Thursday 29th November

We have now arrived at La Manga having left the site at Almafra on the 27th. We had a lovely trip down via Murcia with sunshine the whole way. This morning we have woken to quite a breeze but still a blue sky and sun. A whole lot better than the UK has been having if the news we have picked up on the TV is right with the SW of England suffering again from flooding etc.

Wednesday, we are off on a walk headed up 'Mar Menor beaches and the Mediterranean' so should be quite interesting. A quiz this evening means we need to raise a few other people to form a team.

A breezy day on the Mar Menor beach

We had a lovely walk in the sunshine but the breeze kept the edge off the temperature. we got together with some other people for the quiz and managed to come third out of eleven teams so no disgrace there for us.

Thursday saw us have our first Spanish lesson followed by a game or two of Boules. Thirty or so people turned up so all six pitches were in use. It's funny how much we have missed the spirit that everyone has around the boules area and a good enjoyment for the game. Perhaps with practise we may even get better at it, who knows.

Thursday 22nd November

Well, the good weather is still with us and today we have had sunshine from when we got up until it got dark a short while ago. I went off on a led cycle ride to Altea along the coast a little way, returning via Albir where we walked to visit a market on Sunday. Tonight we have a quiz on site so we are to go to that and see how we get on. As we are spending more time at this site it is growing on us so I am sure we will return to the area at some time, who knows when.

We came joint second at the quiz and won 3 Euros which, split between the six in the team didn't cover the beer but helped a little.

Thursday saw us on a walk to the Faro (lighthouse) at Albir. Situated on a headland overlooking the bay at 112m above the sea it gives commanding views across the water which was a lovely turquoise colour in the sunshine that we experienced. Although we had been told beforehand that the walk was about three miles each way someone had a GPS on their phone which told them we had covered four and a half miles when we reached the Faros so probably about ten miles by the time we returned via a meandering route. A lovely walk though. 

Walking to the Faros D'Albir (at summit)

View across the bay at Albir

Dave resting part way on the walk

Sue celebrating arriving at the Faros

Thursday night has a whist drive on site that we intend to go on and try our luck. Hopefully there won't be too many serious players there otherwise we may just upset them with our play.

Sunday 18th November

From Brockenhurst we had a very easy journey to board our ferry at Portsmouth. We left the site just after 18.00 and were at Portsmouth about an hour later, having put some fuel in at a Morrisons on the way. Despite being told that we were being boarded straight away on our arrival it was some two and a half hours later that we embarked and the ferry left port nearly an hour late.

We woke to a bright sunny morning for our arrival at Roscoff where we docked for about an hour to allow the change of crew, fuelling and restocking with food etc. Off we went on yet another flat calm crossing of the Bay of Biscay. After a second night on board we arrived at Santander as the sun came up and were quickly unloaded. We headed to Zaragoza for our first night in Spain as it almost exactly split our journey to the Mediterranean coast in half. We had lovely weather and the autumn colours of the vines as we crossed both the Rioja and Navarra wine regions we emphasised by the glorious blue sky.

Caravan in Zaragoza whose owner was taking no chances with their awning in any winds

A night at Zaragoza brought us to Sunday morning and more sunshine. This was not to last however and as we headed south on the road to Valencia it clouded over and started to rain, not what we expected. This was not the main thing on our minds as we had forgotten that most businesses do not open on a Sunday in Spain and that included garages and filling stations. With the needle of the fuel gauge getting ever closer to the red section we were getting concerned to say the least. Eventually we saw a sign for fuel and pulled off the road to find that we had been directed to an automatic fuel pump on a garage forecourt with instructions on how to operate only in Spanish...... As I finally got a message stating 'transaction complete' (at least the Spanish equivalent) a Spanish driver came to use the adjoining pump and asked if I was OK, a shame he hadn't come in five minutes earlier..

We continued on our way and after crossing a most barren and empty part of Spain took a turning that lead to our destination at Benicassim, just North of Valencia. Rain continued on and off for the rest of the day but we managed a walk along the seafront and back through the town, a delightful unspoiled area that retains a lot of old Spain charm.

Monday we had chores to do like shopping, washing, cleaning the van etc but I did manage to cycle along the coast (a Via Verde) for a few miles enjoying the sunshine that has returned and the beautiful turquoise waters of Mediterranean here.

BBQ'd  Tuna steaks with salad washed down with a glass of wine followed by coconut ice cream in a coconut shell while sitting in the sun  reminded us of why we have come to Spain for the winter.

For a couple of days now the weather has been wet with occasional sunshine. It's saving grace is the fact that the temperature is still very comfortable so a T shirt is ample when out and about. Reading, cycling, walking, cooking have been our pastimes and it has been lovely just to chill out and do nothing in particular. We have discovered a delicious pineapple ice cream that comes served in hollowed out half pineapples/ This is an alternative to the coconut ice cream contained in coconut shells we discovered last time we were here. Sometimes it's just too difficult to decide which is the most delicious.

Saturday saw us leaving Benicassim and what a day to pack up and travel. Rain was coming down in copious quantities and I eventually gave up trying to keep dry and just came to the decision that I would change all my clothes once we were all packed up. Water was flowing down the roads on the site and if you chose to cross it was at your own risk as crocks disappeared beneath the torrent called a road.

We left site and headed towards Alicante and within ten minutes the sun had come out. You just can't win 'em all.  After taking one wrong turning we arrived at our next site called Almafra at the back of Benidorm but far enough away not to be tarred with that towns reputation. Where we are is actually quite nice, situated between the sea and the mountains. Sue is quite happy today as we also have a satellite tv link that allows BBC1 so she can catch up on the Strictly Come Dancing results. Weather today has been much better, mid 20s and sun with clear blue skies.

It can't last of course.

More Time on her pitch near Benidorm with mountains in background

Wednesday 7th November

Since my last entry on here we have been quite busy. While staying on the farm at Rockbeare I had my Flu jab before moving the MH on to Cofton Park site at Dawlish. Unfortunately the farm was full on several days that we had intended staying so we booked into the Dawlish site as a plan B. While here I had my final hospital appointment before heading off to Spain and my blood levels were all OK so the consultant was quite happy for the extended period to the next appointment in May 2013. In the evening after the hospital we visited Teignmouth to meet up with friends who were having an evening bbq before watching the firework display at the local Rugby club. It was too cold for us so we left before the fireworks started after saying farewell to our mates.

Tuesday saw us on the move again and we are now at a Caravan Club site at Brockenhurst in the New Forest. We had a walk into the village this morning across the heathland surrounding the site, very pleasant. In the village we bought supplies for a couple of days meals. In the butchers we could have had (besides the usual) pheasant, pigeon, partridge, quail, rabbit and many others. we decided on venison and now have the slow cooker on with dinner in it.

New Forest ponies just a few steps from our pitch

Tempting invite at a thatched restaurant in Brockenhurst

Tomorrow (Thursday) we are staying on the site until early evening before heading off to Portsmouth for the ferrys 22.00 departure. Fingers crossed for a smooth crossing.