France/Spain 2022 (Week Four)

What do I even begin to write in a week in which our Queen passed away? Everyone will remember where they were when they heard the news on that Thursday afternoon, we were sat outside the van in the sunshine chatting with our new friends over a beer when it broke. I went over to tell the lady and lord of the manor, who were clearly unaware as unconnected. That evening and in the following days, life went on and we were touched by the sincere condolences and warmth shown towards the UK by bar and restaurant staff. Particularly memorable was a young waiter at a restaurant on the outskirts of Castellon, who we thought were calling all English “simple” whereas he was actually giving our Country sympathy from theirs. A simple, warm and genuine gesture.

I mentioned our new friends, this being Richard and Sarah in the opposite van, who turn out to be from Hilton (& Sarah originally from Breadsall); you just can’t go anywhere! We’ve had a good laugh with this friendly couple, and we gelled from the outset. They have a similar mindset to us with regard to the cliques on the site, more on that later. It’s been lovely to have a good laugh over a few beers in the afternoon by our respective vans, and also a few late evenings in bars in town. It’s been lovely to share stories, and feel comfortable and relaxed. Richard has many tales of his years in retail, and we both feel we’ve probably seen Sarah as she’s worked in stores we’d frequented when the kids were little, and also in banking near Tracey. We also have a few school friends in common, but probably more.

Whilst our German neighbours seem to watch TV all day & bizarrely check their blood pressure hourly, I’m sure we’ve equally disturbed the peace at beer o’clock (the sound all around us of cans being opened) as we’ve exchanged stories and laughs with Richard and Sarah across the road.

We share a similar sense of humour and my response to his views of Meghan of “she speaks very highly of you” was not without risk of offending but happily was met with laughs and continued giggling. I knew we’d be ok. I was also able to get away with saying he must have looked like a Quality Street as he told us the story of picking a new suit for a new banking job, being colour blind he turned up as new boy in a bright purple shirt. I would have loved to have met his Dad, retired at 87 (1987, not aged 87 as we thought) and a real character by the sound of it. Loved his recollection of his Barnsley sayings (Forfar 5 Fife 4) which their granddaughter delighted in repeating. We chuckled over my stories always starting with There’s a Guy….who swears his Elvis, last seen in Castleton in a chip shop. I enjoyed telling of the quirks of my parents, the amazement from my Dad over the coincidence of Father in Laws private reg plate being the same as his initials and my Mum and her Sister watching their plane leave from Majorca without them. Richards recall of an initiative from the US being imposed in greeting shoppers in the UK imposing a basket on them, was met with a Feck Off by bemused locals. Equally Sarah was happy to chat away with us both, with her tales of her trademark “Excuse me..” when an injustice is spotted. She’s a sporty person, excelling in badminton to a high standard in her past. Friends in common more likely with a sports background.

It’s also been fun to get to be known better in the town in our small group; and “Juan” at our favourite bar has been good sport in teaching the proper pronouncing of his name. Richard enjoying a generous half pint measure of Bailey’s as one for the road, from our other friendly barman; yet to find his name but we got a free bottle of water from him as an apology for forgetting us. “Hwan” also proudly showed us photos of his dog, as Daisy continues to draw fuss. So much so, a waitress we’d spoken to spotted us whilst exercising her 2 pups in the dog enclosure and shouted us over to say hello. There’s no chance I was going in to “play” with the 2 giant drooling American Pit Bulls she had, Daisy tentatively sniffing through the wire mesh probably felt the same.

The week otherwise has been filled with leisurely morning walks into the town for coffee, and on one occasion a free croque monsieur (€3 in total!), a visit to the Thursday market (Tracey lavishly buying 3 dresses) and cycle rides in both directions. One of these rides took us toward Castellon for an excellent Tapas of Fried Anchovies, Burritos and crusty bread and anotherto a dog friendly beach a F/B contact had told us of; bit of a rocky building site of a beach, dogs seem not particularly welcome by local authorities, but Daisy at least got a swim as did I. She then spent the afternoon spectacularly ejecting from both ends the sea water she’d swallowed. It was impossible to get her off the pitch and onto the off site dog area before these evacuations; we broke the rules and sit awaiting punishment or banishment from the site. Aside from shoving a cork in, we had little choice.

Our new found friends were right in their warning that the cliques would grow as more English migrated in; there are clear groups and if you’re in; then you’re in…& you may not want to be. We’ve seen the lord and lady seemingly dropped by our neighbours who prior to that had spent time together, no doubt more choice friends arrived as we’d spotted them in larger groups To be fair, they’ve become more sociable and enjoy making a fuss of Daisy.

The couple behind us now known as a miserable Wallace/Creature Comforts turtle get more cheerless each day; this morning I greeted him “good morning, nice day” Wallace retorted it isn’t, it’s too hot. Feck knows why they bothered coming, should have gone to Scotland; it’s raining, windy, cold and miserable. They’d fit right in. Met a chap with a WCS like Daisy the other day, world expert in gun dog training - I had to stop myself saying something when he beckoned his over “give me your nose” he commanded; dog just stood and stared at him. Wife of same chap next day had a mishap with her electric bike outside the supermarket, it fell over but as people went to help it reared up, popping wheelies and heading off down the pavement itself as the control must have jammed. No harm done, but entertaining.

A penny had also dropped for me, a lot of these people talk to one another on a Facebook group, I may need to temper where I publish this blog as I see faces I recognise from their posts. I fear it may be too late, and I fully expect to be outed, tyres slashed, van graffitied - I’m sure I heard someone say disapprovingly “that’s Martin” as a group walked by. Oops

The week ended with a cracking but hot & sweaty, cycle to Desierto de las Palmas / Desert de les Palmes. A steep climb full of hairpin bends and cracking views, height 422m. Battery power was definitely appreciated, shameless cheating but effort still needed ?? This was followed by a lovely downhill section through el Refuji, with a delay as the road was closed due to a procession of 100’s of Harleys, then the coastal track back into Benicasim.

We’re also delighted that white smoke has been seen from both vans, numbers to be exchanged and we’re planning on meeting up with Rich and Sarah on our return home, as sadly they move on next week. Thank Feck for that, I was just thinking about putting my windbreak up ??