Monday 16 October 2017
Today was our first chance to visit some of the places that stage 8 went through. We had seen the stage at Villena, so headed to Yucla, which was earlier in stage than where we saw. We looked around the town and the central square which contained a statue depicting various festivals with a man holding a gun!
We considered going up to the monastery but decided to move onto Jumilla. We stopped at had some lunch and then went to visit the Monastery to Santa Anna. Set on a hilltop overlooking the town. We stopped for fresh air at a rest site on the hill, which had a large stone bbq where you could prepare food fr a group of you while shading from the sun under the trees around the hillside.
Being a Monday, the Monastery and chapel were closed, so we headed back towards Alicant, stopping at a bodega to buy some red and white wine to see us through the week.
Distance travelled 141 miles driving, 1.9 miles walking
Tuesday 17 October 2017
Decided to head south to Lorca and the coast at Aguilas and return up the coast.
Lorca was a nice city, thou we didn’t stop in the centre as was lunchtime and very busy with traffic. The road to Aguilas was a dual carriageway as this is a main holiday destination. We got out and had a walk along the front, but it wasn’t the sort of place we enjoy and nor was there anywhere nice to stop and eat lunch.
We decided to move on and find a quiet spot to eat. We headed along the coast road and found a spot called Playa de la Cola. Presently, it is undeveloped but with a village at the end of the cove which appears to be under total redevelopment into holiday villas etc. After a rest and food, we continued along the coast road, which was the old road before they build the motorway. Very mountainous and twisty before eventually arriving at Cartagena and travelling back to Alicant
Distance travelled 245 miles, 0.8 walking
Wednesday 18 October 2017
All this week the Volvo Ocean Race has been based in Alicant before heading off around the world. We thought a restful day down in the City centre and viewing what was happening would be nice. We decided against the car as from previous experience know how difficult it it to get parked so took the bus down to the front. We got off and headed out past the marina, and the bars where in a past visit we had watched some of the games in the world cup. Had a look at some of the stands of sponsors and so on, took some pictures of the boats (as you do) and started to head back to the front.
One boat that hadn’t expected to see was either the “broomwagen” or the medical facility for the race.
While there I saw something that almost made me think the boating lot had there heads screwed on when I saw hiding in the corner a communications truck.
Either to return home or walk along to Santa Barbara castle, in all the times we have visited, have never been there. The skies became every dark and there was the rumble of thunder, we thought we would get caught in a downpour, but the front missed all the rain, however as we caught bus home could see that further out the rain had come and the run off was something to be seen. We planned to go to castle in the evening and get the sunset, but I think the driving over last couple days took it out of me and slumped in sofa and was still there as the sun set.
Distance on bus 5.3miles, 3.1 walking
Thursday 19 October 2017
Today we headed into North West Murcia to visit the start town of stage 10 from the Vuelta, Caravaca de la Cruz. Before the summer, had no idea that the town was one of the Perpetual Jubilee joining Santiago de la Compostela, Santo Toribio de Liebana, Rome and Jerusalem https://www.murciaturistica.es/en/caravaca_de_la_cruz/ On the way, we stopped at Mule and looked round and headed to a reservoir to have lunch, unfortunately, it was barred to the public to reach the dam,
so we continued on via small small roads and olive groves to Bullas where we found a most delightful waterfalls at Salto del Usero.
We stopped there for a while and had some food and a rest, time was getting on so he headed back to the motorway and decided that was better not to get to Caravaca, but stop at Cehegin for a coffee before heading back to Alicant.
Distance travelled 198 miles
Friday 20 October 2017
Today was a revisit to places we have been before and a few new ones. Heading to Benitatxell and Combre del Sol where stage 9 finished.
On the day of race, we had to walk up towards the summit, today was different and drove all the way to the top. Glad didn’t need to walk or cycle up it! At the summit, being completely exposed it was very windy, so we had a walk around and decided to have lunch at Cap de Sant Antoni, from here we could look over the point and towards Benitatxell in the distance.
After some sandwiches and a drink, we headed to Denia for coffee and a walk along the front, before driving up along the coast to Grau i Platja for a walk, coffee and so as to head back, hopefully to get back to Alicant at dusk to take pictures from Ste Barbara castle.
White Bridge 