Week 2 to Week 5 Benicassim

2^nd week

09/01/13

Benicassim, Bonterra Park Camp site Chose our spot right opposite swimming pool, no sun in morning, but had it in afternoon. 1 month cheaper rate

10/01/13

Thursday morning market, rode our bikes up there. Mike H from New Companions turned up out of the blue parked between us. (£28.64 Orange phone)

The New Companions Club at Bonterra, LtoR Me, Mike, Brian and Barbara

12/01/13

My friend Nuala, from my first trip to Spain in 1994 turned up to say Hello. She was now living in an apartment having lost her husband a few years back. She said Hello to lots of people on site. Had dinner in 2B's van, lovely Lasagne.

15/01/13

Bike ride to Castellón 33.5km, bit of a trek, but just about made it. The wind was a bit strong, took lunch with us, saw church in town.

The Bascilica Castellon

Week 3

16/01/13

My tenant has finally paid rent. Bit of a mix up. Went and had lunch with Nuala. Bonfires started tonight.Quite a spectacular sight.  When you returned in the morning you wouldn't have thought there had been any fires the night before.

Bonfires in the streets

17/01/13

Watched flower parade. All the young ladies parading in their traditional costumes and then posing for photographs after presenting their flowers for display.  Proud parents and grandparents looking on.  Took quite a long time, everybody must have been tired and ready for a siesta!  Including me. Had dinner in Mike's van.

Brian, Barbara and Mike watching parade

The only horses in the parade

18/01/13

Paella Day, walked up road to street party,  Bonterra put on good 3 course meal for €7.50 and wine too.  All had a great time.

Huge Paella Dishes for the meal! Photo curtesy of

Bonterra Street Party

19/01/13

Text from Tony, another New Companion, was in Barcelona and would be popping in to Bonterra, in a couple of days.

20/01/13

Bike ride to Oropressa old town. Rained on way back. Last night for fireworks. Was better than 2 years ago, large display, what recession!  Unfortunately I lost all the video/photos footage, my phone didn't save anything bar this.  It ran out of memory, get a better phone?

Fireworks laid out ready for later on

21/01/13

Bike ride to Castellón,16 miles this time. Had puncture on way out which Mike kindly sorted out.

22/01/13

Dinner in my pad tonight. It took me all day and was quite stressful, cooking for four people instead of 1! Only had two gas rings, and a skillet which really served it's purpose tonight.  Chilli Con Carne with rice and then Apple Cinnamon Crumble, Yum Yum!  Made far too much crumble had it for days afterwards!

Week 4

23/01/13

Long wash up! We went for a walk, I was very tired. Quiz night in restaurant, got told off because I answered a text from my son who was in India! They, one, thought I was cheating!

24/01/13

Mike left to go to Benidorm to see some other Companions. Rained and very windy, now broken two legs of Khyam, not good. 2B's broken one long awning pole too, I had spare one. Used the steel poles from sun shade for legs.

25/01/13

Bike ride to board walk. Lovely sitting there lapping up the sunshine. Went for a swim, not in the sea, but the swimming pool at Bonterra.

26/01/13

Windy again, terrible. Went up to Azahar watched film taken by a German who was there when we were here 2 years ago, saw some we knew but not us. Meal for €5 not very good. Met lady who knew 2B's.

27/01/13

Invited to lunch with Mike's friends Kath and Billy who live in France. Met Kate/Peter staying until July!!!! and Ted. Whilst sitting there Mike turned up from Benidorm, not his sort of place either. Packed up tent, had enough with the wind.

 

LtoR Billy, Ann, Ted, Kath, Jean, Lunch at their pad

28/01/13

We went for a long walk up into the hills, it was quite warm, we did about 8km. Some of the way up was quite rough, as well as a river bed coming down, you needed your walking boots on, lunch and plenty of drink. Played dominoes in evening.

2B's coming up the path, bit rough in places

Looking down on Benicassim, lovely day, quite peace

Looking towards Castellon having gone over top of mountain.  Docks in the distance. Weather changing.

29/01/13

Unbeknown to us Tony had arrived previous evening. Had meal in restaurant, then long chat. Did washing. 

Week 5

30/01/01

Bike ride to Castellon with Tony, did the Quiz in the evening too, didn't get accused of cheating this time. Phone stayed in pocket.

31/01/13

Market day. David Wilkie (New Companions) emailed that he and Jean were at Marjal enjoying it and when was I going there? Tony went off down to Mojacar, did it in one day. We went for another cycle ride 30.4km.

01/02/13

Had a shock today, Tony Cousins had died. Went up to Monastery, had very bad sinus headache. Also found new gas supply in Villa Real 15km to south. Wind getting up again.

(N39-56-52 W0-05-21;Co-operative Caolica Agraria, Avd Castellon 75, 12548 Villareal, Castellon)

Parked in the large layby in front of the ruined Monastery

Looking at Monastery on left and towards Benicassim

02/02/13

Stayed in bed today, went to chemist later, watched American Beauty. Bad winds overnight again.

03/02/13

Big branch fell on 2B's van, fortunately no damage, big wall came down round behind the bungalows. Dinner in café.

04/02/13

Easy Lifter 01509 268400 Motorbike carrier on wheels.