The Hard Road to Peniscola

Wednesday 1st April

April fools day, and we're heading to a place called Peniscola. No joke! Well of course we made lots of jokes, we're Aussies after all. So today we are going to continue on the BTT 10, along the coastline to take us to Dickcoke (see, one of the many poor names we made up while trudging the tracks).

What now? Oh, my seat, that's right.

After a very short distance, I remembered (because my legs told me), that I was supposed to put my seat up again. It gradually drops over a couple of days, very annoying. So, first stop for maintenance, and go again.

Shall we buy this one Will? Fixer upper!

We passed lots of areas that had empty houses and buildings, like this, it is a bit sad. They have been wrecked and vandalised, and just completely abandoned.

Starting to look like the Mundabiddi.

At last we found the track, and it took us back to the Mundabiddi Adventure. This time we seemed to handle it a bit better. Will was struggling a little today, as he seems to have woken with a bit of a cold. He is coughing heaps, and not powering up those hills like usual. Hopefully he will come good.

I am totally smashing it out. Can't catch the jogger though.

Meanwhile I am going great guns, and having to wait for him, poor Will, now I know how he must feel most of the time. But the track was fun, and great scenery reminded us of WA. Lots of little coves with pebble beaches, and although it wasn't really warm, there were plenty of people soaking up the rays.

How far till you know what and coke?

We managed to keep finding the little yellow arrows for our track, and luckily a proper sign with distances etc. They are rare in Spain. It was tough going, and we had only done about 15kms, we decided to find a spot to have a bit of Choritzo and bread, we had bought yesterday.

Down hill on the gravel. ..not too fast this time.

A few downhills, and we came to a cute little bay with pretty easy beach access. So it was the perfect opportunity to put our feet (well, Wiils' feet, way too cold for my puppies) in the Med. A good break for Will, he was suffering. But determined to get to good old Peniscola (funny every time).

You can go deeper Will, all the sharks are in Oz.

It's the view that keeps me going. Especially uphill.

Our first view of the town we wanted to get to, and it was great. The track was now winding right along the coast, but heading up, up, and up! Oh gees Louise, the downhill better be worth it. At least we had the turret to focus on. Once we got there, it was the top. Oh that looks dead easy......hmmm....I'm getting hungry again, just thinking about this bloody hill.

Look closely and you can see the zigzag road UP.

Ugh, this is only half way.....

Halfway up, and we had to stop to let some cars pass. Oh, and to catch our breath. Poor Will, he was loosing his voice, and feeling the pain, but still we only had to walk one small (steep) section. Then, woo hoo, huff, puff, yeah! Got to the top!

Yay,  at the top. Don't you feel like "Rocky" ?

Then down the other side, which wasn't the super speedy downhill run I was hoping for. But still down. Gave us good views of where we are going.

Oh wow!  Is that the tip of Peniscola we can see? He he he.

It's getting bigger....

Feeling buggered now, and in need of beer! It was well passed beer o'clock by our standards, we pushed up a few more bloody hills then rolled down into the main town, right to a beachside cafe. We managed to get a beer, then sat for ages waiting for them to ask if we wanted something else. We felt, for the first time, that they wished we would piss off. But we didn't, we ordered some tapas and another beer. 

Sardines...fresh.  Yes,  we did eat them. 

But not the heads. It's not a survival situation yet.

Got that down us, and booked a bungalow one of the local camping grounds. Another 3kms out of town up a goddamn hill. So we got there and they spoke very little English, and had not received our booking yet. I had to get out the IPad and show them the confirmation. Bit of a trauma, but finally got to our bungalow. Ha ha ha ha, the Hobbits House......

Aaha ha ha ha...only bumped his head three times. 

We checked it out! No sheets, no loo roll, and the shower cubical....oh dear Will, you may have to shake and wiggle to get wet in here...

What?  How?  Too funny. 

The worst was yet to come.....having a shower was an adventure, as it wouldn't drain properly. I went first, and made the discovery in the nick of time. I did pass on the info to Will, but as he was not really well, and trying to kill the bugs with beer and red wine, he had a flooding incident. Yep, the Hobbits House got flooded.......woops!  Better get out of here quick smart tomorrow...