L'Almadrava

Yesterday evening, just as the light started to fade, the sky turned to strawberry milkshake, a delicate pink, with just a touch of white. Beautiful. We walked into the town of Benicarlo as far as the port.

Two men and a woman sat on a bench looking across at the harbour. One of the men was giving the other man a knee massage. We thought it all perfectly reasonable, considering his wife was present. Obviously he had healing hands.

Yet another fantastic sunrise this morning. A walk to Lidl for bread and a few other items, resulted in us talking to another English couple. They were staying on a nearby campsite, and had been for a while. Price per night, started a eight euros, and now dropped down to six euros. We discussed that apart from diesel for the van, that food would have to be bought if we were at home, and that being out here was relatively cheap. Cheaper for us though. Staying free on the beach, with one of the best views in the area.

Back at Marge, the man fishing opposite caught an octopus with his hand line, creating much interest. We had wondered what the hand lines were intended to catch, and had taken a guess at octopus. They cost over twenty euros in the local supermarket for one this size, so a valued item, which would probably end up in a local restaurant.

At lunchtime we arrived at an aire in the national park on the Delta De L'Ebra. We had now crossed over into Catalonia. All around us we'd seen lots of birds, including large white egrets that looked like white herons, but which were listed on the information board as little egrets. Also many actual herons, as graceful and poised as ever. Here they seemed a lot larger than any we'd ever seen before. Perhaps they had access to a very good food source among the surrounding paddyfields. Last time we had stayed near paddyfields, our local bird was the stork. Sadly nature reserves and paddyfields equal mosquitoes. We're out of here Marge!

Moving on, we'd decided to head towards Salou. Our guide book advised the beaches on the approach were both quieter and nicer, so we set the course to L'Hospitalet de l'infant. Unusual name for a town.

However, en-route, we thought we'd divert from our course, and head to the coast to see if we could spot any other vans. The internet showed an overnight, at the small coastal town of L'Almadrava.

So we went to take a look, following behind a French van doing the same.

So here we are. Not in the main parking area anymore, but up above the sea along with a small French van in a gap in the vegetation above the cliffs. It's Saturday night, and although the town seems respectable and quiet, the thought of being in a large parking area, waiting for something to happen during the night involving young people and cars, does not bode well with is. Hopefully here, we are all a little less conspicuous.

We have a lovely view across the bay to our left, and a view of the nuclear power station to our right. It's been a while hasn't it Marge, since we last hung out by one of these. If our memories serve us right, it was in Portugal.

Upon our arrival, we walked out, as did the couple from the French van we followed in, along with their five scottie dogs. The seafront was quaint, but we were surprised to see so much plastic on the beach, particularly tiny particles of it.

Another day has passed by, along with another sunset. Tomorrow we will drive by Tarragona on our journey northwards.