Spanish Adventure Part 5

 

Spanish Adventure

Part Five.

Friday morning, bright and early for breakfast and loaded up for a day at the races. An easy run to the Catalunya track until we joined the queue to get in. It was not the best organised with having to go in one entrance then out again to go in another entrance for our pre-booked car parking. We finally got parked but missed the Moto 3 first practice by the time we found t stand H and seats. It was scorchingly hot and we spent the least time possible in the sun. It was a unique experience with every MotoGP rider having a stall or part of one. Time to buy tee shirts. I was impressed with Fabio Quatararo in practice as he was so smooth and progressive in his riding and seemed to be streets ahead in not looking as though he was trying. Aleix Espargaro was hustling his Aprilla to make progress and wild at times. There is quite some camaraderie in the stands and conversations with complete strangers about who is good who you support and what you think of the racers. I could have done with live BT Sport to help recognising machines and riders. It was not available to me in Spain. The big screen opposite us was too far away. During the mid day break we explored the entertainments near stands A and B and the entrance 1. There was a big queue to sit on Fabio’s bike and I declined but did have a picture of me and Gita holding a winners’ trophy.

We did not stay to the end and Moto2 second Free Practice as we had tickets for the theatre at eight. Leaving after MotoGP practice would get us back to the hotel before five with enough time to get showered and changed and be heading for the station by six and in Barcelona by seven for an evening meal before show time. Unlike the UK travel is relatively cheap with a travel ticket giving eight journeys. We could both use it. Two return journeys to the centre of the city for 28 euros. My comments on British Public Transport are not printable. Theatre in Spanish you might ask but it was a treat for us watching our youngest daughter perform in her chosen profession and we had the luck to be there. It was a musical called Starcrossed. Written by one of the cast and turned out to be one of the best things I had ever seen in the small theatre. It was entertainment at its best with believable story line, excellent acting and witty script, not to mention the songs. It was over all too quick and we had to rush back to the station to catch the last train back cutting short our post show revelries.

Saturday was a struggle to get started. We had got back to the hotel at one am and were up at seven for breakfast and on our way at eight. The same traffic greeted us as expected but we went to the parking area by a different route which was much easier. Just as hot and we still managed to miss Free Practice for Moto3. Always eager to know how Scott and Josh are progressing. The rookies in the paddock. New people to meet today. Yesterday you could go anywhere but today you had to use your allocated seat. Practices were much the same with a couple of riders taking a tumble and qualifying set the scene for the races. The return journey was uneventful other than missing a turning and going into Barcelona to come out on the right road. I pulled into the garage just a little way from the hotel to fill up with fuel for tomorrow. It was also a cafe and shop. Gita noticed there was something dripping from under the car. I checked the oil and there was not much left. Time to panic. I bought 5litres of oil and hoped we could get to the track for race day. Back at the hotel car park there was tell tale slick from where we had parked the day before. Nothing I could do about that for a few days except adding oil as required. It was a crankshaft oil seal doing exactly what it did in Portugal where I had help at the 2CV Rally to fix it. This time I was on my own. There was only about sixty miles to do the next day and I reckoned it was safely doable with the amount of oil I had only hoping I did not have to stop on the motorway.

Another early start and still not away any earlier than eight. There was much more traffic today and so many more cars. Entering the parking was not bad but going up a steep hill I had the oil warning light flicker. Although the same car park we were much further away and took much longer. We still missed a warm up but were in good time for the races. Another hot day in the sun with no shade in the stand we found shade whenever we could even having a proper meal in a covered area. There was drama in every race and the finale of Fabio winning was a spectacle with crowds heading for the podium to see the gladiators. Walking down the start-finish straight to see the stars of the day was an experience I will never forget taking pictures as we went.

It took ages to get out of the car park and on our way. Today I did not make a mistake with the navigating but the drive was tense, expecting the oil light to come on at any moment. There was much relief at getting back to the hotel and parked up. What a day! I needed some time to work what to do next. That would be tomorrow.

 

 

Spanish Adventure Part 4

                                      Spanish Adventure 

                               Part Four.

Another warm day with more sunshine started with a good breakfast then a little oil on the alternator front bearing. The usual engine oil check showed no oil consumption having covered over 1000 miles since leaving home. Cartagena was the next stop following the coast as much as we could.  It was quite an up and down road, mostly dual carriageway with glimpses of the sea as we travelled east. Only 118 miles but it seemed to take ages to get there. Staying at a modern hotel with an underground car park the round had limited space but comfortable enough for a one night stop at the edge of the shopping area. An interesting place to walk around with the main street taking you down to the water front. 

There were ancient fortifications to protect the harbour and in that area a number of performances were taking place. Along the high street were a display of theatrical masks. It was the best seaside town we visited on the trip so far. Wishing we had two nights here we moved on to Valencia. Knowing it would need more time to visit we booked an Ibis near the airport which did food and we would save Valencia for a longer visit. A Valencian non event. We did not venture away from the hotel even to visit the shopping precinct nearby. I spent the time on trying to locate a new alternator without success. It would have to keep going with my daily oiling.

An early night and an early start got us through Valencia and to our next destination. It was a quiet place more so as it was Sunday evening. We arrived at the Hotel SB Corona Tortosa and it was a gem of a place with a swimming pool. El Cid parked in the underground car park again and safe we explored the town. Found a bar that was open and enjoyed a few beers near the park which had a small museum. In the museum was a display of giant puppets. Apparently this is what the town in known for. It brings out these puppets for a week long festival each year. We found a restaurant not far from the hotel and spent the rest of the evening doing catch up on Itchy Boots.

Monday and we were on our way to Mataro just outside Barcelona and about 30 minutes from the Circuit de Catalunya. We had arrived at the B&B Hotel Barcelona Mataro. This would be home for the next six nights. It had been an Ibis at some point but had lost its catering in the change.  There are not many hotels in Mataro that have secure parking so our choice was limited. The main drawback was that it was a twenty minute walk to the train station and a further twenty minutes to the centre of town. Barcelona was where our daughter lives so doing MotoGP was a bonus to the visit. I had booked the tickets in 2020 for the event and to do a road trip afterwards. Sadly Covid got in the way and now it was happening.

We had covered some 1663 miles to get here staying in nine hotels on the way and still not a drop of oil used. I met a Mehari man from France, Michel who runs a 2CV restoration business, Renov 2CV. I did not see him again to talk a bit longer.

Tuesday was a rest day with a trip to the beach and a meal out.

Wednesday we went into Barcelona in the El Cid to deliver all of Neema’s, our daughter, stuff she had been unable to take to her new flat and she had left at home. It was a car full along with other stuff we had bought for on the way. We had a lovely day with a bit of sight-seeing and two meals out. We got back to Mataro just as it was getting dark. A successful escapade.

Pond in the Park near the Barcelona Arc de Triumph.

Thursday was another walk around Mataro day with a trip to the beach again and another walk around  town. It was hot and after walking for more than two and a half hours I had had enough and had no energy left for another walk into town for the evening. I waved the white flag and went to bed. Tomorrow was MotoGP Free Practice.