Benidorm love it or hate it. We are not big fans of it but we have a lot of friends who do like it. I don’t mind going in there to visit but I do like getting on the tram to come out of there. It amazes me with all the skyscrapers and bars and mad people. You can see why it has a name for itself. At the far end of the beach is a hill with a cross on the top. I have always wanted to walk up to the cross. Not for religious reasons, just to go up there and admire the veiw above the madness. Our friends Rob and Jean who were down in Devon on the same campsite as the one we were on have rented a apartment in Benidorm. They rented it last year also and we went in to see them. They contacted us about going to meet them for the day. Rob likes walking so a golden opportunity for me to go for a walk with him up to the cross and leave Nikki and Jean to sip wine on the seafront. The story of the cross goes like this.

Once upon a time when Benidorm was just a God fearing fishing village, (with 7km of white sands) a young Mayor, Don Pedro Zaragoza, with much vision, designed an urban plan that would convert Benidorm in to a tourist magnet and a skyline on a par with New York (hence the city is still sometimes referred to as Beni-York). But along the way he encountered PLENTY of opposition … from the landowners who were wary of giving up their sheep grazing meadows to make way for roads and skyscrapers, to the locals who were simply scared of change. But the sector he upset most was the church, when, following a road trip on his Vespa to Madrid, Mayor Pedro Zaragoza obtained special permission from General Franco for tourists to wear bikinis on the beach. This was HUGE news in the fifties; bikinis were considered sinful and were banned in Franco’s Catholic Spain, yet Pedro argued if they couldn’t wear bikinis, the tourists wouldn’t come and so Franco relented … 
But to allow ‘foreigners’ to wear bikinis on our beaches was a bittersweet victory; it actually brought Benidorm the fame it craved … but for all the wrong reasons. Benidorm was hailed a sinful place and the Bishop of Alicante threatened to hang a sign at the entrance to the town naming it ‘HELL’ so visitors could be forewarned.

So to appease the masses and especially the church, quick action was needed and it was Benidorm’s priest Father Salvador Perona that saved the day organizing that a giant cross be made from wooden lamp-posts and erected at the highest point to symbolically restore some goodness into the town.

And so it came about that on a chilly morning in the last week of December 1961, following an official blessing ceremony, the wooden cross was carried on the shoulders of the locals from the Church of San Jaime on the headland between the two Benidorm bays, across the town and up the Sierra Helada mountain, where it was erected and has stood for the last 55 years.

The whole town turned out to help with the journey, with the children dressed in their Sunday best, and so successful was the event that it was later declared by the church as ‘Day of Pardon’ as the souls of the ‘Benidormense’ people had been saved from sin!

It is unclear exactly when the original cross was replaced with today’s more sturdy concrete version that lights up at night, but today the cross is a much loved landmark, visited by thousands of people every year. Some, just to walk off the excess holiday calories, others, local youngsters, to hold ‘botellón’ late night drinking parties. It is also a favourite lovers landmark – most Spanish couples have locked lips at ‘la cruz’ as it’s known locally … and even the final resting place to hundreds of Benidorm fans who have specifically requested their ashes be scattered there.

Made it, even with them little legs.

The veiw from the top, that’s from the top of the hill not the cross.

We walked from the far end of that beach in the photo to the top. You really get an idea how far it was when you look at it from the top. While we were walking along the front by the beach I looked up and thought, bloody hell thats a long way up to that cross, which you could just see on the top of the hill.

While walking along the seafront you see all sorts of peaple from newly weds to nearly deads. And the sellers trying to sell there copy Rolex watches and football shirts etc. And the pea peaple, who are the pea peaple. The pea peaple are con artists. They have a table with three cups on and a pea. The idea being the pea goes under one of the cups and the guy shuffles them about and you put money on which one the pea is under. They work in gangs of about 4/6 The one guy doing the shuffling theothers are an instant crowd which draws their prey in, they place bets and obviously win which encourages the victims to place bets. You won’t win so walk on by. As we were walking along there was a police car stopped, we walked passed and heard a shout the pea men scattered throwing their table on the beach and they all dissapered into the crowd, after the police car had gone by they all started going back to where they were.

Another building I wanted to see close up was the Intempo building. To much to do that day so I biked out there today, it’s only a round trip of 12 miles. The Intempo building is a huge gold skyscraper. In 2005 a 92 million euro loan was obtained from Caixa Bank to begin the build. Work began in 2007 and should have finished in 2009. There were problems all along the way and eventually building stopped because the property developer filed for bankruptcy. The main building was done but still a lot more to do.

Intempo has 47 floors and stands 192 metres tall. The gap between the towers is 20 metres or 66 feet, I don’t know if that is exactly but I think it will be near enough. And is all connected by the cone shape between floors 38-44. All this has been stood like this for a while. Now sold again recently and due to be finished in 2019. It will have apartments, 398 car parking spaces and 133 storerooms. Prices for the apartments have not been released yet but I can confirm I will not be buying one. Start saving if you want one. Enjoy the photos there free. I will not charge for biking time and photo shoot.

I can’t believe we are half way through our winter trip already. We only have six weeks left before we get back into the Uk. The reason we are having to go back early this trip is because we have changed our jobs and have to go back for 5 days training at the beginning of February. We will be put up in a hotel for that time. Hope they don’t expect me to put trousers on. Our new job is working as wardens for the caravan and motorhome club. We will be based on a site near Fareham in Hampshire next year. It’s a loverly site, we actually stayed there before coming away this year. We are really looking forward to it.

The other morning there was the first bit of snow up on the mountains in the distance, it didn’t last long, as soon as the sun came up it melted it. As usual I have been out on my bike and have been out on smaller rides with Nikki, even taking her off road the other day, only because we got lost but some good photo opportunities. I like derelict buildings and can imagine what they would be like when they were lived in etc. What a view this one below would have had.

And through the square window today.

It’s so peaceful up in the hills with a few old houses scattered about and a few that are still lived in, not like the one in the photo. Every now and then you might see a person walking along with his goats or sheep, or sat in the shade. Also this week I have had my hair cut. Always a great experience in spain when they don’t understand you and you don’t understand them. I don’t really mind because I don’t have to look at it and it must have been ok because I haven’t had to many strange looks while walking about. No more than usual anyway. All around the campsite its quite funny, everyone is excited about Xmas and there are lights everywhere, up the trees around their caravans or motorhomes except for one pitch. Yes you’re right, that’s our pitch. We don’t do Xmas, it’s just another day but this year we have made an effort for you all. So below is what Xmas is about to us, as I say just another day. Happy Xmas.

As the title says sun, sun, sun, we have had such a good run of lovely weather here in Villajoyosa. And what do you need when the weather is hot, you need some shade. What do I have on the side of the camper, a sun shade….that broke last February when we were here. What did I not fix this summer. Yes you got it in one. I bought the new bit, the gearbox winder but just never got round to fitting it. I got put off by people saying it’s a nightmare of a job to do. The other day I thought, it’s calm, sunny, I have nothing to do I will look at it. Managed to get the end cap off and and work out how it all goes only to discover that there is another part that is also broken, so I put it all back together and put it on my list of jobs to do next year, or to be more precise a job for the professionals to do next year. Luckily as I was wandering around the campsite, there outside someone’s camper was a sun shade for sale. Nothing like the one we have attached to the camper but one that you can just attach when you want it. Talking to the guy he said it was brand new, he cannot put it up on his own so it’s for sale. €40 offered him €30 about £27 and it was mine. Walked back to our pitch and put it up. Bargain and some shade for Nikki. Brand new it would have been £110. So that will keep us shaded now, don’t want my beer getting too warm.

Bill who I went out with on my bike the other day has now left to go home but before he went he wanted to go out one more time on the bikes with me and Steve the other guy who used to go out with him. We had a really good ride, up and down mountain roads, up and down dirt roads, up and down tarmac roads. Some great roads and all in all we did 24 miles, not far if you’re just going on the road but believe me when it’s up and down and on dirt roads it’s a long way. The next day my legs were aching.

A couple of days after that ride I went out on my own to the reservoir Embalse De Amadorio to take some photos. The light was good and the reflections were great.

And of course I had to take photos of my new bike in the climate it likes.

Our friends Jeff and Jan, the ones we went out for coffee with the other day said about going out again to a great fish restaurant they know in Benidorm. So we checked the wallet and decided, what the hell we’re on holiday let’s go for it. Not a big fan of Benidorm but ok to dip in and get out. We caught the tram in which takes about 15 minutes and then walked down the hill from the tram to a little cafe for the first stop. Jeff and Jan love Benidorm and because they live out here know all the good spots to go. The restaurant we were going to was called Las Gaviotas, Very popular with the spanish so much so if you don’t get there before 1pm you have to queue so we knew it was going to be good. We got there just before 1pm so had a choice of seats. I told Jeff we should sit next to the windows because that way you get bigger portions because when people are walking by they look in and think wow look at that let’s go in here!

The food was fantastic. So this is what we had. Tostadas which is toast with Alioli and tomatoes on it, a huge salad plate and the main meal the fish platter, which consisted of a variety of fish covered in tempura which is a light batter. Now your licking your lips this was all washed down with a couple of bottles of wine and a Diet Coke for me. By the time we were half way through our meal the queue was already out the door. And all that for the four of us came to €45 just over £40.

We left there to go to a hotel for a drink where Geoff wanted to show us the view from the top. The hotel is called Hotel Madeira. It has a lift on the outside made of glass so as you go up you have this great view of Benidorm. Out the lift and to the bar and out on to the terrace. WOW what a view. Ok you pay a bit more for your beer and wine. When I say a bit more I mean another fifty cents per drink. Well worth it. Shame the light was not brilliant, slightly hazy but still nice.

Out the hotel and head for the tram home, one more stop in another spanish pub for a beer and a couple of games of pool. A great time was had by all. And no bad heads today. Apart from mine in that photo, god I need a haircut so bad. Something to do next week.

The mountains in the distance on one side of us change colour with all the different conditions. Sometimes just stark dark mountains but still beautiful. The best time and colour is in the morning when the sun comes up and shines on them, they change from pinkish, through to yellow, red etc. The other morning the sun was coming up but over the mountains were very dark clouds, really heavy dark clouds full of rain. The sky was clear in the east where the sun was coming up. As the sun rose it cast its light on the mountains a fantastic rainbow appeared. The colours were fantastic.

After the sky’s cleared, we never got any rain from those sky’s by the way. Just thought I would mention that. I decided to go out on my bike. I had been looking at google and found a route which I was going to build myself up to for a couple of weeks time. As I went down the campsite driveway I thought I am going to go to Finestrat today and back. To get to Finestrat is all up hill about 7 km. I was having a good day and the legs were feeling good, and the help from the e bikes motor was doing well on a low setting. The bike has four settings of assistance, I was still on number one as I like to actually push myself. With an e bike you do still have to pedal and you only get assistance when you pedal. A lot of peaple think you just flick a switch and away you go. I got to Finestrat and turned left at the junction thinking I am going to go on, a nice downhill, I do like the downhills. As I was going down that hill I was thinking that I have to go on now because I don’t want to turn around and go back up that hill. I carried on up and down more hills and a couple of really nice hairpin bends then through the town of Orxeta. The scenery was fantastic but no time to stop and take photos I was on a mission. Besides I never had my camera with me and I think if I had of stopped my legs would have seized up. An hour later I was back on the campsite having done 22.7 km, an elevation of 408 metres, an average speed of 23 km per hour and a max speed of 50 km per hour that was the downhill bit.

Jeff and Jan our friends who live on this site said about going out for a coffee one day. They know we don’t do the big group going out days or nights but are happy to go out with just another couple. They come from Newton abbot in south Devon but Jeff spent the first ten years of his life in Barnstaple as a kid. I was telling him how much it has changed and he was telling me as a kid how it was. All very interesting. So off we strolled for a coffee or tea to a village called Ermita about a 20 min walk away. It’s the sort of village that has a church, a pharmacy, and a bar/ coffee shop. And locals that when you walk into the village stop talking and stare and mutter to each other….new blood. We set of at about 11 am and after coffee and tea we started to walk back a different way towards the sea and town of Villajoyosa as we were getting hungry now and thought a spot of lunch would be a good idea. Sat outside the cafe in the sun having a spot of lunch, with a beer or wine to wash it down. How very civilised. After lunch and a couple of drinks we started to head back for the campsite. Another pit stop at another bar Jeff and Jan go to just to refuel of course. Out of there and one more for the road up here says Jeff. Another small local bar. Well what can I say. We sat there drinking, chatting, laughing, and eating the tapas that kept appearing in front of us. Outside it had gone dark by now. One more for the road he said, I think we had one for every bloody road in spain. We got back to the campsite and have to pass the bar/ restaurant as you go through the entrance. You guessed it, a last night cap. So after going out for a coffee/ tea at 11 am it was now 10 pm. That night the wind got up (outside) really gusting and was blowing our huge mat we have down, all over the place, so in the middle of the night We were outside fighting to get that gathered up and put in the garage. The next day was very quiet for us, with me in bed most of it and Nikki being a bit fragile but a lot better than me. But as we say all the best times are the ones that are not planned.

We have had some really sunny days all this week, cold mornings but beautiful days. Long may it continue.

You will be pleased to know that the results from the Heinz Uk beans V Heinz spanish beans are in. This experiment has taken place in a controlled environment, the confined space of a camper van. No human bean was killed or seriously injured, but Nikki was slightly nauseas by some gas fumes. She has made a full recovery since. The results are UK beans 364 spanish beans 371 which means Nikki was right there are more beans in a spanish tin of Heinz baked beans than an UK tin. Rip of Britain strikes again. I will be writing to Heinz. Of course they will deny this and ask for a recount. Which is fair really, it should be the best of ten tins. But Nikki says she could not stand to be put through all that again, so in the interest of my marriage and health and safety this will be the only experiment on the matter. I would like to point out other beans are available. Now I wonder how many smarties are in a tube. No way.

Moving on. We have been out on our bikes, both together and separately. I had a great ride out the other day, up around the reservoir, got chased by a dog on the way he managed to get away, but then got a puncture in the way back, luckily it was just as I was near the campsite so it never went flat until I was back at the camper. I planned a route to take Nikki out which avoided a lot of main roads, going on the back roads and then dropping down on some main roads but all easy stuff and ending up at La Cala which has a nice little bay although the town is big. About a ten mile trip. It’s a stones throw from Benidorm which is just around the next corner about another two miles.

We have been down to the Chinese shop, not a take away but a shop that sells everything you need and everything you thought you needed. The Chinese shops are all over spain. It makes me wonder if the Chinese living in China when they go shopping do they buy genuine Chinese goods or Chinese copy goods. The local market on a Thursday is our stop for fruit and veg which is very good and cheap. The price you pay for this is having to dodge all the over 90,s with their shopping trolleys. Boy racers have got nothing on these ladies.

The weather has been a bit overcast but very mild. Yesterday was a really warm sunny day. The sort of day we want more of and sure we will get. We have more friends arriving soon, that’s if they can get down through France with all the blockades going on there. The fuel in France is as expensive as in the UK now but spain is cheaper. That’s us up to date. One last photo to remind you why we do this.

We got to Benicarlo and onto the campsite called Alegria Del Mar. We have been here before once or twice. It’s a good stopping point for us. Nice big pitches and close to the sea. Run by an English/ Spanish family. The part we always go in, there are only about twelve pitches so it’s nice and quiet. That is if you don’t count the spanish dogs and cockerels who can’t tell the time and are afraid of the dark. But that’s spain for you. We got set up and then grabbed a cold one from the fridge and the chairs and chilled in the afternoon sun. Happy days. Some old friends of ours who we met there three years ago were there again so good to catch up with them. The next day we decided to cycle from the campsite to Peniscola, it’s all flat along the promenade and about six miles away. I said to Nikki if at anytime you want to turn back just say, it she made it there, had a rest, cake and a drink and then cycled all the way back. A nice twelve mile round trip. I must add that I never had my power on for the whole trip which was just a challenge to myself. When we are here I often wander off to look at the sea, just out the back of the campsite among the big cacti.

After three nights here it was time to move on to our winter destination Villajoyosa. Again the sun was out while we cruised along. 1215 miles after getting off the ferry we arrived at camping imperium in Villajoyosa. We have been here once or twice before also. 1545 miles after leaving Woolacombe and having a bit of a tour before catching the ferry.

Before we could even turn the engine off as we got on our pitch we were greeted by old friends which was nice. All set up in the sun and a beer and a wine as a reward. The next day the weather was not so kind, thunder and lightning and heavy rain all morning. I did think about asking for a refund!

We have been out for a small bike ride today, just to get Nikki bike fit. Yesterday I went out on my own up and around the reservoir which is a ten mile loop. As soon as I get a bit of bike fitness back I will go out with a couple of friends here who are going out and doing about 50/60 km.

last year me and Nikki had a ongoing discussion about Heinz baked beans. Spanish versus English. She says there were more beans in the spanish tins and less sauce compared to the English ones. I said she was talking rubbish and they’re all the same. To prove my point I said I will count them. So the other night we had beans in our meal but before cooking them, yes I counted them. That was the Uk ones. The next time we have beans I will count the spanish Heinz beans but not in Spanish. I won’t tell you how many beans there were in the Uk tin, but will post the results in the next chapter of the blog, that’s if I can stop farting from eating all these beans.

Our two days at Soustons was not long enough but this year we are on a mission to get to the sun in spain. We biked around the lake with a stop at the cake shop to refuel. The French do know how to do cakes, and we know how to eat them. We walked down to the beach. The sea was rough and huge but the sun was out as we strolled along bare feet in the sand reminding ourselves that it was November and our friends we had left behind in the UK were huddled up indoors with the heating on while the rain and wind bashed against the windows.

When we left the next day we hit a traffic jam due to roadworks, but a good photo opportunity to see the camper from a different angle. Nikki took the photo with her phone. And yes we were stopped at the time.

It’s about an hour to the border from Soustons and we were soon in spain and climbing up over the Pyrenees and heading for our next stopover for the night which was to be a leisure centre carpark. We had been there before so knew it was safe and quiet.

Up early this morning and on the road by 8am, we had a long drive today to get to Benicarlo where we booked onto a campsite right by the sea. We have stayed here a few times before. There are a couple of routes to get there, one which I wanted to try but was advised not really suitable for a big camper so we stuck with the route sat nav was going to send us. I must say our new sat nav is doing very well. The route was nearly all motorway but we cruised along at about 60 mph. The motorway was really quiet as lorry’s are not allowed to drive on Sunday’s unless they are carrying perishable goods. The road was open, the sun was out, spanish radio was playing and we were clocking up the miles. We came off one section of motorway to a road that would take us over a huge mountain. Up and up and around hairpin bends we went. With a huge big drop off on my side and bend after bend it was interesting. Nikki was hanging on to the door handle and had stopped breathing and to be honest looked terrified. After the decent the other side with me saying I would love to do this on my skateboard or my bike when we got to the bottom and levelled out she started to breath again. Good job really as she had gone a bit red.

275 miles after leaving Cascante we arrived at The campsite at Benicarlo and parked up. Off for a shower and chair out in the sun with a nice cold beer. The long drive was worth it. We are here for three nights then move on to Villajoyosa.

Up bright and early to get to the ferry terminal, all of about five miles from the campsite out side Poole but don’t like to be late. Checked in and lined up waiting and one of the ferry terminal workers came up to us and asked if we minded being parked on the lower deck because they are having trouble with one of the doors so we have to drive on and turn around on the ferry so we can come of the same way at the other end. Trouble with the door, is the seal leaking I asked. No no it’s fine I knew as soon as I said that it sounded wrong he said. I told Nikki to get online and join the RNLA and get a couple of T shirts, that way if the ferry goes down when they come to rescue us they will see we are members and save us first. Luckily the ferry never sunk and we had a calm crossing.

We got off the ferry at 2pm and the idea was to drive to an aire we went to last year for the first night, but the sun was out and the roads were good so we went for plan B which was to drive a bit further. We are on a mission to get to spain this year because we only have three months away instead of our usual four because of changing our jobs next year. More of that later. We got to a bigger supermarket and decided that was enough driving, the light was fading fast, I was getting tired and hungry. Good nights sleep and loverly and quiet after the supermarket closed at 7.30 pm. In the morning Nikki strolled across to the supermarket to get a couple of French sticks etc. The name of the town was called Nozay where we were parked. Do you get the title now. We had breakfast and then fuelled up and out on the road heading for a campsite near Montendre called Twin lakes which we have stayed on before.

The drive was a long one and it was raining. The French have changed there speed limits from 90 to 80 kmh on some roads and you can get a speeding ticket now, so I had to watch my speed, and Nikki also watched it for me and the sat nav also told me if I was going over the limit. Trouble is the motorhome drives so nice and just wants to go. But we did save on fuel sticking to 55/60 mph. We were actually getting 27.4 mpg. Not bad at all for a 30 ft 5 ton campervan.

The idea of going back to Twin lakes was that when we were there three years ago we met two loverly couples and had such a laugh, down at the bar early doors. Sadly one of the guys died about 18 months ago. His wife has since sold the motorhome because it was to big for her on her own and bought a smaller one. We said we were going to go back to the site and raise a glass for dear old Bill, which we did. RIP Bill you were a star.

We left Twin lakes this morning and headed for our favourite aire Soustons which is where we will be for a couple of days before crossing into Spain on Saturday.

After leaving the Devizes campsite we headed for Rookesbury park, a campsite in Hampshire. After turning off the main road a long sweeping drive took us down into the campsite. What a fantastic campsite it was. Very quiet and right on the edge of Bere forest which I planned to explore. Not too many peaple here either because it closed the week we were there. We walked into Wickham the nearest village, through the forest and along a old railway line. Later that day I went to explore in the forest, talking to nobody except the trees and bushes and myself. No I am not going mad but there was no one else to talk to.

After a couple of days on the site we headed for Lipook which is where I had to get my levelling jacks serviced. Pulling into a small industrial estate and trying to find a small unit was fun but we found it. Greeted by an Eastern European  guy who said he was going to service my jacks. I told him about the loss of power to them and he started to scratch his head and started to take all the dash board panels off and then scratch his head again. I don’t think he had nits he was just trying to come up with solutions. At this point I was losing confidence in him. My motorhome is my baby and I said to him, shall I rebook for another day? His reply, if you come back another day the problem will still be here, I will fix it. I walked away and he turned to Nikki and said your husband does not trust me. She informed him that the motorhome was my baby.

While I was outside the workshop talking to another guy, I asked him if the guy pulling my motorhome apart knew his stuff. He assured me he will fix it and knows what he is doing and is very trustworthy. My confidence was restored. About an hour later the job was done, the fault found and the jacks serviced. I shook the guys hand and apologised to him for not trusting him. He was cool about it. We then left there and drove to our next campsite south lychett manor just outside Poole which is where we always start our winter trip and end it. Time to catch up with family and friends. And here we are today, Sunday with one more sleep and then on the ferry tomorrow morning and sail at 8.30 am to Cherbourg.

No we’re not on a plane. The photos below are from our walk today. Out the campsite right onto the tow path of the Kennet and Avon canal. This section runs between Ronde and Devizes in Wiltshire. The two mile stretch has 29 locks and rises 237 feet in that two miles. The most impressive bit and the bit I wanted to photograph is a flight of 16 locks. It’s a steep flight in a straight line up the hillside. Very impressive. There is a cafe at the top where we had a hot drink and a slice of cake. Also a good rest to get ready for the walk back to the campsite. Two miles each way. Not the best of days for photos but I got the shot I wanted and really enjoyed the walk.