Pedalling on Regardless

No two cycling days are the same. Luckily, this was a much easier day. Perhaps not as memorable however, more a relaxed micro-touring day.

If you have ever wondered about Spanish Hostals, perhaps Hostal El Mercat would reassure you. Pedro, our host, sets high standards and runs a tight ship, while showing great kindness and good humour.

Here’s where the bikes spent the night in an interior quad. Note the DIY bike rack above built from a pallet.

We enjoyed a good breakfast at the local market cafe, as recommended by Pedro. Toast and tomato with oil is a Spanish staple. This was our first of this trip. Good coffee and (bottled) orange. We were then invited to pop next door to the bakery and make our choice of pastry. That’s the way to do it!

Jacqui of course used the opportunity to show off her increasing mastery of the Spanish language.

The hostel and the local area reminded us strongly of Algoz. Villajoyoso is much bigger however. Its a city, but with a local village feel at its centre. That’s the hostel in the centre of the picture.

We did of course get a little lost leaving in the morning. Not lost really, just confused. However, overall the Komoot app did a good job today, directing us well from start to finish.

Our first stopping off point was Benidorm. We feared it, but to be honest, it was not so bad. We cycled in, through and out on segregated bike paths. They were mostly of paint and many in the centre of the road, but once we got used to the idea we welcomed them. We did feel safe.

The beach front was much better than we expected.

We stopped for drinks and ‘free’ nibbles on the front and people watched for a while before heading off for our hotel in Altea.

We arrived around 14.30 and stopped for drinks on the front. We decided to risk our first selfie. They are tricky as we try to manage a wee bit of a height differential. Here goes:

Then it was off to find the Hotel San Miguel with Google Maps as our guide. It turned out to be a popular restaurant and absolutely mobbed – not a free table to be seen. The welcome was warm and efficient however and we were given a room key and a promise the bikes would be found a berth once the rush was over. So it proved.

We ended the night evening with an excellent salad and seafood dinner while watching many many people turned away. The San Miguel clearly enjoys an excellent well deserved reputation.

Over dinner we finally sorted out our strategy for this trip. Micro-touring along the coast is to be the way forward and we will make time for a city break in Valencia if time and circumstances allow before we fly home.