Valencia to Borriana, via the bike shop and the ghost town

Monday 30th March.

Riding out of Valencia had some difficulties that you would not perceive. First, there was the "Getting out of bed". Thank you cheap beer and Sangria on tap for 1€. Then there was the changing of the clocks to daylight saving, which meant he sun didn't come up until after 8am. Lastly there was the fact that Will and I are lazy. We managed to head to the Taverna, where we wasted our first hour in Valencia , to eat a croissant and have an excellent coffee each to try to get things happening. But it still took us until 10am to leave the building, on the pretence we were on our way.

First stop at a bike shop.

Nope, just got to the bike shop, as Will, was desperate for a tarpaulin. We need one to sit on, or cover the bikes (actually are very handy). Got two bike covers for 1€ each...Bargin! He wanted cycling maps for Spain but no luck.

Wierd playground in Valencia

Riding through the dry river bed.

Navigating out of Valencia was not difficult, but the traffic was. Still awesome, giving us heaps of room etc, but lots of traffic which is always stressful.  We found ourselves a bike path along the N340, that went for ages. It was great.

Made it out of the city.

We paused at a service station to have a break from the traffic and use their toilet, and were surprised at the fully automated pumps, and abandoned shop/cafeteria. We were keen for some food, but there was none. So we scoffed a muesli bar and kept going. We weaved our way to another town,  and managed to stumble on a Bocodilla/bar. Time for a ham, cheese,  tomato roll and a beer.

Trying to find the N 340, which we had read from other bloggers, was a great road to ride, we found ourselves on some cool little back roads. Through lots of farm land and old streets, with some awesome views and possible wrong turns. But hey, who cares, there is no right or wrong here.

Another crazy back road adventure

Mandarins. In the middle of nowhere.

Artichokes to the right, red cabbage to the left, oranges, locuts, irrigation channels and stinky ducks and cows. Castles and forts, police and prostitutes, we had it all today.

Stay off that N340, the back roads are more fun.

I think we are on here somewhere. 

Irrigation channels

Seaside boardwalks

What is next?

We stopped more than ever trying to find our way, but it was a great day. We aimed for Platje De Nules, which is a camp ground on the beach at Nules. It seemed that this place was a bit of a ghost town.   The camp ground didn't actually exist. After 61kms, we discovered there was no where to stay, so what to do? You know it, beer!

All these brand new apartments, empty! 

Half done and abandoned.

Not happy Jan! Nowhere to stay here.

                     

Then we got on Booking.com and found a hotel another 6kms North, and with the super juice in our systems (love you Sam Miguel), pumped out those 6kms to Hotel Aloha! Corny, I know, but so fucking good to get there.

Aloha hotel!  I am knackered.

Oh, and guess what? No Bloody English! Well I don't speak any either after 2 full strength beers and 67kms on a bicycle...............but charades was fun and Sinor at reception had a good sense of humour. 

The life blood.

Now for the shower story.....

Some things that you don't think about when travelling. Things you take for granted at home. Like how you turn the tap and hot water comes out, or you just "go to the toilet". Well it IS only at home. As you can imagine, after a day of riding your bike in 28C, covered in sunscreen, and sweat, you really look forward to a nice hot shower. So you get to the hotel room, and chuck your gear into the corner, and head for the shower. Ok? It doesn't look anything like yours at home! Hmmmm! Nobs, not taps! 

See that shelf at the top? It's not a shelf! 

After you figure out how to make the water run, and hot, you get your shampoo and get a bit on Your hand, and need to put your bottle somewhere......oh, yep, up on top. Uh, oh, shit, where did it go? Fuck! It's gone! What do you mean gone? Did you spill it? Nope! It's gone? Hey? Yep, gone, the whole bottle, had disappeared. Gone! Just gone! The thing is like a time machine, maybe we'll catch up to the shampoo in the future somewhere....but gee it's funny!

Dinner was awesome, beers were too, and the view is bloody amazing! What will tomorrow bring?