GUARDIMAR

 WILDLIFE AT GUARDIMAL

DITTO

Hola for the (probably) penultimate time.
We stayed a few more days in Roquetas before the lure of the road took over. All the sites we are visiting now have more the feel of a retirement home than a holiday destination and many people are resident for the winter if not all year. At the Roquetas site however we had a Luxembourgeoise accordion player on the next pitch which brought the average age down by quite some way. She was convalescing but regularly toured Spain playing in Irish bands.
She also came in handy with my punctured bike tyre. Having filled the wheel with foam we tried to use our pump to get it to the right pressure only succeeding in taking all the air out. However, our neighbour ever resourceful, adapted her accordion and with a couple of verses of "Danny Boy" the tyre was inflated!
So onwards to Guardimar, about 30km south of Alicante. When we bought our motorhome we were surprisingly advised against the bigger engine as we weren't in a hurry. True as this is, it is incredibly slow going up hills. By the time the second milk float roared passed we thought we should have opted for the 3 litre engine. Anyway, we finally arrived and the new site is one of the best we have stayed at. It has a bar, restaurant, supermarket, indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi and gym. All are open and it only costs 15 Euros a night. The food in the restaurant is top notch. Baby eel salad followed by Arroz Negro, which is like a paella but the rice is cooked in squid ink. It is very tasty.
We are now able to use our bikes again and have been on several longish rides along the river into the town. The weather has generally been excellent but we had our first complete washout of a day with almost continuous heavy rain for 24 hours.
More news next week and Happy Birthdays to Jane and Troy (18!).
Adios
J&P

FINAL PICTURE OF GUARDIMAR WILDLIFE

p.s. just in case men in white coats do come for me, as Pauline has suggested, when we arrive back, I should point out that the accordionist story was true up to the Danny Boy bit. It was of course, When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.

WE'RE STILL HERE!

 OUR CYCLE PATH ALONG THE COAST TOWARDS ALMERIA

 A SUPERB CLOSE UP OF ONE OF THE BIRDS IN THE NATIONAL IS NOT INLUDED ON THIS POST.

REMEMBER YOU'RE A WOMBLE!

We are still in Roquetas de Mar as the site is so well situated. Time is moving quite swiftly now but there has been little drama except a flat (and currently unmendable) bike tyre. We have had many walks and cycles until the puncture but we will be ready to move on early this week.
The last picture shows (or attempts to show) the two mountain ranges protecting us from the elements - the Sierra de Gador and behind, the Sierra Nevada. Unfortunately it only looks like one range which reminded me of a holiday some years ago in Corsica. As we sat on our balcony with the sun setting (and before anybody says a word, before an aperitif) I looked at the mountain and the shadow of the sun and it clearly identified the features of Uncle Bulgaria from the Wombles. Pauline agreed with me (or was trying to humour me) so I took a full 36 reel of film with the hope of making a few bob selling the picture to a publication which printed clouds looking like Jesus or suggestive vegetables.
Of course, once printed the photos just resembled a dark one-dimensional mass which scarcely looked like a mountain let alone a Womble so I should have learnt my lesson.
Time perhaps now for a game of tennis.
We have had over 400 views of this blog so thanks to everybody for persevering.
Birthday greetings today to Roger if you're reading this.
love
J&P

MOVING EAST

 A VIEW OF TORROX COSTA FROM TORROX TOWN

SO YOU THOUGHT OURS WAS BIG!! THIS IS A GERMAN MOTORHOME. THE OPEN BOOT HOLDS A SMART CAR.

Buenos Dias,
In the end we decided to stay another 3 nights in Torrox. After all it had the "best climate in Europe", the campsite was full of Mango and Avocado trees, the walk down to the coast was first along an avenue lined with Seville Orange trees holding enough ripe fruit to keep you in marmalade for years; the avenue led onto an ancient track alongside a clear stream running down from the mountain, alongside the river were a series of allotments and the sight of a shepherd grazing his 6 sheep and a goat.The town had a good market and decent restaurants and the walk back ended at a bar which, if it had served Holts Bitter, would have been the perfect climax. Sadly, San Miguel is practically undrinkable but the red label Mahou at least has a bit of taste.
So on Friday we headed east about 150 miles along the main road towards our latest destination of Roquetas de Mar. We passed snow capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada but the weather here is certainly not snowy. This site is close to the beach and an easy 4km cycle into town. Yesterday the thermometer hit 80 fahrenheit and today is even a little warmer. The town is more of a working town than resort and all the beachside restaurants are typically Spanish and the one we tried was excellent. Three courses, a couple of glasses of wine and two espressos for 24 Euros. The place was jammed and they were queueing outside as we left at 3pm. The Spanish don't even consider starting lunch till 2:30 so we always try and sit down by 2:00 to beat the local rush.
This morning we decided on a game of tennis before it got too warm. Too warm came at midday so a cool shower and a cooler beer followed. We will probably spend the week here as the weather looks set fair. I know winter will arrive soon enough but for so long as we can postpone it the better. We know how lucky we are!
Adios
J & P

DAY BEFORE/MORNING AFTER

DOWN TO THE COSTAS

This week has seen us drive through the mountains to Torrox Costa stopping on the way in the small town of Humilladero.
We have experienced a lot of weather this week as photos (next post) will show. The clocks went back and it is now dark at 6:30! The rain and storms have mostly been overnight but temperatures have dropped during the day as well.
Humilladero is typical small Andalucian town. Not much to see or do but an unhurried and friendly atmosphere. One of the photos below is of what I think must be hand painted pigeons - but nobody could enlighten me and maybe this is more common than I think.
Torrox Costa has "the best climate in Europe" according to the Tourist Office. Now with the warm sun (68f) and clear skies I can quite believe it. It is a tourist resort which seems to be busy even this late in the year. There is a mix of Spanish restaurants interspersed with all day breakfasts and Bratwurst joints. A lunch of calamares and prawns Pil Pil washed down with a glass of the local rosado shows where our tastes lie.
We have decided to make this a fairly brief stop and will head along the coast in a couple of days to wherever our wheels take us.
Buenos Tardes
J & P