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.