Following the Sun Diary : Sat 6 - Mon 22 Nov

We moved on from Benicassim and headed down the coast about 180 kilometres to get a few more degrees of warmth. It was starting to cool down and it was time to follow the sun again. Unfortunately when we arrived at Kiko Camping at Oliva Playa there was a strong breeze blowing in off the Mediterranean, and it was bitter, not very pleasant at all. We have just booked in here for a week, and then we intend to head much further south.

The mountain hairpins

The second half of our stay at Benicassim was very enjoyable. We discovered the route up to the mountains that encompass the resort. The first time we got to the top it was by the road which twisted and curved round tight hairpin bends. We had to careful on these blind corners, keeping an eye out for cars and especially descending cyclists who tended to cut the corners at very high speeds. My next trip to the top was to run up the road, and the following day I cycled the route. This was a new form of triathlon, walking, running and cycling. On another occasion we found a rough track that led to the top skirting around the ruins of an old Carmelite monastery. Once we got to the top there was a route that followed a ridge out to a point where the remains of a castle stood. We had a picnic lunch seated beside the castle walls with the wonderful view of the Mediterranean coast displayed below us..

Mountain Castle overlooking Benicassim

The campsite organised a bus trip to Valencia one day and we were lucky to get a place on the coach, it was very popular. It took an hour to get to the city and a couple from the site acted as guides for the tour. The old buildings were magnificent and the guides were very knowledgeable on the history. The final planned visit was to the Falla Museum, where they have winning papier-mâché statues for every year from the 1930’s. They have a festival every March and a competition for these sculptures, the winner is exhibited in the museum. They are all caricatures and some very funny. In the afternoon we were left to do our own thing so we had a pleasant stroll through the parks and a visit to the market.

Beautiful Valencia

The city square, Valencia

Another organised event by the campsite was a paella lunch. It was another full house and no wonder, the meal was delicious. We had salad, a big dish of lamb paella and a drink, all for E6 each. This was followed by a duo playing and singing pop from the 60’s and 70’s, the right musical era for all the pensioners here for the winter. We were even up dancing and showing our expertise with a bit of rock and roll.

Moira’s cycling skills and fitness has improved considerably, so we went for a long ride, about 30 kilometres, to the outskirts of Castello. There was a park there that was reportedly the home to red squirrels. When we walked around the park we spotted one through the fence to the golf course, picking at a nut while a golfer was trying to tee off. Later when we sat in a quiet spot for a drink our patience was rewarded and a number of the bushy tailed creatures came out foraging for food. They also seemed to be having fun, scampering up trees and running along thin branches like tightrope walkers. It was a rewarding outing and we got some exercise as well.

Now we have moved and with a new spot to explore we will be walking and cycling. Unfortunately the hills are a distance away so there won’t be any climbing to do.

We found a red squirrel