Walking on Water

Crevillent

We have put down roots for a few weeks at Camping Marjal near Alicante. It is a good cycling spot with lots to explore. This is generally a pretty healthy lifestyle. Except when you fall off your bike, which I managed whilst trying to pull the Kray’s cart (normally Nia’s job) through a gap slightly narrower than the cart a couple of days ago.

The picture above shows Crevillent in the distance; it is a town in the hills about 6 miles away that we cycled to. It was a bit of a slog up there against the wind and gravity but a lovely downwind freewheel back.

Pomegranates

The road to Crevillent is lined by pomegranate plantations. Also solar panels…there is a solar farm en route.

Solar Farm

Sunrise at Marjal

There are a lot of palm trees about here. They are apparently under attack at the moment by palm weevils and we see piles of burnt palms from time to time.

Market at Almoradí

On Saturday we cycled with our Dutch friends Adrian and Rite, who we met at Petanque, to the market at Almoradí, a town a bit to the west.

Banana Shopping

This is me shopping for fruit and veg, with my stylish fluorescent cycle pannier. Luckily the colour goes well with the bananas.

Frocks

There is much to buy here. Sadly we weren’t in the market for flamenco frocks that day.

Fans

Or fans.

Church at Almoradí

There is a pretty church here which is surrounded by trees cleverly pruned into hollow discs…hard to describe and difficult to get the full effect in a photo.

The Bride

We spotted this bridal party heading churchwards.

Tapas at Almoradí

We stopped for a few tapas. The two guys on the table at the back are a retired Belgian lorry driver and his wife who kindly shared their table with us. He has an apartment at Torrevieja, about 25 miles away.

Cycle Home from Almoradí

We wobbled back to Mavis, replete.

Flamingos at Parque Natural el Fondo

On Sunday morning we took the Krays for a walk around the local nature reserve and watched the flamingos doing their clever walking on water trick as they land.

Sunday Lunch at Catrall

Our next door neighbours here, Adrian (yes…the campsite is full of Adrians) and Janice are a lovely couple who have reserved a pitch here for a year. Adrian drove me to the local supermarket in his souped up mini cooper on our first day here for a stock up on grub and other essentials. For Sunday lunch we went to a Chinese restaurant in the next town…Catrall…with Adrian and Janice, and Rite and Adrian.

Donkey Parade

It is a long bank holiday weekend in Spain her at the moment and this donkey cart parade swung by whilst we were scoffing noodles and spring rolls.

Bank Holiday Weekend

The campsite is full for the holiday, with thousands of Spanish kids zooming about on scooters and bikes, like guided missiles, (or as Nia said, unguided missiles) in all directions. Its a really nice atmosphere.

Dawn at El Fondo

I got up early to snap the flamingos at el Fondo. They kindly positioned themselves in front of the rising sun for me.

Flamingos

Flamingos

Egret

There were also a lot of Egrets, egretting about.

Fast Food

And a few rabbits scurrying here and there.

Today has been very hot, in the thirties. Nia did the washing and it was dry almost before it was hung up. I cooked…barbecued pork in a salsa/paprika marinade with a tomato and avocado salad, dressed (OK splashed with) home mixed balsamic dressing. Yummy? I couldn’t possibly say.

Plans for Tuesday….Spanish lesson in the morning then a trip to Catral for a bit of shopping.

About Peter and Nia

Rambling about Europe with the Kray Twins (Colin and Penny).