Week 2 – Spain
Day 8 Monday 29th September CCP to La Cartuja De Monegros. 108 miles
Nice easy start to the day as no rush to leave the lovely overnight spot. On the road by about 11am and started the steady, very steep climb up into the mountains around regular hair pin bends with Bertie regularly in gear 2. I needed to engage the steep ascent mode to help keep in the best gear. Very spectacular views down into the valley and up into the mountains. Eventually after climbing nearly 800m to just short of 1900m from where we were overnight we reached the tunnel that takes you into Spain and the start of a long, and slightly more gradual descent. With the exception of one small town and a couple of tiny villages there was very little for an hour or so and as we dropped further down the land became more arid and desolate and definitely not as pretty as France tends to be.
Finally, after about 2.5hrs we found a layby on the side of a big dual carriageway that we were on and had a late lunch. Another hour finally saw us arrive at our free overnight stop in a tiny village about an hour from Zaragoza and in the middle of nowhere.
Day 8 expenses
- Site fees £0 (£28.14)
- Coffee etc £0 (£40.71)
- Fuel £87.40 (£225.67)
- LPG £0 (£10.95)
- Groceries £0 (£78.55)
- Total £87.40 (£384.37 – £48.04 Ave)
Day 9 – Tuesday 30th September – La Cartuja De Monegros To Zaragoza – 40 miles
After a very quiet and restful night in the tiny and remote village we drove the relatively short distance to Zaragoza. There was a purpose built motorhome aire on the edge of the city and next to a tramline. Apart from a slightly unorthodox approach by coming in the wrong way we managed to find it and park up without much fuss.
Caught the tram in for a fixed fair of €1.70 each and then spent the whole afternoon wandering around the different streets which included a coffee stop in a park which was our best one so far.
More wandering and a beer stop at a cafe opposite some very grand buildings where there had just been some sort of parade by the police who were all dressed up in their best uniforms.
A bit more walking around to find a bakery to buy something for lunch which ended up as a sort of empanados (small pasty thing…) and then an ice-cream so our most decadent day so far!
Bit more of a look around and then walked the 45 minutes ish back to Bertie as it was such a lovely afternoon. ☀️☀️☀️
Zaragoza is a lovely city and well worth the visit.
Day 9 expenses
- Site fees £0 (£28.14)
- Coffee, ice cream, beer & snacks £20.98 (£61.69)
- Tram £2.88
- Fuel £0 (£225.67)
- LPG £0 (£10.95)
- Groceries £0 (£78.55)
- Total £23.86. (£408.23 – £45.36 ave)
Day 10 – Zaragoza to Camping Vizmar, Peniscola (145 miles)
After a slightly noisy but okay night which was mostly interrupted by a street cleaner at 2am (Sarah didn’t hear it!) I was up at 8am and walked about 10 minutes to the shop to buy some bread and a cheeky breakfast of a Spanish pain aux chocolate which went very well with the morning coffee.
Dumped the grey waste on the way out and on our way by about 10am for the 3 and a bit hours over to the coast.
Easy driving for the most but more ascent and descent than I was expecting but in the main nice and quiet. The landscape went from arid and a bit desolate to tree lined hills and down into crops of tomatoes, olives and citrus fruit as we approached the coast.
The weather was warm and sunny all the way and we had a short break after about 2 hrs. By the time we reached the site it was 24 degrees and sunny. Access into the pitch was a bit tight and only just enough room down the side to put out table and chairs.
Once we were sorted we had lunch and then walked the 10 minutes down to the beach which was sandy and stretching for miles. Had a paddle as we walked along for a while before having a beer at a beach bar and then making our way back via a small supermarket to pick up some beer and water.
Sat outside the van to enjoy the evening warmth and cracked another beer…..
Day 10 Expenses
- Site fee £13.11 (£41.25)
- Coffee out etc (Beer) £6.73 (£68.42)
- Fuel £0 (£225.67)
- LPG £0 (£10.95)
- Groceries (bread, pastries, beer, water, crisps) £10.84 (£89.39)
- Wifi £1.75
- Total £32.43 (£440.66 – £44.07 ave)
Day 11 – Thursday 2nd October – day 2 Camping Vizmar (0 miles)
Normal relaxed start with a failed breakfast using bread that was too old and tasted 🤢 even after toasting .. just coffee then.. sorted the bikes out only to realise I had left the tools and pump at home and my tyres were very soft. Fortunately a very nice Dutchman lent me his, then I managed to break the valve on Sarah’s tyre so had to change that without any tools. Fortunately I did have the spare inner tubes. All sorted in 15 minutes and we were on our way up the coast along dedicated cycle paths up to Vinaros for a coffee and croissant
Then back down to Benicarlo where we had a lovely three course lunch and a drink for under €30!
After lunch we rode back down to Peniscola which had an amazing town and castle on a hill at the end of the bay. The whole coast line but especially this part was really lovely and felt so nice.
Day 11 Expenses
Site fee £13.11 (£54.36)
Coffee etc £6.12 (£74.54)
Fuel £0 (£225.67)
LPG £0 (£10.95)
Lunch £26.18 (£26.18)
Total £45.41 (£485.87 – £44.17 ave)
Day 12 – Friday 3rd October – Day 3 Camping Vizmar (0 miles)
Lazy morning on site reading and chilling. Had a go at the kitchen tap but needed the multi tool that is with the bike tools in the garage at home….
After lunch we cycled down to the beach and spent the afternoon there and even had a splash in the sea. Left at about 6pm and bought some beer on the way back.
Also managed to book a site down near Denia for two nights from tomorrow. Overall a very nice relaxing day 😊
Expenses day 12
- Site fee £13.11 (£67.47)
- Coffee etc £0 (£74.54)
- Fuel £0 (£225.67)
- LPG £0 (£10.95)
- Food out £0 (£26.18)
- Groceries (beer, bread, chorizo) £9.19 (£98.58)
- Total £22.30 (£508 – £42.33)
Day 13 Saturday 4th October – Camping Vizmar to Camping Los Llanos, near Denia – 149 miles
Easy drive down to Denia mostly along a dual carriageway rolling through the mountains. Dropped into a Decathlon to pick up a bike pump and repair kit and then a Lidl for some groceries. Found a layby for a break and had a late lunch on arrival. Site okay but rows of pitches covered over with netting to protect from sun so a great lack of solar power. Sarah said it felt like a refugee camp!
Very hot on the day we arrived and despite having all windows and doors open Bertie was very warm inside!
Cooled down a bit during the night but not much.
Day 13 expenses
- Site fees £18.21 (£85.68)
- Coffee etc £0 (£75.54)
- Fuel £0 (£225.67)
- LPG £0 (£10.95)
- Food out £0 (£26.18)
- Groceries £63.99 (£162.57)
- Bike bits £10.86
- Total £93.06 (£601.06 – £46.24)
Day 14 – Sunday 5th October – Day 2 Camping Los Llanos. (0 miles)
Warm but cloudy day and after another easy start, which included fixing the TV socket after the fuse blew, we cycled down to Denia via some very quiet back roads through some lovely estates of Villas and then down a purpose built cycle way through the orange groves. Unfortunately Sarah got a puncture so it was just as well we did our visit to Decathlon yesterday so I could do the roadside repairs.
Denia is a nice Town with good shopping areas, a big old Castle and a nice beach area and we enjoyed a good few hours there before heading back the way we came.
Apart from the site being a bit claustrophobic and reminding Sarah of a refugee camp we both managed to get bitten by mosquitos, Sarah especially had a load on her legs ☹️
Day 14 expenses
- Site fees £18.21 (£103.89)
- Coffee & Beer £4.53 (£80.07)
- Fuel £0 (£225.67)
- LPG £0 (£10.95)
- Groceries (bread & insect repellent) £6.58 (£169.15)
- Laundry £11.76
- Total £41.08 (£642.14 – £45.88 ave)
Hiking & Wild Camping 