October 2019

Torre de la Horadada

The Promenade

2nd October. Chris and John departed yesterday leaving us to enjoy their house for the winter and we spent the rest of the day doing shopping and getting our kit organised. Glynn had already made contact with Torrevieja U3A cycle group so today saw us up early to find our way to Los Dolses to meet the group for their ride. Their destination for today was San Miguel de Salinas via the canal path which runs from Cartagena in the south towards Orihuela, just south of Alicante. Although the pace was much slower it was a great way to start learning about the area as we didn't know about the canal path and had cycled the much hillier road way to meet the group. We stopped at a great little cafe called the Nut House in San Miguel which seemed very popular judging by the number of people there. Legend has it that it got its name from the days before it held a drink licence so you would order some nuts and then get a free beer with it!! I was delighted to discover that our coffees came with a lovely little muffin on the side, not exactly low carb friendly but hey, we all need a bit of sugar sometimes!! It was great to meet so many people so early in our stay and we were given loads of information on the area. It looks like this could be a fun and active winter indeed!! It was a nice gentle 44km ride and armed with all our new information it had been a very productive day. 

Traffic jam on the canal path

3rd October. Armed with a better understanding of the area we headed straight for the canal path just north of Pilar de la Horadada and turned left. Some areas of the canal path were covered in dirt and debris from the recent gota fria storm that had caused substantial damage in the area but it was still possible to cycle easily along the path. We continued on for some time before taking one of the many roads that link to the path and headed south towards Los Alcazares on the Mar Menor. We must have taken the worst road possible as it was well overdue for resurfacing and we rattled and bumped our way for nearly 10 kms before reaching the coast. The damage from the gota fria was also evident all along the Mar Menor although it didn't detract from the beauty of the views. After a coffee stop we decided to head back along the coast road  rather than experience the bumpy route back to the canal path and we got back in no time, a nice 52 km ride.

Embalse de la Pedrera

6th October. After a couple of relaxing days enjoying the local beach and doing some lovely walks in the glorious sunshine we decided to head out on another ride today. Glynn had been looking at the map and suggested we ride to Torremende which appeared to involve a few nice climbs without being too taxing. We were amazed at how hot it still was for October as we had expected it to be cooler, most days it was hitting around 30°. It was a fantastic route that took us up through Pilar de la Horadada and past Pinar de Campoverde. There was a really nice balance of climbs and descents and the slightly steeper sections were short and sweet making them bearable in the heat. We found a lovely little cafe in the town and enjoyed a nice coffee before heading towards a lake we had spotted on our ride in to the town. It turned out to be the edge of the Embalse de la Pedrera reservoir but we couldn't find the road to get us closer so we decided to save that for another day. A very nice 50 km ride. 

8th October. As we had done little yesterday other than visit the huge market at San Pedro Del Pinitar to get our vegetables and then chill on the terrace we decided to head out on the bikes again today. We had been told there was a cycle path that ran all the way to Torrevieja so we set off in search of it. It was easy to find the cycle path just at the top of the town however it clearly hadn't been maintained in some while and maybe the recent gota fria storm had added to the state of it. It wasn't a route I would do again but we made it to Torrevieja and stopped for a coffee break. As I hadn't enjoyed the route I suggested we head inland towards San Miguel and head home via the canal path. In spite of being a main road it felt very safe and traffic was minimal so we were making good time when I suddenly heard that dreaded sound, a loud hissing noise from Glynn's rear tyre!! Note to self..... carry wet wipes as it's always Glynn's rear tyre that punctures and he ends up with chain oil over his hands. The spare tube had a previous repair that clearly hadn't been done very well as we only got another 1km up the road before it had gone flat. Stupidly we hadn't brought a repair kit with us as we had the spare tube so a quick google showed there was a bike shop in San Miguel and we would have to be quick to get there before they closed for a long lunch break. As we were 4 kms from the town we did a fast walk which in that heat and wearing cycle shoes was not easy!! We caught the bike shop just as they were about to close early so we made it in the nick of time. New inner tube purchased and fitted and we headed over to the Nut House for coffee and a muffin before back along the canal path. It was a very nice (well most of it!!) 55km ride. Time for a visit to Decathlon for more inner tubes I think!!

Embalse de la Pedrera

9th October. We did a really lovely ride today. After setting off early to ride to Los Dolses to meet some of the U3A group we then carried on to San Miguel to meet the rest of the group so there were thirteen of us in total on today's ride. We did a stunning route that took us around the Emblase de la Pedrera reservoir. It was a nice mixture of climbs and descents with nothing too taxing and after a coffee break in Torremendo we headed back to San Miguel. After another leisurely coffee break myself and Glynn set off back to the canal path with 2 of the cyclists, Neil and Jackie, who lived near us in Pilar. When we got back we had done a very nice 75kms. This was the longest ride I had done on the test saddle and I was really impressed that I'd managed a decent length ride with no discomfort but as it had been a very casual ride because of the differing abilities of the U3A riders I was looking forward to testing its comfort level on a normal faster ride.

San Javier

11th October. Today we went out for a ride with Jackie and Neil and headed towards San Cayetano along the canal path and then after a quick coffee break we cycled down to San Javier and then Santiago de la Ribera on the Mar Menor. By this time we had progressed from coffee to caña, well there is only so much coffee you can drink!! We then cycled along the coastal roads and they showed us a track that cut through from Lo Pagán to El Mojón via the nature reserve, avoiding the need to cycle the N332 back. It was a great route and we did a very pleasant 43kms. Another thumbs up for the saddle comfort. 

13th October. After a quick 36km training ride to San Cayetano we headed back home so Glynn could watch the Japan/Scotland rugby game. After the game Jackie and Neil picked us up and took us to San Luis Square  in Torrevieja to see The Big Jam.  An entertaining afternoon where singers and musicians get together and perform a variety of songs and people get up and dance. It was great fun and Jackie told us about modern jive classes that are run by Paso A Paso in the area so we decided we would check it out out as we'd had a few bachata classes when we were in Goa last winter so we liked the idea of learning modern jive and it added a new dimension to our activities. 

16th October. After a couple of quiet days enforced on us by some rain normal weather has resumed and the sun is shining again. Today we went on another bike ride with Jackie and Neil to San Miguel de Salinas clocking up a nice 52 Kms, another decent length to test the new saddle which was so far passing every test. Wednesday evenings the jive classes are held at the Olympia in Mil Palmeras which is not far from us so we spent the evening learning our first jive moves and we had a great time. Everyone was so friendly and we soon picked up the basics. During the free-style dance session afterwards we were both asked up several times by various members and it is amazing how well you can dance when being expertly led by someone who knows what they are doing. Poor Glynn had the disadvantage as he is expected to lead but the women were gently with him and led him instead. We videoed the routine we had learnt so that we would be able to practice all week. We had also been told about a badminton club at the local sports centre several times a week so guess where we will be at 10am tomorrow!! 

20th October. After a hectic 2 hours of badminton on Thursday and walking round the enormous market at a Torrevieja followed by a very fast 40km ride to San Cayetano on Friday we spent yesterday just strolling along the beautiful seafront to ease our poor aching muscles!! With bad weather forecast for the coming days and the potential for another gota fria storm we went out on the bikes again while the sun was still shining and did a lovely 37km ride to Lo Romero and then down to the Mar Menor.

23rd October. Rain might have stopped us cycling but it didn't interfere with badminton. After 2 hours of badminton yesterday we went back again today as I was advised there was a coach available on Wednesdays and to be fair some guidance wouldn't go amiss based on my current level of ability. I did have to feel sorry for whoever got drawn as my partner in each game and I look forward to the day I don't need to make my apologies at the start of every game. On the plus side I can only get better!! The coaching session was great and I left there optimistic for my chances of occasionally winning a game!. An evening of Jive practice in Mil Palmeras rounded off a very nice but hectic day and I don't think I crushed too many toes in the process.

Enjoying the sunset

26th October. We've enjoyed a very relaxing couple of days and our friends Jan and Del, who live in Calpe, came to stay for a night so we had a great evening catching up as we would being with them in Goa this winter. Today after watching England beat the All Blacks in the semi final of the rugby World Cup we decided to head out on a quick training ride but the weather was so beautiful we got carried away and ended up doing 62kms exploring lots of the local areas that link to the canal path. To stretch our legs afterwards we did a lovely walk along the seafront just before sunset when the temperature was a very comfortable low 20's. 

view from Conesa castle restaurant

27th October. After watching Wales lose to South Africa in the other semi-final we decided to mirror the route around the Embalse de la Pedrera that we had done with the U3A group albeit with the freedom to do it at a much faster pace. It really is a wonderfully scenic ride and with a couple of 10% gradients thrown in it gives a good balance to a ride. We stopped at the Nut House in San Miguel for a coffee and as it was really busy we were invited to join a local Spaniard and his mate that were enjoying a beer. We had a lovely chat with them while drinking our coffee. Their English level matched our Spanish so we managed quite a good chat and a bit of sign language filled the gaps in understanding. After carrying on and cycling round the reservoir we headed back via the main road as there are a couple of nice climbs as you head towards Pinar de Campoverde. A very nice 70 km ride although the test saddle failed to keep me comfortable today so maybe my seating position when doing climbs accounted for that? We will see as the weeks progress.

Conesa Castle

30th October. After a terrible badminton session yesterday when I was convinced I had no strings in my racket we went to the sports centre again this morning so that I could have another coaching session. There were 4 of us wanting help this week so John, our coach, had us doing all sorts of exercises to improve our game before letting us loose with the main games. I felt much better and even managed to be on a winning team a couple of times. Afterwards we dashed home for a quick shower before cycling back to the centre to meet Neil and Jackie. We had arranged to cycle to Conesa Castle at San Miguel where the restaurant does a fantastic choice for a 3 course menu del dia at only €8.95. This was our second visit as myself and Glynn had driven over for lunch one day after it had been recommended to us. We were so impressed we invited Jackie and Neil to join us and decided to cycle there. It would hopefully help counteract the tiramisu that I planned on having for dessert!! We enjoying a really chilled afternoon in a fabulous setting and we were all rather full when it came time to cycle home. Being a Wednesday meant it was jive night at Mil Palmeras so it was another quick shower and then a quick practice jive around the lounge before we set off for the Olympia bar. It had been a really busy day with 2 hours of badminton, a 44km cycle ride and 3 hours of jive. We were shattered when we got home!!

With Jackie and Neil at Conesa Castle

31st October. We spent the last day of the month taking it easy after such a busy time yesterday so I baked a few cookies and some brownies before we enjoyed a nice walk along the beach. We have now been in Torre de la Horadada for a month and it has far exceeded our expectations. We have been introduced to so many lovely people and discovered there is so much to do with the badminton, jive lessons, the cycling and the beautiful walks. It really is a stunning area and offers so much. There are more activities, such as paddle tennis, that we haven't tried but to be fair I'm not sure we can fit anything else in. I'm impressed at how cheap everything is as a 2 hour badminton session is only €2 and an evening learning to jive is €6. I have never felt so fit. The weather is far hotter than I expected for this time of year and seems to be averaging around 27° most days with the occasional day where it was over 30°. I was initially worried we would miss our usual winter in Goa but I have to say that so far this area of Spain is making a very good substitute and actually has a lot more to offer. We have an exciting challenge ahead as Glynn has signed up to do the Cycling Down Dementia challenge which by default means I will be doing it too. This means we will be cycling 1600 kms (1000 MLS) over the next 3 months to raise money for Alzheimer's Research UK. Following Glynn's mums diagnosis it is a cause close to our hearts right now so we look forward to doing our best to raise money for them. 

The Mar Menor

May 2019

Lake Negratin

May 2019.

8th May. Our friends Paul and Jan are accompanying us on our summer tour for a few weeks as although they have travelled extensively in the U.K. they have never ventured abroad in their motorhome so we are excited at the opportunity to show them many of the places we love in France and Spain. We met up with them near the Eurotunnel yesterday and after managing to get an earlier crossing we had made it to the lovely Aire at Le Crotoy for our first night. As we awoke to rain this morning there was little point in hanging around so we set off after breakfast to head to La Fleche Zoo for our next overnight stop. We arrived at the Aire just as there was a brief respite in the bad weather so we decided to stretch our legs with a nice walk before the rain returned. 

Chassiron lighthouse

9th May. Our Motorhomes were buffeted all night with strong winds and rain but this morning the skies had cleared and we woke up to the sounds of elephants, seals and monkeys which was quite novel. We set off for Il d'Oloron where we planned on spending a couple of nights. We headed for the Aire at the top of the island which used to be a campsite and after all the travelling we were relieved to arrive so we could get out for a walk. Jan and Paul are keen walkers so we headed to the lighthouse at Chassiron managing a very healthy 18kms and getting back just as another shower arrived.

12th May. After another lovely day on Il d'Oloron exploring on foot we spent a very noisy night last night at the Ornithological site at Arcachon, kept awake by partygoers and a boy racer on a moped that clearly had nothing better to do at 3am!! We were relieved to arrive at La Teste de Buch this morning to find a lovely quiet Aire and the bonus of blue skies with no more rain clouds in sight. We had picked this Aire for its location to the Dune de Pilat as we were keen to show Paul and Jan this amazing dune which is the tallest in Europe.

La Teste de Buch Aire

As soon as we were settled the bikes came out and we followed an excellent cycle path that ran alongside the Aire and all the way to the dune. The weather was glorious after all the rain and wind of the last few days. As we'd forgotten to bring bike locks Glynn minded the bikes while we climbed to the top of the dune so that Paul and Jan could enjoy the spectacular views across to Arcachon bay. After walking over 40 kms in the last 3 days my poor old calf muscles protested greatly at being made to climb the dune as my leg muscles are cycle fit not walking fit!! I'd really struggled to get out of bed the last 2 mornings as my calves were locked tight and I'd belatedly decided I ought to be doing more stretching!!

Cycling to the Dune de Pilat

After a strenuous climb through the sand we opted for the easier route down via the steps. I was briefly tempted to lay on my side and roll down the dune and then remembered I am no longer a child and healing times are very much longer when you get older. While myself and Jan took a turn to stay with the bikes Paul went back up the dune with Glynn. On the ride back Jan was a little bit nervous of a hill we had descended on the cycle path as she is not a confident cyclist like the rest of us so Glynn got her to practice changing through the gears and she was surprised and delighted to make the short climb with ease.

Jan and Paul climbing the dune

By the time we'd cycled back we had done a very pleasant 32kms so we spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing in the sun. Our plan was to enjoy a lovely walk to the nearby lake in the morning before carrying on our journey to Spain.

15th May. After making good time on our journey south we crossed in to Spain 2 days ago and after spending one night on the camperstop at Jaca we drove to Teruel yesterday. Before settling down for the night we had enjoyed a nice stroll in to the town centre which had some lovely buildings. We also spent a relaxing half hour sat outside a lovely little Spanish bar and we could tell we were in Spain as it was only €5.90 for 2 caña and 2 glasses of wine served in lovely wine glasses ( the bonus was it came with free tapas so Paul and Jan got to experience their first tapas). The weather had improved dramatically since we had crossed the Pyrenees in to Spain and we were now enjoying temperatures of around 28° and not a rain cloud in sight.

Teruel

The motorhome parking area was part of a large car park but as it was stationed opposite a police station we felt very comfortable about spending a night there however we were awoken at 5.30am this morning by a very strange noise that sounded almost like an electric skateboard whizzing up and down the pavement outside. While I tried to work out why anyone would be riding a skateboard up and down at such an early hour Glynn quietly ventured outside to see what was going on and came back with a big grin on his face. He had discovered that the grassy area we had parked next too was maintained by an automatic sprinkler system and the noise we could hear was the spray hitting the back of the motorhome as it rotated around.

Amazing bank door in Teruel

Trying to be as quiet as possible we had to open the front screens so Glynn could see to drive in to a space opposite as it was obvious we would get little sleep while the sprinklers were on. It's impossible not to make a noise firing up a large motorhome at that time of the morning so Glynn just moved to a new space as quickly as possible hoping we hadn't disturbed too many people's sleep!! After grabbing a couple more hours of sleep we were up and ready to move on as our plan was to spend a couple of nights at a lovely site at Betera so that we could spend a day exploring Valencia. The site at Betera was undergoing improvements and a beautiful pool area had been added however it wasn't quite ready to be filled with water so we missed out on a swim but happily accepted the offer to enjoy a free glass of sangria at the bar! After so much travelling since we had left England it was nice to have a free afternoon to relax and enjoy the sunshine so we made the most of it. Occasionally we played a game called Tension in the evenings, girls against guys, and so far the men were beating us 4-1. Tonight we decided to play Chronology, myself and Glynn against Paul and Jan. With a win each we decided to call it quits and get an early night as we knew tomorrow would involve a lot of walking. 

At the City of Arts and Sciences

16th May. The tram station is just a short walk from the camperstop so we set off straight after breakfast to catch the tram in to Valencia. We had already purchased our tickets from the camperstop reception for only €3.10 each. We activated the tickets at a machine on the platform and a brief 30 minute journey later we were in Valencia and heading to explore the beach area. Afterwards we headed towards the marina and the City of Arts and Sciences area which is a beautiful part of Valencia. In spite of having visited it 2 years ago I was excited to be there again to show Paul and Jan why we loved it. In addition I was really excited at taking them to the Fallas museum which is my absolute favourite place in Valencia since I visited it on my first ever trip abroad 28 years ago.

City of Arts and Sciences

After exploring the science area we made the short walk to the Fallas museum and paid €2 to enjoy the fascinating collection of winning ninots dating back to 1934. It is an amazing collection of incredible creations from the Fallas festival that have escaped being burnt on the final day of celebrations by virtue of being pardoned by public vote. They have evolved from the original use of wax, wood and cloth to the current works of art that involve the use of expanded polystyrene and papier-mâché to create the stunning displays depicting humorous scenes and caricatures.

Modern greenhouse 

We have never been in Spain in March to be able to visit the Fallas festival as it takes place however we have been lucky enough to visit the Festival de San Juan in Alicante, held in June every year, which involves the same displays of amazing ninots positioned on street corners throughout the city. After leaving the museum we decided it was time for a well earned break so we found a bar and ordered "bocadillos y caña". Feeling rested we then walked in to the city centre to view the architecture including the beautiful Estación Del Norte, the main train station that was built in 1852. We had walked over 21 kms exploring Valencia so it's hardly a surprise that after catching the tram back we opted for a quiet evening and an early night. Unfortunately on the walk back from the tram Jan lost her balance on the uneven ground and fell heavily on her arm as well as grazing her knee so we were hoping she hadn't done too much damage and would just have a few bruises.

Paul & Jan in the Fallas Museum

17th May. Fun and games on the drive to Calpe today!! The day started off well when we woke up to gorgeous sunshine and we were looking forward to getting to Calpe and being in one place for a few weeks so we could get some serious cycling done. We set off for Calpe and as we were driving round Valencia's ring road Glynn suddenly realised he was in the wrong lane for the non toll route so quickly crossed lanes However it was too late for Paul who was following close behind us so he was stuck on the toll road. Not ideal when he didn't know where he was going so was relying on following us. I messaged Jan and arranged that they would come off at the next junction and wait for us to catch up however poor Paul turned left instead of right when he came off the toll road and ended up heading back towards Valencia. This meant we were now ahead of them so we waited in a lay-by until Paul managed to turn around and catch us up. It was like a comedy of errors but we were now back on track!

Valencia Beach

Unfortunately I wasn't watching the sat nav which decided to play up and send us off the main road at Betera so that we were driving down all the back roads. We had been so busy chatting that Glynn hadn't realised the sat nav had gone wrong until we found ourselves on smaller narrower roads. What should have been a straightforward journey that we have done many times was suddenly anything but. I directed Glynn to get us back on the main road and as I looked up from checking the map I realised he was driving on the wrong side of the road!! He'd come out of a junction and momentarily crossed to the left side of the road. I shouted and he quickly realised his error and moved over just as we got to a bend with a lorry coming towards us.

Coastal walk at Calpe

That was way too close for comfort!! It is very rare that Glynn ever gets confused about which side of the road to be on and we'd had a lucky escape. My poor old heart couldn't take any more so I was pleased and relieved when we finally arrived at Mediterraneo Camperstop. After settling in we went for a walk to show Paul and Jan the lovely beaches at Calpe and get some shopping in. After dinner we played Sequence. Myself and Jan beat the men in the first game so we thought we'd better let them win the second game so that they didn't sulk!! Oh and unsurprisingly the evening involved wine!! After the rather stressful drive from Betera a well earned glass of wine or two was definitely on the agenda!!

19th May. This morning we went for a ride with the Calpe U3A cycle club. Jan is not a confident cyclist so it was myself, Glynn and Paul that met them for a lovely ride to Moraira.

Coffee break at Moraira

It was a nice route to break us in gently as there aren't any particularly steep climbs and it was the first decent ride on our new road bikes. It certainly felt a lot easier than the hybrids and was a very pleasant 30km ride. After lunch we decided to re-balance our hamstrings by going for a lovely long walk along the coastal path before spending the rest of the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the sunshine. With Paul and Jan being keen walkers we have been doing more walking than we've ever done and our calf muscles have finally stopped protesting so much. We've had some hilarious mornings trying to get out of bed with our calf muscles so tight we struggled to even get down the three steps from the bedroom area. 

22nd May. After spending the last 2 days doing lots of walking we were back on the bikes today for another U3A ride.

Cycling in Calpe

We took the main road up towards Benissa before turning off in to the Jalon Valley, past Lliber and then carried on to Senija and then across the top of Benissa and down through Pedromala coming back in to Calpe on the back roads. It was a fabulous ride and a much greater test on our fitness however I experienced the worst attack of hay fever I have suffered since I was a child. Now I have a small confession to make here: When I was a child if I wanted a day off school because I hadn't done my homework or just didn't want to go I would go over to the hayfield opposite our house and sit amongst the hay rubbing my eyes as this would result in my eyes almost closing up and a severe attack of hay fever. It was a foolproof way to get a day off as it would take a couple of days before I could see properly again.

Cycling through the olive groves

As an adult I had all but grown out of hay fever (and the urge to sit in hayfields to get out of doing something) and now I only ever suffered with the occasional cold type symptoms however today I felt like that child sitting in the hayfield again. During the ride my throat started to itch really badly and my eyes were itching and streaming. I was struggling with my breathing and I wasn't sure if this was from a lack of fitness on the climbs or from the severe hay fever attack I was experiencing. Luckily I had some anti-histamine tablets in our medical box so guess where I headed the minute we got back!! After lunch we headed over to Mercadona for some shopping and discovered they had some cava at only €1.99 so we bought a brut and a demi-sec and enjoyed a fun evening playing Tension and testing the 2 cavas. The brut won our votes and the men won the Tension!! 

View of Calpe from Pinos

26th May. Over the last 3 days we've had some mixed weather with rain on and off but we managed to do a ride to Pinos that tested my climbing ability with a nice 10% gradient and we also managed a couple of hours on the beach relaxing during a sunny break in the weather. Today the sun was fully back in place so we did a great ride up to Benissa and I managed to knock 2 minutes off my fastest time. After lunch we did a nice easy ride through the olive groves between Calpe and the N332 carriageway so that Jan could join us. It's a nice scenic route with little traffic and although it's largely a flat ride there is a brief but very painful 16% climb that I have never made before. It's so steep that it's difficult to even walk up so I was absolutely delighted when I made it up without stopping. My lungs were burning and my legs were hurting but I did it although I could have done with an oxygen tank for a while afterwards. The road bikes definitely make a difference to our cycling ability. 

Benidorm Old Town area

27th May. We decided to take a break from cycling and have a day trip to Benidorm. Although we've cycled there a few times it's not a route that Jan would feel safe on as it means cycling the edge of the busy N332 carriageway for most of the route. We got off to a good start when we got on the bus at the station and it promptly broke down so we had to wait for the next bus. When we got to Benidorm we walked along the promenade and stopped to watch a choir singing on the beach. Benidorm is too busy for me on a regular basis but it's lovely to visit for a day. We headed in to the old town area which is really nice before deciding it was lunch time.

Amazing tapas selection

In the old town area the Calle Santa Domingo is known as tapas alley and there are several smaller side streets that also have tapas bars. We were spoilt for choice but eventually settled on a restaurant with a very tempting display of tapas and enjoyed a lovely lunch washed down with wine and beer. We had a great day out, walking over 12kms, and after catching the bus back to Calpe we decided a quick visit to see Mick and Chris at Tres Palmeras was in order before heading home for a quiet night in. 

Enjoying our tapas

30th May. I have continued to suffer the worst hay fever I have experienced since I was a child. The anti-histamine tablets that I have been taking have caused extreme fatigue which is not ideal for cycling but on the plus side I have slept deeply and not woken up early for days. I even had to leave Glynn and Paul to do a ride to Benissa without me 2 days ago as I was too tired to join them. Unlike the U.K. where you can pick up cheap tablets from the supermarket you have to go the pharmacy in Spain to even get paracetamol. I was shocked that it cost me €12.80 for a pack of 20 non-drowsy anti-histamine tablets and the annoying thing was that they did little to improve the chronic symptoms I was experiencing. Luckily our friends Clive and Mary are arriving in Calpe soon so they are bringing me a supply of non-drowsy tablets that will hopefully do the trick.

Torre de la Horadada with Chris & John

Today we were heading south to Cuesta Blanca so we stopped off at Torre de la Horadada to have lunch with our friends Chris and John whom we see in Goa every winter. It's a beautiful area and we enjoyed a lovely walk along the promenade in glorious sunshine before we bade them farewell to head to our next destination. We've stayed at Cuesta Blanca twice before and it's a great little camperstop with a pool that is owned by a lovely Dutch couple. Myself and Jan enjoyed the last of the afternoon sun by swimming in the pool but Glynn declined to join us as he can't contemplate water that is below about 30° so he dipped a toe and declared it way too cold for him. 

Lake Negratin

31st May. After a lovely day of cycling around the area yesterday we headed further south today to meet our friends Sean and Karen. We see them every year in Goa and as they also have a motorhome and were staying near Lake Negratin we had arranged to all meet up at a campsite adjacent to lake. Negratin is one of the largest freshwater reservoirs in Andalusia and sits side by side with Mount Jabalcón which was clearly visible for miles as we travelled towards it. Our first glimpse of the lake as we left the carriageway and navigated the minor road leading to the campsite was breathtaking. The water was the most stunning shade of blue and the lake looked vast with rugged cliffs on its northern banks and a stony beach area on the southern side.

Paella anyone?

Karen and Sean have a beautiful Shar-Pei dog called Nancy who is blind but copes with her lack of sight really well. Once we had all settled on our pitches we wandered down to the lake so that Nancy could get some exercise and we could enjoy the amazing scenery and dip our toes in the water. It's definitely a place I would love to come back to with a kayak. After our walk we headed back and whilst I made a giant paella Karen introduced us to the delights of parma violet gin. Oh my word, it was gorgeous!! What a great evening, paella and various salad dishes washed down with gin for the girls and beer for the boys while we caught up on all our news. What a fantastic way to end the month. 

Our plan for June is to head back to Calpe initially to take advantage of the incredible cycling opportunities the area offers and then we will gradually head north. With all the travelling we've only managed to cycle 220 kms but hopefully June will allow the opportunity to get a lot more cycling done before it gets too hot. Paul and Jan will be heading home mid June as Paul is entered in to a cycle race back in Wales at the beginning of July so the rides around Calpe will act as a good training ground to prepare him for those Welsh hills. 

Lake Negratin

Lake Negratin

Valencia Train Station

Valencia Bullring

Fallas museum

Fallas Museum

Jan, Karen and me at the lake

City of Arts and Sciences

City of Arts and Sciences

City of Arts and Sciences

The men in charge of directions!!

Valencia Beach

Amazing sand art

Nancy

Enjoying the parma violet vodka

Sean, Glynn and Paul

Cheers!!

The view from Cuesta Blanca camperstop

Benidorm Old Town

Benidorm

Benidorm

At the base of Calpe Rock

Moraira

Heading in to the Pyrenees

The lake at La Teste de Buch

view of Arcachon bay from Dune de Pilat

Jan & Paul in Benidorm