Another dismal day

This must be our worst trip for weather. We seem to have 2 good days and then 2 dreary days, with the sequence continuing throughout the holiday. Yesterday was dull until 4pm when it went sunny. Today it rained all morning, stopping for about 3 hours, allowing us to walk to Altea. Tomorrow's likely to be warm and sunny. On a positive note we are enjoying our choice of wines, the reds are still winning and playing well and this blog is reaching record viewing figures with 236 viewings yesterday. Maybe people are gloating at the poor weather.

Wines by the Mile. A motorhomers personal choice.

For those of us who can't resist a good buy here are two reds presently on sale in Lidl Spain Fina La Cruz Reserva 2017 (DO Ribera del Duero). Made with the Tempranillo grape. To me it seemed to be smooth on the palate and benefiting from its time in oak barrels. At 8.99 euros it might be outside the budget of some but I would recommend just giving this a go or take a bottle home for that special occasion. For the budget conscious, and why wouldn't you be when there are so many good value wines about in Spain, I would try the Young Gamellón 2020 from theJumilla.region of spain. Made from the Monastrell /Syrah grape For a young wine it's quite full bodied and flavoursome. Price: 2.49 euros.. Expect to pay over £7 in the uk

Mr Piano Man

Lovely sunny morning so cycled down to Altea not far but managed to loose Barbara. Took us 45 mins to find each other. Nice coffee and returned to site. It clouded over so no beach. Lots of people on the site so like Clff at Wimbledon I entertained them. Now where did all those Dutch and Germans go to???

Albir

After a pleasant Sunday afternoon that saw me back swimming in the warm sunshine but not too warm sea, we watched the Derby match that saw Liverpool rise to a 2.0 victory and Everton drop into the relegation zone. Today Monday we headed out of Albir and Altea along some good coastal paths. Coming across some attractive bays and marina's. Weather improves but it was cold last night as we walked home from a hot Indian meal.

Albir/Altir

We left Villajoyosa and headed to Albir. We were charged a supplement because we had exceeded our 4kw a day electricity allowance, a new charge and understandable with increasing power costs. First stop was the retail park at Finestrat where we stocked up with supplies, including some great wines Short 20 mins drive to Albir. Not a particularly great site here but it ticks the basics boxes. Weather cool and grey. Because of this we looked for a restaurant to sit inside with Jonesy. Found a good one with 3 courses for 18e each with a fine bottle of wine thrown in. Excellent waiter who went through the menu telling us which region of Spain the produce came from and how it was to be cooked. Loved it.

Tuesday 19th April

The weather forecast was for slightly cooler weather so we decided to visit Alicante on the tram. Jonesy needed to be enclosed so we went on the bikes with Jonesy in the bike trailer. It was an hours journey on a packed tram with the temperature climbing to 25c. The bikes were a bit of a wrench getting in the way of other passengers. However arriving in the city we were surprised at how nice Alicante is. We walked down the tree lined boulevards and linked up with the promenade and its cycle lane. A pleasant beach and waterfront. We decided to cycle back on ourselves keeping to the coast and after passing a number of small resorts we came across San Juan Playa a Spanish occupied resort with few brits. Here the beach spread north for about 6 miles. We took advantage of the low cost bars and had some "fast food " and then took off for what we hoped would be a leisurely ride along the prom and its excellent cycle lane. Occasionally we had to leave the cycle lane and touch the road and it was on one of these minor detours that I heard an almighty crash, and looking behind I saw Barbara sprawled across the road. A white van behind had stopped and the driver was trying to lift her up. Although she had injured her elbow and shoulder she was OK and able to carry on. The tram rails on the road had gripped her front wheel and sent her to the ground. Eventually the cycle lane led us to the tram station at El Campello leaving us with a much shorter trip on a relatively empty tram. Arriving back in villajoyosa it was still hot so time for a quick swim and drink before returning to camp and another great Liverpool match. (Liverpool 4 man. Utd 0) .

Goodbye to our Spanish friends

Well most of the Spanish families went home today leaving all the miserable old gits to recover from the bikes, scooters and skateboards. Things are nice and quiet again today. We found a nice tapas bar yesterday in the town and looked forward to returning there again today after my morning swim. Unfortunately a lot of places where shut due to the holiday. Anyway here's the viw from our pitch.

First swim

Warm day today here at Villajoyosa so I went in for first swim. Sea temp at 15c wasn't so bad so enjoyed about 20 mins in the water. Then I was subjected to a bizarre incident. On return to site barb called in at the supermarket while I waited outside with Jonesy in his new cycle carrier. Its smaller than the old one and we struggle to get him in it. But he was nicely settled as we walked. Then a young woman started blowing kisses at Jonesy (unless of course she was crosseyed making me the object of her desires). She then came closer and started kissing and cuddling him. As I watched closely I noticed she was trying to undue the straps holding him. So I told her to leave him. She was trying to coax him out and as I warned her she started to insist I get him out so she could hold him. She must have demanded this about 20 times. Each time I told her no, until I got fed up and raised my voice at her, she then gave him a long kiss and tight squeeze, at this point I could see Jonesy becoming really uncomfortable at this. Eventually she returned to the bar and I couldn't help wondering what her motive was. Either to steal him or make a porno film with him???

Villajoyosa

We've now had 3 nights at Camping Imperium, Villajoyosa. So will be spending our Easter amongst the hoardes of Spanish long weekenders with their parties., large families crammed on one pitch, kids with bikes, skates an skateboards. Not to mention their lod music and singing. In all honesty most are fine and we were lucky to have been placed amongst other brits, at the back of the site, with great views across the fields with a mountainous backdrop. We were also lucky to avoid the Easter price hike, negotiating ACSI rates. Its another very good site, with large pitches, good facilities and the option to plug a TV lead in to get uk TV. The only downside is the 25 minutes walk to the waterfront, but that's why we got the bikes electrified. Pics are of the waterfront at Villajoyosa.

Eagle-eyed viewers of this blog will recall our first visit to Playabrava Camping Resort where we acquired a lovely waste bowl and awning mat left on the pitch for the refuse collection. We'll yesterday one of the half million pound Morello motorhome owners left a nice awning mat as they departed. It looks fab outside our door. We never bring a mat now we are regular "tip rats " and always acquire one. Last day on this great site before heading to Villajoyosa. Today I did the 9am Pilates session and then we both did aqua arrobics. I will post photos of the facilities, the gym, pools, restaurants courts, bullring, dog showers etc.

Special entry. The blog is 10yrs old

Live a little, be a gypsy, get around Get your feet up off the ground, live a little, get around. Admiral Halsey. McCartney I love this McCartney song. It's pure bubble gum pop I know, but these words create a particular stirring in me. A couple of people have, because of my wanderlust, accused me of being a gypsy. They probably seek to criticise me, failing to realise that I take it as a compliment. So the blog has acted as a record of my "gypsy " travels. It was initially started because friends and family would ask us the same repeated questions but now we just reply with the standard answer... "where are you? " READ THE BLOG "When are you coming home?." READ THE BLOG "Lend us £100?" READ THE BLOG. But the blog acts as a reference point and has settled many winter fireside arguments about where we've been on certain dates or how long we've stayed. Because of my metulous emphasis on prices and costs prospective visitors to our locations get some idea of costs involved and more importantly the ambience or the general beauty of a place. The blog also tells part of a story, the autumn years of a life. I wonder where it will end but hope it might offer some protection from a final chapter that might see me cast aground in a residential home, dementing and frail sat on a toilet with my trousers round my ankles supervised by a young care assistant who stares dreamily at her phone unaware of anything about me. At that point our Sophie or Tim will appear telling her to take some interest in me and indicate that I'm a real person with a valued life telling her to " READ THE BLOG " Hopefully she will read it and find out about some one with an interesting "Gypsy" life, in the same way I did as a young student nurse at Rainhill. The old social worker, detailed reports on patients taught me much and I can still remember some 45 yrs later. There was Pat who "Left Liverpool for the Isle of man and worked as a fortune teller, omly to give it up as she saw no future for herself" Sadly Charlie who "In the early fifties was diagnosed schizophrenic after complaining of seeing a man's head in a box talking to him". It later transpired that he had walked past the very first TV sales shop in Liverpool. But here's to brighter days and seeing those elderly Germans last night dancing and laughing reminded me that we are all part of a wider community of "gypsies", just trying to make the most of our final year's. Here's to another 10 years of the blog, "Live a little, be a gypsy, get around". Some of the early photos added to the first blog posts.

Bravo Playa Camping Resort

We've stayed here a few times, it's a large site with everything on it and mainly occupied by rich Germans who overwinter in big expensive vans. It has 3 restaurants. 3 Swimming pools (. One indoors and heated, large pitches with your own sink etc ). I reckon it could be the best site in Spain if you like such sites. The only downside is that it at the end of a long sprawling modern resort that I think was to attract Russian visitors, and, like many of the Russians that we are hearing about today, it lacks heart. So we usually cycle about 30 minutes along the pleasant prom of this sprawling mass to the quaint little bay of Playa de La Concha and its beautiful beach. We've only eaten out once, mainly because its been too cold, but we have

last night we ate in one of the camp restaurants, 13e for 3 courses, and very tasty it was to. A lovely warm night and we were entertained by a local "turn", a pianist and guitarist. Even at 7pm they were able to get loads of energetic Germans up dancing. A bit like Huyton Labour Club in the 70s. Bring on the bingo.

Last coffee before leaving Alcossrbre

Leaving alcossrbre

We are leaving alcossrbre today and taking the 20 minute drive to La Torre de La Salle next to Oropesa. We never really get tired of alcossrbre and love the camper stop here. There is only one other English couple on here and I went and chatted with them last night. Like the English guy at Pineda who had 3 leisure batteries and 2 solar panels, Nick told me they do a lot of off grid or wild camping. For such people it's not so much a cost cutting procedure but more about finding interesting places possibly with great views where there may not be any camp sites or camper stops. Good on them but I cowardly like my sites with full facilities and security. I also like a good pool to swim in. In Nicks defence I did point out that it's not about money saving, but he did tell me one story that casts doubt on this. Unfortunately his mother died 6 years ago and they buried her alongside her husband. Naturally the gravestone needed to be amended to include her name etc. The quote for this was £800. I think he found a better one at £600. He still isn't happy with that and put off having it done. On this trip he got talking someone near the Portuguese border who did masonry work and they offered to do a lovely new headstone using more expensive materials and all the words for £200. He ordered this and will collect it, put it in his motorhome and take it home. A big heavy gravestone.... In a motorhome.... Going through customs....??????

Yesterday, the 4th, we left Pineda and travelled south to one of our old favourites Alcossrbre and yes we returned to the Camper Park Las Moreras, and why not. Elecky, showers, toilets, restaurant, excellent free WiFi, swimming pool and all for 15e a night. You, the reader may be fooled into thinking that I am some sort of cheapskate who always prefers the cheaper option, not true my friend. This Camper Park, like the Aires of France and the Stelplatz of Germany, are usually situated in town centres and convenient for beach, shops, bars and restaurants. We've tried the camp sites of Alcossrbre and both are a 20 minute bike ride to town. No brainer . On a more disappointing note....boy its cold. Since leaving Paris where temperatures hit 23c, the thermometer has rarely climbed above 10c. Unusual for Spain, where after a good dry winter they suffered a horendous March. With persistent rain and even sandstorms. An English guy told me his van was totally covered in sand for days. At present we in the middle of an Arctic blast. As I come to publish this, the weather has taken an about turn. The sun is out and people are sat outside restaurants and bars in shirt sleeves. Hooray

We left millau early temps were minus 2c with a fine dusting of snow we decided to go straight to Spain We are having a few days in the very pleasant resort of Pineda de Mar, North of Barcelona. Today we took an early morning walk to the historic town of Callela. I say historic as along with lloret and tossa de Mar, L'Escala and L'estartit it introduced package coach Holidays for brits in the 60s and 70s. For a total amount of £29 per person thousands of softly spoken scousers could offer their demonstrative and diplomatic suggestions as to how these resorts could improve.. "More chippys." "Bigger pints of Double Diamond" and the universal detestation of "foreign food". Today Callela shows no visible signs of scarring from these visits. It has a beautiful promenade and shopping centre, bars and restaurants more at home with the better known more up market resorts nearby. Its not in my view a place you would spend a full week's holiday in but for a 2-3 day stop its ideal. On our walk we watched a football competition and a horse riding event, both along the prom. We later had coffee in the sun overlooking the sea. Lovely coffee at 1.50 a cup.