From Mid-Spain to Mediterranean Spain and the Costa Blanca for Christmas - Days 75 to 82

Merry Christmas from us to you

It may only have been a one horse town, but it was an eight cat town... a little old man walked past, followed by a cat and two kittens who wouldn’t talk to me, despite biscuits, so eventually I went round the corner to find a house where I least expected it, it looked shut up so I went a bit closer, till I saw some little faces, shook my box of cat biscuits for three cats and five kittens to run up, all obviously hungry and not really tame though I did manage to stroke each one as they were busy crunching. They were so cute, I had to promise I would be back, with my husband, obviously they understood every word. By the time B had posted the blog I was hopping up and down, that he had to come and see my cats, they all reappeared still ravenous, so I said I’d see them in the morning. Soft touch? Me?  Where were we? Luciania, here's the location, click on this link for a map: 38°58'57.3"N 4°17'32.9"W

Dinner was an experiment in the thermal cooker. Kedgeree is a firm favourite, so although I’d balked at the price of smoked haddock in Carrefour before we left France, the smoked herrings had caught my eye, and now was time. Kedgeree is one of those dishes that always seems to take loads of pots, well not this time, fried the onion with the curry powder in my pot, added the rice, fish, water and a little milk brought it to the boil and into the thermal outer, with the eggs hard boiling in the top pot. Three quarters of an hour later, took the lid off, shelled the eggs, stirred it all through and yum.

The motorhome parking at Chinchilla. Originally planned as a housing estate

Three and a half driving hours the next day, longer than usual, but an easy drive, to another little town, on the outskirts of Albacete to a huge, quiet parking area in a nice enough place, seemed to have a good castle, but we could only walk round the outside. There were also a number of cave houses, locked and abandoned, except for one, abandoned but not locked, very interesting.   Here's where it is, click on this link for a map: 38°55'15.3"N 1°43'20.6"W

The castle at Chinchilla de Montearagon

Abandoned cave houses at Chinchilla de Montearagon

Another long drive, which could have been far worse, we woke to really thick fog so terrible visibility, fortunately when we went down it cleared so the journey was ok. Our final stop, in Benissa, so very close to Dad and Elizabeth, but with facilities to enable us to empty and clean Ted for him to stand quietly for a few weeks  (here's a link to a map: 38°43'16.8"N 0°03'37.0"E). I’m still not sure what Benissa has to offer, though we had a lovely fried fish Menu del Dia, hurrah, we are back at the sea. I wish my Spanish was better though it may not have helped, but there seemed to be lots of drama going on at what was obviously a works lunch out....

Rooms inside one of the abandoned cave houses

More cave houses, this one still lived in

I’ve been losing sleep about getting Big Ted onto the drive here ever since we bought him, it’s a funny shape, a sharp turn in, steep, lots of trees...... but actually he’s slotted in like a dream, and we’ve even got him nearly flat!

So this is us now till sometime in January, a family Christmas before housesitting for Pepa cat while D&E go back to the UK for New Year. We’ve got involved in normal Christmas preparations, I’ve had a much needed haircut, we’ve been to Calpe for our favourite fish lunch and yesterday got step uncle Michael admitted to hospital! Not what anyone wants at this time of year, but hopefully when he comes out he’ll have got some mobility back which will be a great improvement. That was yesterday’s ‘excitement’ so we’ll be off shortly to find out what is what!

The motorhome parking at Benissa. More 'parking at the side of a road' actually, but it was an official motorhome parking area and did have water and waste disposal facilities (and shops and restaurants close by!)

Arriving at Richard (dad) and Elizabeth's lovely house on the Costa Blanca. Big Ted slotted in nicely on the drive...

There he is, taking up a tiny amount of space on the drive. We drove up through those black gates on the left which was interesting. The clutch was smelling a bit hot by the time we'd got him parked there!

Richard (dad) and Elizabeth displaying their Christmas jumpers on their balcony (the Bernia Ridge visible behind them)

Out for a fabulous 'fish fest' lunch in Calpe in warm December sunshine. LtoR: Richard, Jackie before her haircut, Jane, Elizabeth (and Brian's shadow!)

Sunset on the shortest day of the year. I'd really like a photo of sunset on the longest day, apparently it's right over to the right

Elusive, scardy Pepa cat, who we're in charge of next week. Even getting a stroke is a major achievement

Sunrise from our bedroom window this morning at about 08:15 just as the first reddish rays of sun reflected off the mountains  

Here's a little video of Jackies before and after haircut: