Benny Chapter 2

We leave Mick & Deb and a peaceful Ricote to return to the mayhem that is Benidorm!

We pick up Martyn from Alicante airport and soon arrive at Camping Villasol where a customary beer is had on the terrace overlooking the Benidorm skyline

'Smiler' is soon bored rigid as I explain the latest wiring addition to the van

Time to hit Benny and a walk through the leafy suburbs....

You have to be kidding right?

After a few tapas we are soon trawling the seafront bars

Kinda ironic!

At this point reason has departed and we find ourselves (by design) back in the Piccadilly Bar 

Moments later I'm murdering a famous tune on my Karaoke debut. Nina is very forgiving but poor Martyn wishes he was a million miles away...

Thick heads are evened out on a couple of mornings during the week by visiting a local breakfast bar that lays on familiar nosh for the lad

Strolls in to the Old Town become the norm and the weather is superb in the main

"Fancy a drive down to the coast Luv?"

Just hustling for some money

One day we take a stupidly detoured long bus ride to 'nearby' Altea for a change

This volleyball beach court looks prone to ankle injuries

A beer serenaded by this busker in the sun went down well 

Now then, quite conveniently we discover the Tropical Bar not too far from the site which shows Footie & Darts if you ask them nicely

Darts for the Boy on one screen...

And a run down of the upcoming Tribute Bands appearing in said gaff shortly on the other

Olly Murs getting hands on with Nina several hours later

By complete contrast next day a walk in the sun is done around the headland in to a seemingly different world to air our heads a little

Soon we are back on Planet Reality and admiring this bizarre piece of design

Its Mother's Day and we embark on another tapas run

Martyn stumps up the Cocktails for us all and we enjoy some seriously intense sunshine at a nice terraced bar in the second bay

Final day and the three of us call at Villajoyosa just short of Benny and park the van up for the afternoon 

The stroll is done nicely in to the quaint seaside town and hearty burgers are consumed at a favourite cafe of ours

All too soon the time arrives to drop the Lad off at Alicante airport and despatch him back to Blighty

We all had a really good week and managed admirably together in the van on the site

A bit cramped for Martyn up front sleeping across the put up bed but he didn't complain although I suspect next time a more comfortable hotel will be in order

The first time its just been the three of us away and hopefully to be repeated often....

The Clarkes sample Ricote

The batteries perform well and fingers crossed we are back on track again power wise 

The next few days are spent walking the hills around the village and soaking up the sunshine

This doesn't last long as we endure a full day of torrential rain and are confined to the van with Nina stitching and me watching the antics of our fellow travellers

The local dump truck from the council got this poor guy out the myre

Along come the cheery Clarke contingent to brighten things up and soon Deb is rescuing escaped chickens from their quarters nearby

Sangria for the Pet rescuers....

Stupidity naturally prevails come evening time with impromptu painting of my bino lens covers...

I call this shot 'Glasshopper'

A more sensible Mick lagging behind on our hill walk next day

The girls...

One of those pesky 'Procession caterpillar' nests

'Three Top Colourful Birds'

Mick doing his now famous..

...Katsu Curry

More walking this time up to what is left of the Castle

Muppets on Tour

Being Bombed...

Some well deserved tapas one day in the afternoon heat.

After having had a couple of beers the boys (Mick really) do some electrical wiring alterations in the van to enable me to charge gizmos directly off my solar controller, a well thought out plan initially but executed with spinning beer heads

Everything works and we now prep ourselves for our forthcoming return to Benny and a week with Martyn who flies out to Alicante

La Hoya & The Batteries

So nice to be spoiled now and again isn't it?

Well thats the case here at Casa Rudo

Not really part of his on site management plan but these guys are really happy to have us stay and sort ourselves out battery wise 

Impressive sunsets add to the ambience

Early March weather 

Our timing is perfect and we soon enjoy the hospitalities as Dorine cooks enormous Gambas for the campers on site

She presented three of these huge paella dishes for the guests to consume

Happy days!

Beauty & the Beast

A cracking ride in to Aspe through the hills one day on Max is rewarded with lunchtime tapas with huge portions and knock down prices

A cycle ride in to nearby La Hoya has us availing ourselves of the Menu Da Dia which at €7.50 each seemed like a good idea Stan....

I give in to Rudy's insistence on pool sampling and brave the 17 degs water temp in the name of all things British

Bit different from the 30 degs in July!

OK I have the theory (backed up by numerous WhatsApp comms with my travelling buddies) 

Now I have the batteries courtesy of Rudy & Co Couriers...

What could possibly go wrong?

I have to say that the service from Tayna.co.uk was excellent and their promise of delivery to Spain of three working days held up nicely

Both Banner leisure batteries, vent pipes & cap removal tool delivered for £258.00

Batteries fitted as per plan the two Happy Bunnies go off to a nearby massive shopping complex with fellow campers

Some retail therapy is undertaken for the girls in preparation for the main event..

We visit an Argentinian restaurant where the theory is you get the basic additions to your meal, rice, chips, salad...etc at the start of proceedings, then they bring you a never ending supply of freshly grilled meats on skewers to the table

Pieces are carved off at your desire and the trick is to pace yourself nicely for the next couple of hours. Problem was I was nearest the waiter and he selected me first for serving so great willpower was employed in order to reach the finishing post without consuming too many of the 'cheap meats' and thus missing out on the better quality stuff due to a bloated belly!

A nice experience but we would give it a miss next time we think as its too much of a 'Faff'

We prefer Dorine's cooking anyway!

Time comes to say farewell, at least till our return in June, and we set off back to Ricote on possible the hottest day so far

Next day back at the battery testing base in the hills Gino & Kathy visit us from Casa Rudy on the Beast (actually a Kawasaki 1400 GTR)

Relieved of leathers we visit the local restaurant at lunch for a cooling drink and a tapa

Much hilarity at the bar as we just have to order the 'Tuna Orgasm'

Mildly disappointing but tasty nevertheless. Was I expecting something else?

The Belgian contingent bid their farewells and continue on their tour of the surrounding hills and back to La Hoya

Takes us back a few years does this and TBH I quite fancy the idea of a big tourer again but those leathers look a bit too warm today...

Next day we set off walking again down the valley to Ojos where we see this underrock parking arrangement. Bet that flimsy netting will do the trick....

A cafe is duly found and refreshment taken for the explorers

As ever the days are filled with sunbathing and stitching

Nice life this!