comes in from the Gulf of Cadiz to form the river Guadiana which heads north separating Portugal from Spain until it deviates in to Spain just south of Badajoz. We stood admiring the view across to Isla Canela in Spain from the almost deserted stretch of golden sand which was backed by woodland. Today we opted for a stroll along the beach as tomorrow we would be crossing the border back in to Spain. In hindsight we should have crossed in to Spain today but you know what they say about hindsight being a wonderful thing!! The reason being that tonight was the final of Euro 2016 between France and Portgal. It was easy to tell when Portugal scored by the noise and when they went on to win the sound of hundreds of car horns could be heard well in to the early hours, such was the elation of the Portuguese at winning. Oh well we can always have an early night tomorrow.

Seville

11th July. I was really excited to be heading back in to Spain and we set off for Seville right after breakfast. The first thing we noticed after we crossed the border was how much cheaper diesel was. The average price we paid in Portugal was around €1.17 per litre and in Spain it appeared to be around €1.06 per litre. We also noticed how good the road surfaces were compared with Portugal where you almost feel forced to use the expensive toll roads to avoid been shaken to bits on poor roads that are in great need of resurfacing.

Seville

I'm not sure what was worse in Portugal, driving the motorhome or trying to cycle on their roads, especially when many towns and villages favour cobbled roads which, although hard wearing, were a nightmare to drive or cycle over!! I almost feel qualified to enter the Tour of Flanders next year now that I have so much experience on the cobbles!!

Seville Cathedral

The reason for visiting Seville was two-fold. Firstly there was a Hymer garage based there and we still hadn't had the drivers window looked at after the incident on the day we left home when the window got stuck open. Secondly I was looking forward to exploring Seville itself. If I thought it was hot in Portugal I was in for a shock when we reached Seville!! There was no breeze and the temperature was touching 40°. The mechanic said he could fit us in when they re-opened at 4.30pm as they were about to close for the typical Spanish extended lunch breaks allowing time for a siesta after eating. The workshop had excellent facilities for overnight stays with lovely bays including free wifi and EHU for €10 a night so we parked up and had lunch.

Seville Cathedral

Promptly at 4.30pm the mechanic took Herman off to the workshop while we examined a lovely new Hymer they had on display. In no time at all the mechanic reported Herman fully functioning again with a lovely new door switch and wiring as well as a new water level sensor on the fresh water tank as that had recently failed. Because of the heat we abandoned our plans to stay the night and after paying the bill we left in search of a more sheltered place to spend the night. We headed in to the city centre in the middle of rush hour traffic but it was surprisingly easy to negotiate our way and we were soon parked up on a town centre car park that had designated bays for Motorhomes with the option of EHU if needed at a small extra cost. After I had cooked dinner I suggested that we explored Seville in the evening as it would be a more comfortable temperature. The car park was superbly located just a 10 minute stroll from the centre so we set off with the camera and my Garmin bike computer. Every time we park up somewhere I always switch on the Garmin and save our location. This way we can explore without every worrying about forgetting where we are parked or how to get back.

Beautiful archway in Seville

Torre del Orro, Seville

What can I say about Seville except it is stunning. It is definitely a city I would recommend and we had a fantastic evening exploring the centre. One evening is definitely not long enough to do justice to this beautiful city but we managed to see the stunning gothic cathedral which is the site of Christopher Columbus's tomb, the Palacio de San Telmo, Museo Taurino de la Real Maestranz and many other beautiful buildings.

At 10pm it was still 32° so we were pleased we had chosen to explore in the evening. When we return to Spain next year we will try and head here in April to explore more fully whilst the temperature is more comfortable and it is also during April that Seville hosts a big festival of eating, drinking sherry and flamenco dancing in colourful tents known as casetas along the bank of the river Quadalaquivir so definitely another good reason to return in April.

12th July. This morning we headed back towards the coast and a lovely little town called Rota that had been recommended to us. As we headed south we passed acres of brown fields that we realised when we got close enough were actually fields full of dead sunflowers with their heads drooping down. We always enjoy driving through France and passing fields full of sunflowers with their gorgeous yellow petals and I can imagine how this area would be transformed when the sunflowers are in full bloom.

Rota

The area also had acres of olive trees which gave way to vineyards as we approached Jerez. Passing Jerez we carried on to Rota and easily found the Aire which was a small parking area specifically for Motorhomes with a service area and we were fortunate that it wasn't full when we arrived. It was situated on the outskirts of the town just behind the beach with an excellent cycle path into town. Normally the Aire is free but during July and August they charge €2 a night. What a bargain. We were keen to explore so after a quick lunch we followed the cycle path into town. It was a lovely town and much larger than we realised with a choice of golden beaches because of the way the town curved around the edge of the bay which leads round to Cadiz.

Rota beach

The town is also home to a large naval base which was built in 1953 and is a joint enterprise between Spain and the USA. It is commanded by the Spanish Rear Admiral but fully funded by the USA and as we stood admiring the area we could see 4 Aegis warships at anchor, just further round the coast which is also home to two American Destroyers as part of the Missile Defence System. After cycling back to the Aire we then carried on in the other direction as we hadn't done a good ride for a few days. It was largely a flat area and we enjoyed a lovely ride, totalling 25kms by the time we returned. We then decided to explore the beach immediately behind the Aire so we put the bikes away and enjoyed a lovely walk along the beach before dinner.

We have had some potential good news that has resulted in us making some changes to our travel plans. As a result we have changed our Eurotunnel crossing from the 30th September and will now be returning to England on the 17th August, cutting our trip short by 6 weeks. Fingers crossed it is worth it and all will be revealed in August's blog post!! As a result we have looked at how many days we have left and the places we particularly want to visit and have made a rough itinerary tha

t will get us back to Calais in time for our revised crossing. This means sadly that we have decided to only spend one night at Rota as we still have many places to see but we will definitely spend more time here when we return to see Seville next year.

Plaza San Juan de Dios, Cadiz

13th July. This morning we drove to Cadiz. We had already decided we would explore the town and then drive to Gibraltar as the stopovers in Cadiz didn't appeal to us. We got an early start although it wasn't far from Rota and within an hour we were parked up and ready to explore. As we had approached Cadiz my initial thought was to turn straight around and carry on to Gibraltar without stopping. The Main Street was a long straight road stretching for about 2 miles with 4 lanes of traffic and was bordered by a concrete jungle of tall uninspiring buildings with shops underneath.

Luckily it isn't easy to just do a U turn in an 8 metre motorhome so we carried on and eventually drove through an archway and found ourselves in the old town.

Cadiz Cathedral

What a difference!! After parking up in a large car park we decided to explore on foot. The car park was adjacent to the marina and as we set off we could see the biggest cruise liner I have ever seen which was busily disgorging its passengers so they could explore Cadiz before they set sail for their next port. We wandered the lovely narrow cobbled streets that ran between the tall buildings which were lined with tapas bars, cafes and restaurants.The old town had a beautiful Cathedral, a Roman theatre and many churches. After wandering much of the old town and exploring the Roman theatre we walked to the sea wall to admire the view and then returned to sit at one of the pavement cafes that faced the Cathedral. What a stunning location for a coffee break and when we explored the menu it said everything was €1 on Wednesdays and Sunday's. Luckily for us it was Wedensday!! That'll be tapas and beer for two please!!

Plaza de España, Cadiz

Appetite sated we headed back to the motorhome and set off for Gibralter, or to be more accurate we were heading for La Linea de la Concepcion which is the area immediately adjacent to Gibraltar. The landscape en route was more fields of sorry looking dead sunflowers but as we approached our destination the landscape changed. It became more mountainous with large green forests clinging to their sides and vast lakes at their base. We passed a huge bird of prey sitting on a fence post beside the carriageway but I didn't have my camera ready so I missed getting a photo. After the drab and dull agricultural fields this area was stunning.

Gibraltar

There was a hazy sunshine that made Gibraltar look like it was shrouded in mist as we approached but we could make out the faint outline of the Rock because a long flat cloud sat atop it like a giant beret. The Aire was in the marina, a great location with yachts in front of us and the Rock behind us. It was only a 10 minute walk to the border so we decided to walk rather than cycle. We got to the runway just as the gates closed signifying the approach of a plane. It was fascinating to stand so close and watch a plane land on what appears to be a very short runway. We explored the town but didn't go up the Rock as we visited Gibraltar a few years ago and did the cable car ride then to see the monkeys. I passed a shop selling alcohol and spotted their bargain of the day, brandy at £2.99 a bottle. Well it would be rude not to!! With 2 bottles of brandy safely in our possession we headed back to the motorhome to get the bikes out and go food shopping. A quick trip to Mercadona and we were soon back enjoying a lovely homemade fish curry and a glass of wine watching the activity in the marina. It had been another fantastic day with the visits to Cadiz and Gibraltar and we were now looking forward to working our way up the coast towards Malaga.

Malaga

14th July. Before setting off we quickly cycled in to Gibraltar and purchased 2 litre bottles of Bombay Sapphire gin for the bargain price of £9.69 a bottle. I do like a bargain!! Our next planned destination was Cala de Mijas which is a small town south of Malaga. I had visited it twice on girlie weekends away so I was keen to show Glynn the area. It turned out to be one of those funny old days. We set the sat nav to avoid the toll road and after a short while the road dropped down and as we rounded a bend we had a fantastic view of the sea. Well it would have been fantastic except unusually we had woken up to a grey and overcast day. The road hugged the coastline for much of the journey but sadly the cloud cover made the sea look grey.

Malaga Cathedral

Our sat nav decided to have one of its days as we suddenly realised we had passed Cala de Mijas 3 miles back and it still hadn't told us to turn off! Glynn found a place to turn around and we headed back while I used the maps.me app for directions while the sat nav sulked. Well this turned out to be a fun experience, as if the sat nav misbehaving wasn't enough we couldn't find the Aire at the co-ordinates where it was supposed to be and then we nearly took a turn under a low bridge but luckily Glynn spotted it just in time. We decided it must be one of those stops that is no longer available so we spotted an Aldi and decided to make use of their car park to stop for lunch while we decided what to do. After a quick lunch and a bit of shopping (well I felt guilty at using their car park!!) we reprogrammed the sat nav for Rincon de la Victoria and set off again. Driving past Malaga on the carriageway is not a pretty sight. It looked awful with loads of graffiti on the boards that lined the road and the view looked down on a huge concrete jungle of hotels and apartments. As we approached our next stop the clouds disappeared and the sun came out turning the sea back to a gorgeous turquoise colour.

Malaga Cathedral

What a difference a bit of sun makes. Our camper stop was actually just past Rincon and as we entered the village Glynn miscounted the junctions on the roundabout and took the wrong turn. Here we go again!! The sat nav then decided to sulk again and tried to send us down a road that was for vehicles under 3.5 ton. We ended up going in a complete circle before Glynn missed the turning a second time and to avoid ending up back on the motorway we suddenly found ourselves heading inland on a narrow road that was full of roadworks. By this time I had an outbreak of my menopausal Tourette's. We eventually found space for a U turn and this time we approached the roundabout more slowly and managed to take the correct turning so it was a great relief to finally arrive at the camperstop. It seems it was one of one days for Chris Froome too as we later sat and watched the Tour de France in disbelief as we witnessed what has now become the infamous incident when he ran up the hill whilst waiting for a new bike to be delivered after a crash.

Palacio del Episopal, Malaga

22nd July. We have spent the last 8 days doing some fantastic rides along the coast heading south to Malaga and then north to Torre del Mar and all the villages in between and added just over 180kms to our total. There are a lot of cycle paths in this area and where there aren't any there were nice wide verges so it felt safe on the road and it was a lovely area to ride. The added bonus is that it is a relatively flat area along the coast although the minute you head inland the roads climb steeply. On a visit to Lidl which was back up by the motorway our hearts sank when we saw the hill we had to climb. Glynn took one look and immediately got off and pushed his bike. I gave it my best shop but quickly ran out of gears and then stamina. I got off halfway up the hill to a round of applause from two joggers that were running by. The hill was so steep that even pushing my bike up was a struggle and riding down again after shopping was downright scary even with both brakes on!! It was clearly a very popular area with cycling clubs as we saw hundreds of cyclists during our stay but they sensibly stuck to the coast road.

View from Malaga Marina

Malaga was much more pleasant than it appears when you're driving past on the motorway. We cycled to the marina first and the enormous cruise liner that we saw in Cadiz was now anchored in Malaga. The marina was a very nice area and from there we headed in to town to see the cathedral and the Roman theatre. It was a pleasant 40km ride but Malaga is not a town we'll rush back to.

Torre del Mar we visited twice and there was an excellent cycle path along the seafront. It's a typical tourist resort but it was nice and clean and there were some lovely traffic free streets just off the front which had been very nicely paved and enhanced with greenery that looked very nice. It was a bit closer than Malaga at 32kms round trip. On one of the return trips we had a really strong headwind and it was really hard going. As a guy on a road bike overtook me I immediately dropped in to his slip stream which made a tremendous difference and we were soon flying along. A few kilometres further along he glanced back and then seemed to do a double take as if he couldn't believe I was keeping up with him on my hybrid bike. Never underestimate the power of getting in someone's slip stream!!

Alison's fab Hymer

Whilst staying at El Rincon Camperstop we met a lovely English lady named Alison and we spent a couple of very pleasant evenings swapping info over a bottle (or two!!) of wine and I do believe the gin may have made a brief appearance too. She was a fellow Hymer owner and she'd had it painted by a graffiti artist and it looked fantastic. You definitely wouldn't forget her van and I had a feeling we'd seen her before. On discussion it turned out that she had been at El Campello briefly the year before when we were there. It really is a small world!

23rd July. Today it was time to head further north towards Almeria. Initially the view was spectacular with mountains all around shrouded in an early mist that the sun hadn't quite managed to burn off. We kept getting glimpses of the sea in between the mountains and there were orange groves and well manicured golf courses. We started to see lots of plastic covered green houses and soon the whole area was covered as far as the eye could see. Literally thousands of frames covered in varying shades of dirty plastic meant it easily qualified as the ugliest area I have ever driven through but they are absolutely critical to the economy of the area providing more than half of Europe's demands for fresh fruit and vegetables. A quick Google explained more and what I read was really quite shocking about the conditions the workers endure which I won't go into in my blog but this is the link to what I read, http://www.amusingplanet.com/2013/08/the-greenhouses-of-almeria.html?m=1

Promenade at Almerimar

We stopped at a Camperstop at Almerimar which was 2 minutes from a lovely beach and there was a fantastic cycle path all along the promenade. After a quick ride to get the feel for the area we went back to watch the TDF.

10 years ago, on our first day of a trip to Kenya, we met a lovely couple named Louise and Ste. We ended up getting together to book a safari to Tsavo national park and also a Dow trip to go snorkelling off the coast. To avoid the overpriced tour operators trips we had gone to a local agent that I had discovered through reading reviews. For our safari the four of us had a large jeep to ourselves and spent 3 fantastic and unforgettable days, with 1 night in a tented camp and another night in a lodge. When we went on the Dow trip we again had the whole Dow to ourselves while the tour operators boat had about 30 people on it. We had the privilege of being part of Ste's surprise marriage proposal to Louise whilst on safari and they are now married with a beautiful 5 year old daughter.

10 years ago in Kenya with our guide Ringo

When we read on Facebook that they were going to be on holiday in this area we slowed our travels down to coincide with their arrival so we could meet up. They were due to arrive tomorrow and would be staying near Roquetas de Mar. As there was no Camperstop there we picked Almerimar and decided we would cycle in to see if we could find a suitable parking place so that we could meet up with them. It was a 22km ride each way according to my Garmin which in theory we should have found easy. In reality it turned out to be the hardest ride we've ever done. There was a very long steep hill out of Almerimar and then we followed the road along the coast. The road was very high and exposed and there was a terrific headwind with gusts that were dangerously high at times. I was just grateful the wind was blowing inland as I had visions of being blown over the edge and paragliding without a parachute just doesn't appeal to me funnily enough.

Quick wheel change in Tsavo before the lions come!!

There were a few slightly less taxing hills and much of the route was lined with more of those hideous plastic coated greenhouse frames. We were cycling along a long straight road that never seemed to end and Glynn suggested we head back but as we were only about 8kms away I was keen to continue and find a café. My water bottle had long since turned warm enough to make a cup of tea!! Pushing hard against the wind we finally made it and sank gratefully in to the plastic chairs of the nearest café we could find. We realised it was getting late and would start to get dark in just over an hour so after a quick fortifying coffee we headed back. The beauty of that headwind is that it now became a tailwind on the return journey and we literally flew along, covering 24kms in 40 minutes, an average speed of 36kms p/h including the hills!! As we arrived back in Almerimar we descended the very steep hill that we'd had to climb on our way out and unfortunately as the road turned the corner to descend it changed the tailwind to a sidewind. It was the scariest descent I have ever done as the wind was really powerful and even with both brakes applied I was going at quite a speed. Twice a gust caught me and moved me across a bit which was terrifying. It was a massive relief to get back and we were absolutely exhausted. We had cycled 54kms in total so there was only one way this evening was going to end... Wine and cheese.

Fab reunion with Ste and Louise

24th July. It goes without saying that we decided against cycling back again to meet Louise and Ste and opted to drive instead so we left early in the hope of getting a place to park in Playa Serena before everywhere filled up. We were lucky and found a suitable parking area with enough space for Herman and only a short walk to their hotel. We decided to go for a stroll until we met up with them later and as we walked past their hotel we spotted them queuing to check in. We hid out of sight until they'd checked in and then surprised them just as they left the check-in desk. It was so great to see them again and they hadn't changed a bit in 10 years. We had so much catching up to do and as their room wasn't ready we headed back to Herman for a beer. We then went back to their hotel so they could drop their luggage in their room and get changed before heading to the pool area for another beer. Sadly the time went too quickly and we had to leave as it was a 2 hours drive to our next stop. It had been well worth delaying our journey so that we could meet up and it was uncanny how little they had changed, it seemed like only last year we had seen them. Hopefully it won't be so long until we meet again.

Spectacular scenery en route to Calpe

27th July. We have gradually worked our way north over the last few days and yesterday we arrived back at an old favourite of ours, the Mediterraneo Camperstop in Calpe. I have said many times what a small world it is and the following story is an example of just that. On Christmas night in Goa there was a large crowd of us that went to the Pavilion restaurant. After the meal we were dancing to the music when a friend of ours invited a couple (Janet and Derek) to join us. At the end of the evening they were invited to attend my birthday party on the 28th December at Little Tiger beach shack. When they arrived they ended up sitting next to our good friends Clive and Mary when they suddenly recognised each other from when when they had met in Tres Palmeras bar in Calpe back in May 2015. The bar is owned by Mick who Clive went to school with many moons ago and Janet and Derek visit there regularly as they live in Calpe. Clive and Mary had told them about the delights of Goa and here they were!! What were the odds of them meeting up again like that! On our arrival in Calpe we contacted them and invited them to join us for lunch and had a great afternoon catching up.

Lunch and catch up with Janet and Derek

29th July. We decided to set off at 9am to ride to Benissa before it got too hot. The route to Benissa via the coast is spectacular as you climb away from Calpe with incredible scenery both inland and of the Penyal d'Ifac (Calpe Rock). It was 15kms to Benissa and probably 14kms of that was climbing. Although it isn't too steep it is a long and steady climb and we were ready for coffee and croissants when we got to a cafe in Benissa. This is a popular training area for pro cyclists and I could see why although I have no doubt they would have made it to Benissa a lot quicker than I did. I was just pleased that I had done it without stopping.

Stunning view as we cycled towards Benissa

We took the coastal route back down as I wanted to take some photos of the incredible views and after a couple of quick stops to capture the spectacular views we were back in Calpe in less than half the time it took to get there. Glynn suggested we stop at Aldi for some shopping when he suddenly realised he had left his backpack at the cafe which contained my purse with my credit card, debit card, over €100 in cash, my phone and the motorhome keys!! The thought of doing that mammoth climb again was enough to sap the last of our energy. Glynn spoke to Ricardo who owned the Mediterraneo Camperstop and luckily, as Glynn had remembered the name of the cafe, he phoned them and they confirmed they had found the backpack.

Fantastic view of Calpe rock

You can imaging the huge feeling of relief at the news and Ricardo went even further with his kindness and drove to Benissa to retrieve our bag. What a diamond, although personally I think Glynn should have been made to do the climb again!!

31st July. Yesterday we spent a great afternoon at Janet and Derek's house which was situated on an urbanisation up high above the town. The views from their terrace were outstanding and I could just imagine waking up every day and sitting with an early morning cuppa enjoying their spectacular view of Calpe Rock and the sea. We had a great afternoon enjoying a lovely BBQ and picking their brains about what it was like to live in Calpe. Mmmmm food for thought!!

Well yet again we have had an amazing month with the first half spent along the Algarve in Portugal and the second half experiencing our first taste of Southern Spain. There are so many places we want to return to and spend more time exploring but for now we have to settle for the brief taste we've experienced as we need to get back to England. We have only cycled 480 Kms this month partly because of the change in our travel arrangements meaning we have not stopped as long in places as we would have liked and partly because my wrist pain still hadn't abated so we didn't do any cycling for a week to see if the rest would make a difference. Luckily it appears to have done the trick as there was a noticeable improvement when we did the ride to Benissa. We will spend the next 2 weeks slowly working our way to Calais and have allowed a couple of nights at most stops so that we can still get out and explore.