We were up with the alarm to attend our first Spanish lesson. We went through the alphabet learning how to pronounce the twenty seven letters. The extra letter is ñ, so they have n and a rolling ñ. We didn't get very far in an hour but it felt like a good start.
After a good chat with our Brummie neighbours we mounted the bikes and once again headed to Castellòn looking for the Monday market. Once we reached the city we took a different route and ended too far south. We headed into the centre and came across an art exhibition in a lovely park and then fortuitously we happened on the tourist information who provided us with a map and some directions to the market. We got there as some stalls had started to pack away but we got the veg we wanted.
Next stop Lidi for more provisions and a couple of bottles of vino. We were loaded to the hilt so decided to cycle to Grao so that we could get onto the promenade and take the flattest route home for another extremely late lunch. We managed two games of Pétanque with Val on scintillating form giving me a severe spanking 13-7 and 13-6, in the words of the Greatest, whupped. By the time we has finished it was almost time for Pointless.
A quiet night in was enjoyed by all and the evening involved two episodes of Suits. We are nothing if not predictable. Then it was time to practice some Spanish before saying buenos notches. Campistas felices.
22 November 2016
The rain in Spain falls mainly on Benicasim or at least it did today. We didn't even have a shower till almost lunch time as it was too wet to leave the van.
The afternoon didn't improve much so we tried to spend the day doing administration or at least that's what we called it.
It's nice to have the odd day doing very little but it doesn't give me much to write about. More rain is forecast for tomorrow and if it's the same as today I'll just have to make something up. Night night happy campers.
23 November 2016
Rainy days and Wednesday's always let me down. Another day with time on our hands. We spent the morning watching the lead up to the Autumn Statement and then most of the afternoon watching the analysis.
The rain stopped late in the day so we quickly got on the bikes and had a ride into town to Mercadona. We stocked up with a few supplies and by the time we got back it was dark but we has three minutes to spare before Pointless.
We settled in for what we thought was a quiet night but then we heard what I thought was Ding Dong. It wasn't her but a ding dong going on between a new couple who arrived yesterday. It interrupted our viewing pleasure and Suits had to be paused, how dare they. Things quietened down after a few expressions of what my grandma used to call the Manchester language and we pressed play to resume our previous entertainment. Happy days.
The forecast for tomorrow is thankfully better and it's market day in town. Thursday is also the day we usually book for the paella lunch although Val wasn't that enamoured with last week's serving so we might go somewhere else for some nosebag. Night night happy campers.
24 November 2016
We were on the bikes at about 10:30 but didn't get off the site without a chit chat with our Brummie neighbours. We cycled in the sunshine back along the via verde into Oropesa. We parked the bikes up and walked up to the Tower which wasn't much to look at. We walked on to the lighthouse and beyond. There were waves crashing against the rocks throwing spray high up into the air.
After we had done the tourist bit we got back on the bikes and after a bit of searching found the market. We spent the grand total of €1 on a kilo of tomatoes after cycling about 16km with another 16km to go back. Still it was a lovely ride along the old railway track looking out to sea.
We had a change from our usual paella and opted to eat in town. We ended up stuffed after a lunch of salad, croquettes, bread, goulash, chicken, crepes, coffee and a few cans of Bulgarian beer. How we managed to cycle back to the van whilst bursting at the seems is beyond comprehension.
We have eight more nights left in Benicasim. By the time we leave here on the 2 December we will have averaged 23 miles a day, spent £4.75 a day on fuel and £5.56 a day on camping since we moved out of Wyre Close on the 1 September. That doesn't include the £0.13 a day we have averaged on toll roads, giving a grand total of £10.45 per day average. Not too bad for a couple of old codgers.
You'll never guess what Val watched at 6:15 Spanish. After that we has a FaceTime with Lisa Loo and then down to the clubhouse for the Man Utd game. Half time 1-0 up after a great save from Romereo and a good finish from Rooney. Mhykatarian is still trying to make an impact on the game. Rooney played with more intensity, Mhyka needs to do the same and upped his game in the second half. His best performance so far and Rooney's best since Fergie left. 4-0 at the end and well deserved, they broke the Feyenords hearts midway through the second half. Maktum.
25 November 2016
After a late night watching the football we had a little bit of a lie in. That's the worst of being an hour ahead it means an 8pm kick off is 9pm over here.
We were off a little late for the ride into Castellòn but got there to pick up some sale offers at Lidl. 5 large cans of beer for €1, we had to have some of that. The plan was to cycle to Grao to go to the market but I wasn't feeling too good so we headed back finding a different way to get to the promenade. I'd put a thick jumper on and gloves but I wished I'd worn a jacket. I don't know if it's because I was off colour but it felt like the coldest day I've experienced since we left the UK although we passed an electronic sign saying it was 17°.
I felt better after having a sleep in the tent and finally felt like eating and then felt much better so much so that Val made a great curry for dinner which was the highlight of the evening. We watched a couple of episodes of you know what and then I caught up with the blog before heading the hay. The forecast is for light rain tomorrow but that is with the BBC so anything could happen. Night night happy campers.
26 November 2016
We waved goodbye to our Brummie friend Gerald and Angela who were heading for Santander and the ferry back home. Let's hope the sailing aren't interrupted by the weather.
The forecast here isn't very good for the next few days but brighter Thursday and Friday when we leave. That should give us chance to get our tent down when it's dry and get the beading washed and dried before we leave.
The heavens opened mid morning with thunder, lightning and hailstones. It went on for some time and there was a river running down the middle of the site. I was watching the Test Match in India and the some snooker whilst this was going on. It finally cleared whilst I was watching the F1 Qualifying. I went over to some neighbours from the Midlands. They had been struggling to get the TV going and it turns out it had gone kaput overnight and they had thrown it in the skip. There are three of them, a couple and a chap on his own and all haven't got a scooby doo with their laptops and iPads. The chap on his own had bought a new iPad and an Apple Mac and could only use the iPad for photographs. I spent a good hour with them setting up TV on their devices and helping the single chap recover his original iTunes setting and authorising his new iPad.
We went down town on the bikes to make sure we had bread for tomorrow as the shops where we get our bread don't open on Sundays. We got back just before darkness fell.
A nice quiet evening is the plan with what's left of the Ruby from last night, a touch of Strictly and maybe an episode of Suits. Happy days.
27 November 2016
We woke late just in time for Andrew Marr. I squeezed in a quick shower and some Cricket coverage from India before the Andrew Neil show. After that it was get one or two jobs done before the Grand Prix.
Next came the football. We need to score some goals to turn this season around but it's hard to see where they are going to come from at the moment. Frustrating but hey ho.
Next came the Strictly results and then we squeezed in an episode of Suits. We have hardly done a thing but it's somehow been a busy day. Another thunderstorm just as we are going to bed. Lots of lightning and big booms of thunder but it feels nice and cozy in the van. Happy campers.
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