Roadtrip!
I set off yesterday from Valencia to explore the coast south and beyond. As always I join a few groups on Facebook at the towns im passing through to gather info and find places to park up for the night. I use a selection of apps and don’t always hit the jackpot as its often not a safe feeling or not pretty. I do love a black!!
A fellow van dweller from Bristol, Marc, kindly recommended Xeraco a week earlier so I got in contact and he met me and showed me a great spot right by the beach.
After a quiet night, (lets not talk about all the mossy bites that wake me often) I woke early this morning to the sound of waves and set off in a previous failed mission of some sea caves along the coast from Denia called Cova Tallada (Cova is cave - geddit?). Recently id showed up at 10am only to find it swamped with tourists, something ive been trying to avoid where possible.
I drove through the mountains in the early mists, orange groves for miles and small smoke plumes where the farmers were clearing debris. It was beautiful. The oranges are not yet ready im reliably informed and they are bitter as hell, they look so luscious and orange you just want to try them only to be bitterly disappointed (lol) Also I learn that if a field has no boundaries, subject to fair use like your internet package, you can help yourself. Im not busy looking for pomegranate, butternut, orange, lemon, and all manner of goodies to fill my little rucksack!
Arriving at the nearest road to the caves I was one of only three cars, brilliant!
Id read up on the hike, 45 mins and a little tricky, they weren’t wrong! Narrow paths up and down the cliffs sheer drops and chains to hang on to! Ive noticed on the last few hikes ive been feeling a small degree of vertigo, I hear its common in women of a certain age and it makes me quite disappointed and more determined to go on, that said im so glad I got new boots a few weeks ago, the grip is insane!
Reaching the caves I scrambled up the wet rocks - my t short was wet and it wasn’t the sea, more fear of slipping and the strenuous hike. A few pics and a drink and I trekked back to the van in a now almost full car park.
Back on the road I was already thinking about where I might park up this evening. Looking ahead I was going to pass Benidorm and Alicante, neither of which I fancied. I prefer small towns and pretty little villages - but it was interesting to drive through the almost desolate tired tourist hotspots. Very strange to see empty restaurants and quiet streets.
After a couple of failed attempts at not so suitable spots I found talk of a peninsula online La Manga, with a spot right at the end. It was a good hour out of my way but you have to work for the good stuff sometimes!! On I drove and I passed so many high towers like buildings, some hotels and some residences, many for sale and again empty streets, although it is out of season and only 24 deg! After what seemed like forever the road narrowed - I had the sea either side of me and it felt a big wave would wash you away! I was at the end finally and arrived almost on a little beach. A couple of other vans were there and both not super friendly so i walked on the beach and made some food. And this brings me to now.
A Spanish guy in a motorhome has just pulled up next to me, we’ve had a chat, Jose (oh please rolls eyes) has gone fishing - this is about all we can manage to work out as our command of each others language is so bad haha!!
Anyway im going to sign off and enjoy a glass of wine and the cool breeze of the med.
