Calpe to Costa Brava

Tues:  13^th May. We are in a town called Calpe in a lovely camp and as today was a celebration day, with many messages from family and friends, it became an ‘eating out’ day (apart from our yoghurt and cereal breakfast).  We went in search of f.a. cream cakes, all to no avail as the Spanish (and Portuguese for that matter) seem to favour pastries and/or doughnut style cakes but we strolled around the town and to the seafront

where we selected a café/bar from the many available for a light lunch, choosing a tasting plate of 8 tapas which we shared and washed down with a glass of white wine (me) and beer (him).

Neither of us had any room for afters at that time, so continued our strolling along the promenade, admiring the fantastic sand village’ creation a guy was building on the beach

until after a suitable interval, we felt the urge to devour one of the ice-cream sundaes advertised at almost every café on the waterfront.

A cycle ride to the port where the fishermen’s nets were drying in the sunshine

and an afternoon relaxing filled in the time until we were once again ready to eat, this time choosing a paella to share, with a glass each of red wine.  We ploughed in to the paella before we realised we hadn’t taken its photo

which is why it’s not all there!

A splendid day despite the fact that it was overcast and cool in the afternoon, and our planned swim in the pool and/or beach didn’t eventuate.

Wed:  14^th May.  It was raining early this morning but we set off in the direction of Valencia, leaving the town of Calpe, with the aid of a local policeman,

for what was probably the least interesting drive we’ve experienced in Spain.  The rain stopped and the sun came out and it wasn’t a long drive though to the campsite that we had selected at Pinedo, which, upon inspection, we pronounced below average so continued on to Valencia, which we drove through

 

to another campsite, at Pucal, which we found to be only slightly more acceptable than the previous one, so pushed on to the third choice, at Benicassim…in all, a drive of about 250kms when we had planned to do only about 70, but this time to a well above average campsite.  It’s about 300 metres to the beach, a little further to the town, has a supermarket opposite, has an excellent swimming pool which we tested this afternoon and after dinner, we rode the bikes along the promenade. 

A lovely ride until, on the way back to camp, slowing down to give way to a couple of cyclists, I lost my balance and fell, taking some skin off my knee and foot and injuring my pride!  The cyclists, an older couple and a young woman all rushed to my aid, helped me up and rushed off to alert Mike who hadn’t realised what had happened.  The grazes are stinging and sore but I’m sure I’ll survive!

Thurs:  15^th May.  The injuries are much improved after a good night’s sleep.  The weather is gorgeous and we’re having a day of rest and relaxation.  We’ve ridden along the cycle path (which used to be the old railway line in years gone by

to the markets and bought peaches, nectarines, apricots and pears to which Mike has added an orange and banana in a huge fruit salad and found a café which actually had real f.a. cream cakes!  We availed ourselves of two of these delights

and a coffee each before riding back to camp.  I find it’s easier to ride at present than to walk!