Friday, July 18, 2008

Two to Gibraltar Part 7

Monday, 09 June 2008
Jerez de la Frontera - Granada
Starting Mileage: 8809
Daily Total: 172
Finishing Mileage: 8981

Today we made the return journey to Granada along great riding roads with the only problem of riding east into the early morning sun. A fairly easy day’s riding and we arrived back at Granada at 12.30 pm.

In the afternoon I had a little stroll along Carretera de Armilla. Mainly a shopping and industrial area. The street seemed extremely busy at all times.




Carretera de Armilla

I saw a scooterist riding along the busy street, helmet fliptop open, a cigarette in his mouth and in his left hand – a lighter. Frantically he tried to light his cigarette, with every flick of the lighter wheel the turbulence extinguished the flame. So comical, he didn’t realise he had no chance!

Small world – in the Ibis restaurant we met a couple from Nantwich, Cheshire. The husband worked for the local council and knew and worked on my street regularly. With more Euro 2008 football we dined on chuletta de cerdon (pork) and I tried the chocolatissimo for afters, very sweet and rich.

Tuesday, 10 June 2008
Granada - Alicante
Starting Mileage: 8981
Daily Total: 237
Finishing Mileage: 9218

A day of apprehension – the start of the HGV drivers petrol protests in Spain. The petrol station at the rear of the hotel was closed. We should have refuelled the previous evening. So with only half tanks of petrol we started out for Alicante. The plan was to use half of our remaining petrol then search for an overnight stop or open station. However only a couple of miles down the road we found an open service station complete with a nominal picket line, demonstrating rather than blocking access. After refuelling we decided to follow the motorways – more chance of petrol.





Aire Velez Rubio A92 N


Along the A7 the police had closed the motorway and for a few miles we followed a diversion through a little town – Albetta, this really confused Satnav Sally until we were diverted back onto the motorway. A car had been stopped in the middle of the motorway - a breakdown, run out of petrol, accident? It remained a mystery!

Though heavy rain had been forecast the weather we enjoyed wall to wall sunshine.

We arrived at Etap Hotel, Alicante at 14.30 pm. What a beautiful view of the Mediterranean, blue/green sea, light sands and tropical plants, with the bay sweeping around to Alicante town – all seen from our hotel.




View from Etap Hotel, Alicante



Across the bay to Alicante

In the evening John rode to the local service station to buy some engine oil. We managed to codge up a funnel but on opening the oil container it had a built in pouring tube so the codge up was redundant. My scooter had used less oil than John’s but needed a little oil. Must remember to carry a small funnel, as it is most awkward to pour the oil.

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