Tuesday 23rd May (Day 29)
Another lovely day in prospect around 28 degrees forecast with no clouds at all. We had a slower than slow start and it was not until past 11.00am that we ventured on our cycles into L'Ampollo. Again a good cycle route. The harbour area was nice but held little for us to do so we continued cycling on and out the other side of town. We arrived at a small town / village Cap Roig, a suburb of L'Ampollo. However, it was very up market. Lovely houses with bougainvillea growing up them. We then saw a lovely bay and might return tomorrow to try it. Back into town for a beer and then some reading before lunch at the site. God it was hot! It was not until gone 5.00pm that we ventured onto the beach. We settled down and 20m away was Rene and Carol from the other end of our road at home! We had a chat and they returned into the site. Again a 6.00pm swim, this time joined by Chris. A shower and then a stroll into town for a meal. Having looked at most (all) restaurants we opted for 'Casa David'. We then had an enjoyable shared meal; Moules and frites followed by duck breast and berries and with a Crema Catalan (type of crime Brulee) to finish. A stroll back along the sea front with temperatures still in the mid 20's; an excellent end to the day.
Wednesday 24th May (Day 30)
Market Day; that makes a change. After breakfast we cycled to town and went to the market, probably the smallest to date. Chris has been after a handbag; the usual specifics that a woman wants; thin strap, not too large, not too small, pocket for phone, enough room for purse, glass case and (at a push) camera, oh and preferably blue not black. We have visited lots of stall to date without success but this little market excelled itself and the said item was located and a bargain at €6! Then a coffee to celebrate before some food shopping and back to the motorhome. Here we sat and enjoyed the weather until lunch. The afternoon plan was a cycle ride to Cap Roig to a lovely bay we had come upon by chance. However it was just too hot so a slow walk down to the beach by the site. Here we chatted to our neighbours from home and around 5.45pm I went for a swim in the sea. It would have been earlier but I found quite a few jellyfish and,not knowing if they stung (do they all?) I waited until there were much fewer around. A shower and then a laze for our last evening at this site - at least for the present.
Thursday 25th May (Day 31)
Well after breakfast we said goodbye to both our neighbours (around us) and our neighbours from home. Then after a fairly major shop, with issues trying to park, we were off to our next location. We had decided to move away from the sea and went to Morella. It is about 50km inland and as far removed from our previous stops as can be imagined. We had a great drive into the mountains arriving at the town at over 1000m altitude. So lots of hairpin bends and views. One thing of note on this route there were no 'working ladies' with the shortest of skirts (well big belts) and lots of cleavage on show waiting on white plastic chairs in the middle of nowhere hoping for business and, if the empty chairs were an indicator, getting a reasonable trade. These ladies have been a feature for most of the Spanish roads. Anyway back to Morella, the crown of the town is the castle which was originally built by Muslims in the 9th century. In the 12th century it was conquered, peaceably, on behalf of the Spanish King and since then both Muslims and Christians have lived in harmony. The town is all narrow lanes and passage ways. They have many festivals throughout the year and 8m tall figures representing the Christians and Muslims have pride of place in the processions. A trip to the castle in 30 degrees was undertaken before a beer (the cheapest to date two beers €3) and back to the motorhome for a laze and dinner. Only we could do a fish pie in the oven in 25+ degree heat but it was smashing!
Friday 26th May (Day 32)
Being so high in the mountains it cooled nicely for our sleep. That said we were still the last of the five motorhomes to leave. Back to the sea for some laundry washing and a last few days of the seaside and on an ACSI site. We were going to Benicassim about a two hours drive - again a great drive back down the mountains by a different route from yesterday. We even crossed from the west to the east of the Greenwich Meridian. Eventually we arrive in Benicassim and, as I am about to turn into a site called 'Bonterra Park', Chris says "I thought we were going to the other site here to try it." So we did which was about 1km away. Well it was a five star site at the same price as Bonterra Park but looked like, well, sad is the politest phrase. So we left and returned to Bonterra Park which some have nicknamed 'ACSI Snowbirds'. This is because through a company called ACSI you get cheap site rates and 'snowbirds' because loads, and I mean loads, of Brits come here often for four, five or six months to escape the British winter. Consequently, it is full of British more than anywhere we have been to date. That said it is a site with good amenities, well maintained and in a convenient location. We set up, had lunch and then in 35 degrees set of on a cycle ride. They have a green route for cycles nearby which is nice. We went south through the town, into the countryside, down to the beach and along the sea front back. A 12 mile cycle loop with a beer stop. Back at the site we had a swim to cool off in the pool before a BBQ. Then we spent a pleasant couple of hours chatting to the next door neighbour's before going to bed abut 11.30pm.
Saturday 27th May (Day 33)
Another hot one is looking likely (indeed it ended up around 30 degrees). After a simple breakfast we did the washing and waited around until most of it was dry. Then we opted for a cycle ride in the different direction to yesterday. So another 'green' cycle ride route to Opressa. A lovely cycle ride along a disused railway track with tunnels and culverts, which two years ago was almost deserted. This time it was quite busy. Anyway we arrived and stopped at at bar for a beer and tapas while looking over the sandy bay and 'people watching'. An hour or so passed swiftly and then we cycled back. Not sure how both ways were up hill and with the wind in our faces but that seemed to be the case. (This for us is called the 'Tissington Factor' as we first experienced this phenomenon on the Tissington Trail in the UK.) A 12 mile return cycle. Then a cycle into town - which was closed for the siesta. A swim in the pool and 'happy hour' drink followed by another visit to the town (still not great) and then a BBQ. For the evening we had our 'neighbours', Steve and Elaine, around for a drink and a chat and again time swiftly passed and it was gone 11.00pm before we knew it. Our plan, such as it is, will be to move off tomorrow and visit a few less well known places in the Spanish interior, but who knows? Certainly not me!
Sunday 28th May (Day 34)
Over the last couple of days our neighbour's, Steve and Elaine from 'north of Birmingham / junction 11 of the M6' have been a good couple to chat with. (He is ex-police so a bit of 'swinging the blue lamp' went on.) So at 10.30am, we said our goodbyes and were off. Again leaving the 'kiss me quick / seaside' Spain for the interior. We did just empty our water before leaving the site and, bloody hell, the door lock broke again!!! This time you could not open it from the outside at all. Anyway before leaving home a motorhome magazine arrived on our doorstep and it had a suggested route and places to visit that looked a bit different. So we were off to go along the northern half of it. So a 200km drive to Albarracin, of which all but 30km was motorway. One part of the journey was 40km without a bend in the road - boring! The approach to Albarracin was quite wild, red rocks steep gullys and a Spaghetti Western feel. Albarracin Itself is a hilltop town and a destination for coach trips and with the good weather we thought there would be a lot of tourists. On our arrival we first searched for the community centre to free camp. We eventually found it by a 13m long dinosaur and parked up alone. Having lunched we walked into town, not before attacking the broken door and somehow fixing it. The town was an absolute delight. It was originally an independent state and has a history going back a long time. It is a National Monument and has been since the 1960's and is stated as being one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. It comprises of steep narrow cobbled streets; over hanging buildings almost with their roofs touching, old lights, the castle walls, a river walk, and no crowds; just brilliant. The shade offered by the buildings was very welcome with the 25 degree heat. We then stopped at a hotel and sat out with a beer people watching. We retired to the motorhome to find police vehicles and about 60 / 70 cyclists from 4 years of age up. As we got near a police car with blue light flashing moved off and soon after all the rest on their cycles. About 45 minutes later they all returned and went into / stood outside the Community Centre to chat and drink. Meanwhile the children cycled around the building. We moved as they were not all in good control of their cycles and there was a downward bit 'aimed' at us. We only moved backwards 20m or so but we were out of the danger zone. Back into town in the evening for a meal. Sunday; most restaurants were shut. Eventually we found one open and had a great meal for about €30. Back at the motorhome we were still the only ones stopping until about 10.00pm when two more motorhomes came to join us, one Swiss and the other Spanish. We will be returning to Albarracin tomorrow to finish off our tour.
Monday 29th May (Day 35)
Well a day for superlatives. After breakfast we walked into town and went to the guidas Information (guides 'shop'). Here we booked two tickets to have a guided tour of the cathedral of El Salvador it was to be in Spanish! The cathedral dates back to the 12th Century but the 16th century saw much change, addition and alteration. However we had a half hour a wait so went to a local cafe for a coffee. We were next to a Tabac and the owners opened up and more Spanish the old man could not have been. While there two people, Malcolm and Nita Webster, from the previous site crossed the square and we started chatting. They then bought two tickets for the cathedral tour at 10.30am and off we went with the guide. As we got inside a man turned up who spoke 'a little English'. He was brilliant. The cathedral had been, and is being renovated, and he was very proud and passionate about it. The cathedral was ab-so-lute-ly fantastic. He showed us wooden panels that slid open to reveal 'saints bones', took us to other places not on the 'tour' and it was great. I could go on and on. Two things I will mention; One a lot of plaster was removed revealing paintings and doors and windows and; two the work revealed steps going down to a lower floor and then to another floor. This had holes in it as below this (along way) was the river and the clerical people used the hole as a toilet. We then walked to the castle on the hill which afforded great views before returning to the main square for a beer and, subsequently, tapas for lunch. We then said our goodbyes and walked back to the motorhome for a three hour journey to Calatayud.Here we parked up in the stopover and went for a walk. We experienced some serious deja vu. We eventually looked at some old blogs and realised we were here in 2014 on a Monday when most things were shut but thought a re-visit was needed - so here we are. We went out for a stroll to a barbers where Tony gave me a much needed cut and then to a church San Juan el Real. After the morning visit in Albarracin this was a so-so place even with four Goya frescos above the nave. Back to the motorhome to plan tomorrow , chill and eat.
