We left the Valencian landscape behind and moved south, travelling through the lush green orange groves, over the mountains to a more arrid area, typically Spanish, with small sprawling villages in varying shades of white and terracotta surrounded by shrub land and dry trees, but within easy reach of the coast.

The site we were booked into was called Marjal Costa Blanca, just between Crevillente, Elche and Catral, inland about 10km and surrounded by mountains. Elche was our nearest big town with a most important shopping centre, and Catral was the nearest small village with a supermarket and a few bars and restaurants.

The site really is fabulous, we imagine that in the peak of summer it’s heaving with families and children; in the winter it’s still busy but with the older generation! The site is so big, many people live there – it has its own supermarket, plaza with stage, restaurants, bars, medical centre, indoor and outdoor pools, several dog agility play areas and also activities for the adults – karaoke, boules, golf, crafts, keep fit and many more!! We met several other 5th wheel owners that have lived there for years, all have large pitches with gardens, sheds, exterior cooking facilities and even grassed steps to their balconies!! People just arrive, love it, and stay! We can see the attraction but for us, we need the beach.

Tea Break stop en route, parked in the lorry park.

Tropical pool at the site.

Friends Who Lead You Astray

At Benicassim we met a lovely couple called “Builders Bum” Julian and his lovely wife Sue, and their baby Henry (an 18 month old large cream/brown labrador!), they only followed us to this site!!! Or was it the other way around??? I can’t remember!! However, several lovely days and evenings were spent with them. We paid the local towns a visit and found a fantastic restaurant (more about this later), played Mulkky (a Finnish skittles game), had the odd glass of wine or two with them, and rounded our last few days off with a mega feast – tapas in the afternoon, a steak dinner in the evening and a very tasty home cooked paella the next day!!! Talk about over indulging, but in the good things in life – food, wine, love and laughter.

Julian said he was not looking forward to us leaving but felt his liver needed a rest…..we really don’t know what he means!

“The sun really does shine out of David’s ****” said Julian!

So, mate, will be be another beer, or a G&T next?? Or have QPR lost again??

Dad Dancing!!

We had a lovely visit from Mum and Dad in the fortnight we were here; they arrived after a few stressful days and so to ease their furrowed brow, we took them to Happy Hour at the bar and there we stayed!!

Yes Dad, the bar really is open now……..

We ate in the bar first, had a few beers and listened to some entertainment afterwards, we don’t remember much after that! We had such a laugh – Dad wanted to dance all night and dragged anyone who would accept onto the dance floor; we were gobsmacked when he started talking to a man in German!!! Not just a rough conversation with a stranger who speaks a little English but a full blown conversation with a German who spoke no English – in no time, they were best mates!!! He did regret it the next day or two when Herman kept passing by, waving and giving us the thumbs up??? No idea why??

Mum, Sue & Ju waiting for the party to start.

Mr & Mrs Boogie Woogie.

Fantastic Food

One evening we headed out of town to the most amazing restaurant we have been to for a long time! It’s an Argentinean steak house in the small town of Catral, owned and run by an Argentinean butcher and his stepson waiter. The food preparation and cooking is part of the show, you can watch the chef preparing the meat and cooking it right in front of you on a massive BBQ. The meat was tender, tasty and filling!

The black pudding sausage was delicious, everyone had some either as a starter or with their main meal.

The chef is part of the show.

If you think you are going to share this mixed grill, think again girl!

But, Mum, there is two of everything…….

Steak, sausages, chirozo, black pudding, veg and roasted sweetcorns…..yum!

Fauna – Nature Day Outing to Guardamar

One afternoon, we took a drive out to the nearest coastal town, Guardamar. It was a bit of a disappointment, the prom was maybe a few hundred metres long with one or two cafes but primarily run down, derelict seafront properties, some of which had fallen away into the sand. We did find a lovely park in the town, with a wildlife pond, home to peacocks, swans, ducks and sunbathing turtles.

Check out my colours!

Basking baby turtles!

Guardamar seafront.

We took a walk along to the marina and port area, and found my favourite animals…..cats! Live, wild, beautiful pussies that were so healthy and happy basking in the sun. I wanted a cuddle, I tried to get close but as soon as I got too close, they scarpered into the rocks. But they were beautiful, especially the one that got away, he had stripes up and down is body, instead of around!

So here we are, set up on the site, next move will take us south to the Almeria area. ‘,

We have been in the Spanish holiday resort of Benicassim, north of Valencia, for a month now and can see how easy it would be to settle into a lazy way of life – retirement! People on this site seem to arrive at the end of September or in October and stay several months, forming a community and making friends. We have slotted into this community in such a short space of time – our road, Calle B4 is affectionately known as “English Alley”. There are twelve pitches in total, we are on Pitch 9 and the majority of “residents” are English or English speaking Dutch. We have been welcomed with open arms, we hope we have done the same to newcomers to the site, it is such a happy loving feeling that will stay with us for ever.

Just after we arrived, the Maintenance team sheared the trees around us giving us something else to do in the afternoon! It improved our daily sunlight but removed protection from night time dew.

Cheese and Leek soup lunch hosted by Mary & Chris.

Keith, David & Chris getting stuck into lunch.

Julian and David preparing fish paella whilst Keith prepared a chicken paella at one of our street dinners.

This is a very social life, primarily due to the weather (we have yet to see rain) and people only head indoors once the sun sets and the temperature drops. However, living in such close proximity means people have to be sociable, we have to communicate with each other or life would be very boring. We have established that our Dutch neighbours are in their 70’s, he was a bus driver for 24 years in the city of Amsterdam; they have two daughters, one married a Greek doctor and lives in Rhodes with two grand-daughters whilst the other still lives nearby in Amsterdam. Another lovely Dutch couple live in Hungary and run a camp site in the summer and have been coming to this site for 8 or 9 years; last year they celebrated 45 years of marriage in Mexico! One Yorkshire couple are spending their first winter here following the husband’s recovery from a heart attack and another couple from Gloucestershire enjoy telling their grandchildren all about the lovely weather and amazing sunsets.

Our neighbour Kees makes amazing decorations out of plastic bottle!

We have witnessed a loose routine – Monday is shopping day; Tuesday is washing and chores day; Wednesday is day trip out and lunch in the local restaurant, Thursday is a visit the small fruit and veg market in town and the weekends are “social days”. Talking to the neighbours, having a beer with them, playing Mulkky (Finnish skittles) in the street and impromptu gatherings. There is a group of musicians on the site that have formed a band and keep everyone entertained for free on a Thursday afternoon.

Beautiful sunsets.

We have seen who is diligent at cooking and cleaning; seen who heads out in the morning on their bicycle and brings home the fresh bread, brings the fresh coffee and bacon sandwiches out to his/her partner who is sitting in the morning sun. We watch them keeping the front of their pitch clean, chasing away leaves and stones and who keeps the tan topped up. We are invited to share their late afternoon sun when ours has disappeared as well as lunch and dinner with them. It has been fascinating to watch and take it in.

David has made some new friends too!!

Chris & Julian loving David…

Down the bar for an impromptu sing song! Hi Ho Silver Lining……

Everywhere You Go I See Your Sun is Shining….

But I Won’t Make a Fuss……Tho It’s Obvious!!!

This couple stole our hearts one night; he is 73 years old and a month ago had had his third operation on his hip – a complete replacement. He is recovering from cancer to the neck, throat and voicebox too. His wife was indulging his desire to dance despite his aches and pains. A lovely couple from Zurich, heading south for the winter sun.

The site provides an entertainment team who, in the winter, organise activities such as yoga, tai chi on the beach, exercises, aqua fit, bingo, quizzes, games, wine tasting and days out and many other sports. We have taken part in some and shied from others. I have enjoyed my early morning (well, 9.30am is early when you are not working!!) visit to the beach to do tai chi exercises, watching the sun come up and listening to the waves hit the shore as the sun warms the muscles being stretched.

Morning yoga session.

One morning I witnessed a murmeration performed by Cormorants before they settled on the sea (just visible before they settled)!! Stunning.

Such a beautiful clean beach.

The town also makes the effort to interact with the resident here and vice versa; residents are helping out at a bag pack at the local supermarket to raise awareness and funds for the less fortunate families in the town; locals attend events in our social room attached to the bar; the local bars in town makes us feel very welcome and are always trying to speak “Spanglish” to us – a mixed version of Spanish and English!

A free performance by a rock band, perfect music for a Sunday lunch time!

We have really enjoyed our time in Benicassim and will always look back with fond memories but now feel we need to spread our wings and explore further. Thank you to all who have made us welcome especially Keith, Jean, Mary and Chris! Next stop Marjal.

‘,