Spain 22 (Week Ten)

Week 10 and we’re doing a Truss (a u-turn) and on the Saturday we started our meander back north and slowly homeward bound. Decided to go back to Bonterra at Benicasim for a couple of nights to start our journey. It did take us all day to leave though with shopping and a problem with a tyre refusing to inflate causing me to seek a garage, & with the aid of Google, getting it checked out; all ok. A new experience.

Continuing with language entertainment on Saturday evening, after a lovely catch up over drinks with John & Anne from the site in Javea who have also come here for a while, we decided to eat out in

town and I’d wanted to try “Vin Up” which always seemed popular. We waited for a table and then spent an hour thoroughly confused by the process, we found out you go inside and choose the pre prepared dishes. These are essentially posh cobs, wraps and butties etc, with no idea what filling was in them without begging for help. A friendly English speaking waitress guided us, but I was determined to at least try to ask in Spanish. Once dishes are selected they get cooked and bought to your table; ours was 58 - I knew this was “cincuenta y ocho” but for some reason all I could say was “cinquecento” (which is a small fiat) repeatedly and increasingly loudly getting more and more frustrated, no idea why; she eventually gave up and just found us. A strange meal to be fair; black sausage and egg on a wholemeal cob (nice) an ordinary jamon bocadillo and as a final & rather unpleasant surprise a strong blue cheese wrap, which to be fair I persevered with. (Tracey must promise not to tell her mum, as each year I get a pack of strong blue cheese for Xmas and I can’t stand the stuff! Haven’t the heart to tell her). Our 2 days in Benicasim finished pleasantly with a cycle ride down to Gau in more comfortable temperatures than last time, notably more bars and restaurants have closed down as the season ending.

Looking back at our last week in Javea; we’ve enjoyed a hilly walk up to the windmills dotted on the edge of the Montgo national park and drooled at the huge, expensive villas hanging off the steep hillside; some traditional some “Grand Design” and reminiscent of Thunderbirds in their style. We took to our bikes to do the “parks” circuit, unsuccessfully tbf, as we tried to follow the directions in reverse- gave up and went to the Arenal for a toastie instead. Friday evening we had a fabulous, simple Tapas meal in the atmospheric old town at Bar Imperial; my attempt at speaking in Spanish was much more appreciated here and I glowed in being complemented. The beers, wine and free shots probably helped.

Camping Javea ebbed and flowed in its occupancy, we were particularly wound up by a pair of English twats who thought it was ok to openly take their 2 precious King Charles Cavaliers for a shit on occupied pitches and invite themselves onto ours when we were clearly busy to ask frankly stupid questions and talk shit. We regretted commenting to another couple with a trailer tent that we had one some years ago; he immediately said I bet it wasn’t a “Dandy” he said proudly pointing at the heap of 40 year old faded canvas they were staying in. They were ex vets, so loaded I’m sure. He was equally self congratulatory telling us his friend wasted £65k on a Motorhome only to die a week later; he was pissing himself telling us, thought it was hilarious - we decided not to walk by the Dandy Dickhead again. Bizarrely here in Benicasim a woman walking

by the pitch spotted Daisy and asked how we keep her on our pitch; did we use an electric collar? W

We’ve enjoyed our 30 night stay in Javea (not least it was €20 per night all in), site is well located to easily walk to the 3 contrasting areas; the quaint and friendly old town, the port with its sunny, memorable shimmering sea views over a simple morning coffee or evening Muy, muy bien vino, and the more commercial Arenal. It’s also a great position for cycling and visiting the surrounding areas and countryside. We’ll be back, but we need to remember earplugs to counter the barking dogs in the night; as well as the occasional twat.