Valencia to Benidorm

fri 7^th

we found a much better road out of Horto, but still very narrow. We were meeting up with Chris & Lillian north of Valencia so that us boys could go to the MotoGP final race!  

We arrived at Valencia Camper Park, Betera around 11.30am, C&L rolled in shortly after. Great to catch up with them over lunch and to sort out through all the magazines and stuff we had had delivered to them in the UK. Later we got the scoots out ready for Saturday.

Sat 8^th

We left at 8.30am for the 15mile ride to the circuit. 60 mph was ok on the scoots so the journey wasn’t as tortuous as we had feared. As we neared the circuit bikes started zooming past us. The Guardia Civil did a great job in controlling the traffic and we were soon parked up alongside hundreds of bikes and scoots.  

we made it! - Chris at MotoGP valencia

just a few bikes

All the spectators have seats – ours were opposite 2 giant screens so we missed out on nothing. It was great to hear and see the live bikes. Practice was followed by qualifying in the afternoon. We had a great lunch at a bar which resembled a tapas bar. What a difference from the usual burger bar at UK circuits. Same inflated prices though!  The wind was strong but the rian held off. The girls had gone into Valencia and returned just after we had parked up the scoots. A great day out – bring on the races.

Sun 9^th

Race day! 8.30am departure but a huge amount of traffic  - 3 solid lanes close to the circuit. We followed all the bikes along the hard shoulder and were soon parked up. Much easier on the scoots than being stuck in a car.

The 3 races were excellent , in Moto3 Alex Marquez won the championship by finishing third. The crowd went mad as he is Spanish! Moto2 champion Tito Rabbat blew adding another win as he was latterly pipped on the line by Tom Luthi. Bet he felt a mug.

nice burn out

it will NOT rain!

In the big boys race – MotoGP, newly crowned champ Marc Marquez ran away with it, but rain drops created havoc as some riders opted (unwisely) to change to bikes with rain tyres. They went backwards as the rain stayed away.

Another great day at the races!

Mon 10^th

We had decided to stay another night and visit the city centre so were on the 10.30am metro.  We walked along the port towards the area I was keen to see – The Arts and Sciences park. This is a collection of very modern and architecturally striking buildings. The sheer scale of them was impressive, I really liked them.

Agora - multi use display area?

funky shapes

stylish bridge support

rear of Science Museum - Principe Felipe

beetle like Hemisferic - planetarium 

Palais de les Arts reina Sofia - opera house

We then headed for the old part of the town for  a menu del dia. The bull ring looked very impressive but was closed so no tour for us boys (the girls had been the previous day). We found a nice bar and enjoyed a relaxed meal. Once back at the vans we planned the next day’s route. Nice city.

Wed 12^th

After an overnight stop in Javea we headed for BENIDORM!  Tina just had to see it for herself. I had been 30 yrs ago and wondered if it was still as busy. Once installed on Camping Villasol amidst all the over winterers (complete with fences, solar lights, flags, plant pots etc..) we cycled into the town and headed for the seafront. Tina’s face and reaction was  - “Wow – look at all the people and the skyscrapers”  the majority of the people appeared to be Brits. Some of the women had somewhat “minimalist” clothes on – even in November. It was a different world with loud music pumping out of competing bars. Just not for us.

Levante Beach 

skyscrapers right up to the beach

even more!