Wednesday 10th April
We packed up and left Ribamar to go to the vets, hopefully for the last time. After taking a blood sample it was confirmed that Pickles blood sugar levels were now within the normal range. We purchased enough insulin and syringes to last for about 24 days and headed off 450 euros lighter after paying the vet fees. Benicassim was our next destination..
It was only about 20 miles to Bonterra park at Benicassim where we were offered a short term pitch, if we wanted to stay more than 7 days we could take one of the permanent pitches but would have to pay for 7 days up front. This is a popular site and highly regarded by the brits who occupy about 70% of the pitches. The Camping and Caravan Club have a rally here. It was not really for us. The vast majority of the campers were polite and friendly but we noticed one or two ‘rowdy’ elderly groups in the bar at night. If you like a British feel to your sites then you might like this, but we’re not really attracted to ‘happy hours’ and bingo. We did enjoy the cycle track that takes you 6 miles into Oropesa. We even went another further 3 miles to a brand new resort which I think is called Marina D’Or. It was here that we found a carefully designed water front, new unoccupied apartments and for the first time quite a few Russian voices.
After two nights at Camping Bonterra Park
We drove about 90 miles to Camping Santa Marta in Cullera. The site offered ACSI rates of 14 euros a night but stays of more than one night dropped this to 12 euros a night, stays more than 7 nights brought it down to 10 a night. The site is positioned on a hill with good terraces, the main parts were well shaded but there were small sections in the sun for those here out of season. Although parts of the site were a little untidy the facilities were excellent. This is a typical Spanish campsite in a resort that seems to cater more for Spanish people. There were no English bars competing for the cheapest pint or ‘all day English Breakfasts’. Despite the numerous large apartment blocks we found this to be an attractive resort with a lovely pedestrian waterfront that stretched for about 3 miles. Its what Benidorm could have been like if it had not gone down the Blackpool Golden Mile approach to tourism.
The day we arrived it was the beginning of a weekend long religious festival. The reception staff warned us of the bull run that would be taking place on the Saturday and suggested we go to those parts of the town that were focussing on music and dance. On the Saturday we were curious to find the bull run area but when cycling through the town we were hypnotized by the sound of a brass band playing in a nearby bar. This was some bar, it was 11:30 in the morning and men didn’t have pints on the table but bottles of brandy and vodka, it was full of men fighting to be served. We were half expecting bodies to come flying through the windows. It had a great atmosphere so we hitched Pickles up and sat and had a drink whilst listening to the Tijuana
The 4 nights we spent here were most enjoyable, we could feel the weather getting warmer and managed to have a few hours on the beach. The waterfront was great for cycling and if you went over the bridge, crossing the river, heading south there were cycle paths taking you to other villages with some excellent restaurants and bars.
The beach at Cullera
and below our Pitch at Santa Marta which wasn't the best of pitches but we could have chosen a better one.
and below our Pitch at Santa Marta which wasn't the best of pitches but we could have chosen a better one.
Another shot of the beach at Cullera
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