Saturday, 28 October 2017

Altea-La-Vella, Spain – Days 7 to 11 (October 2017)



Charles, Jon, Lucy, Caroline and Jackie on Calpe Rock

Monday dawned dark and early and we headed off to the Penon, or 'Calpe Rock' to meet the family and go for a walk. Rather than wait in the car park B insisted we went to the agreed meeting point of the visitor centre, in case the others walked and sneaked in a different way. Having walked past the sign that said no feeding the seagulls and no feeding the cats, we met a lovely little cat family, tabby mummy, two little white ones and little runty tortoiseshell one. Charles then ran in saying "you could have waited in the car park" he was clutching the suncream we'd asked to borrow as that would appear to be the only thing, so far, in the wrong place. The suncream, mainly bought for skiing is in France, no, it obviously didn't occur to me it might be sunny in Spain!


The family of cats playing at the Calpe Rock visitor centre
This little one decided to follow us up
We all walked up to the first view point, where we left Lucy, not good with heights, and with a stiff left shoulder not good at holding on to the rope put up for assistance. The rest of us continued on, looking over the edge to three little wooden boats sailing off, firing cannons, to a mock battle just up the coast, no, we have no idea what was going on. Two more cats at the top, waiting for the two sachets of food brought by a local mad cat lady, many gulls, and many people! Having enjoyed the view we sauntered off to meet mummy, though Caroline did decide to do a small portion of the descent head first, giving her a bruised swollen finger and a nasty scrape on the leg. Invited to lunch we followed them to their very nice villa where we stayed while J&L went to get fresh bread only to find everywhere shut, must be a fiesta, something to do with the 'invasion fleet!' (Moors against the Christians re-enactment apparently). Oh well, Jonathan whipped up some pasta to go with the rest of lunch after which we headed off leaving the kids to their homework/revision! Well we had our own homework to do, bit of sweeping up after the hail storm the other day, before D&E returned at 22.00. Lovely to see them and catch up with a glass of wine.


Jon, Jackie and Caroline on the upper section of the Calpe Rock Walk
On the summit
Tuesday the family came over to say hi and while the boys got the air rifle out for a bit of tin can shooting the girls all went into Altea for a little potter, and an ice cream for Caroline and I. After lunch, back to the revision before we all met up in Calpe at the favourite fish restaurant for a yummy yummy meal and a lovely evening.


Wednesday Elizabeth and I shopped for dinner the following night, the famous paella, before D&E headed off to bridge. Another lovely evening as Jonathan cooked for us all, meant he could enjoy a drink, as could both Brian and Elizabeth the normal designated drivers as father was still on the very strong antibiotics he'd been given while in the UK for the hideous abscess that had developed after he'd had a tooth removed.











The view of Calpe from the summit
Charles lining up for his shot
Thursday was climbing day, well the kids had brought their shoes specially, so while Elizabeth and Lucy headed up the coast to Moraira, the rest of us climbed while father spectated. The kids both did very well and both did their first lead, clipping themselves into the rock as they climbed up. It was an easy climb they had both done on a top rope first so was well within their capabilities, however they both appreciated the 'head game' of leading and being above the gear so having the potential for a fall. 
At the crag. Richard, Jon, Charles, Jackie and Caroline
I scrambled up beside them, not really giving advice, but there just in case. A successful first for them both, but Charles wanted more, he wanted to go up the big wall of the next crag, where instead of little climbs of 18m ish there are multipitch climbs of 65 ish metres. No time today, but if Caroline wants to go to the beach tomorrow, we are more than happy to bring you out again ....





Caroline climbing high
B got home and decided perhaps he ought to investigate the warning light on the car. Hmm a dodgy thermostat, not really what we want, but fortunately there is a Vauxhall/Opel garage not far away. Suppose if we can get it booked in for tomorrow we should. The rest of the day was spent preparing for the evenings paella, which we all agreed was absolutely one of the best, what a treat, even Pepa came and joined us for some prawn heads.



Pre-paella drinks in the garden. LtoR: Jane (Elizabeths sister), Lucy, Elizabeth, Richard, Caroline, Jon, Jackie and Charles
Caroline helping grandad cook the paella
B woke up with a slightly fuzzy head, but as drinks monitor the previous night, he only had himself to blame. Fortunately by the time he and father had taken the car to the garage it had cleared a bit, so we set off in Elizabeth's little car to meet up with Charles for his first multipitch climb. He hadn't quite appreciated how different it was going to be, what he is used to is a short 18/20 metres where you climb up, look down, can speak and hear, and just get lowered back to the ground. In this case we staked our claim, fortunately arriving just before two other groups who looked like they were eyeing up our route, I set off up the first 4c (they had only done 4a the previous day) pitch arriving at the belay point, pleased to find that there was space for the three of us. 
While the sun set over the mountain
Charles followed on on one of the ropes looking quite pleased to arrive, well there had been a couple of tricky moves. He clipped himself to a bolt and turned to look at the view. It really did look a long way down, as the ground beneath the crag continues to fall away all the way into a housing estate. Brian came up on the other rope to join us, there was just about room, before he led off up the second pitch. Now we are not quite sure where he deviated to, but as his pitch was meant to be the easier of the two he definitely went slightly off route before finding the right set of bolts again as he too had an interesting move! 
Lucy, Jackie and Caroline apres-paella
The belay point at the top however left a little to be desired, not very big, and by the time I arrived jolly cosy. So untie from the ropes, always a slightly scary moment, despite being attached to the rock by various other means, to feed them through the two in-situ bolts to enable us to abseil down first the 30m pitch to the first belay point, pull the ropes through, re-thread, throw them over again and repeat. For me it was watching Charles set off the first time that was the 'scariest' bit as at this point he was lowering himself and entirely in control of his own destiny!


The climb we did with Charles, called 'Epsilon Gris' 4+ (32m) & 4 (30m). Follow the red dots up from the green '18' in the bottom right hand corner. The yellow dot is the first belay and abseil point, the second one at the top the final belay and abseil point
Charles at a tricky point, Jackie on the belay stance
Once back on terra firma it was all rush rush rush as, as usual climbing had eaten time and we were later than we'd said we'd be and we didn't want anyone to worry. We all had a fabulous time, Charles loved it, and we loved sharing it with him. 


They had their last evening to themselves but we did all get chance for a quick farewell this morning as they dropped off various things they'd borrow or didn't need anymore on their way to the airport. It's been lovely to have them nearby and we shall miss them, but it will finally give us chance to relax. Or so we thought.... the pool is drained the acid has been applied to the stains, and some serious sweeping of pine needles has taken place.


Jackie and Charles waving from the belay
I've just been Whatsapp'ed by Caroline to say they are all safely home, and she's off to her party. When asked if there was anything they wanted to add to the blog, Charles' quote of the week was when they were over for paella and Brian was drinks monitor that "Uncle Brian lost the drinks fridge" while looking for wine in the kitchen fridge not the utility fridge. Caroline says " I had a wonderful time with everyone and thoroughly enjoyed myself, especially going up Calpe rock and climbing " 
On the belay after I had joined them and about to set off on my pitch
Charles halfway up the second pitch having just popped into my view. He had moved out of Jackies view and hearing soon after leaving the belay so was climbing completely on his own up until this point
Jackie at the same point after following Charles up. He was a little disappointed she had reached this point so soon, as it had taken him much longer
Charles abseiling himself down the bottom pitch
This was the view we had from the crag. Just to the right of the sloping rock on the left in the distance is Benidorm, moving right in the distance is Puig Campana mountain and the big rock nearer to us towards the right is Mascarat Gorge
Job for Saturday: The pool has been drained and Richard and Brian wire brush the grout between the tiles after spraying with acid, ready for re-grouting on Monday
Even though I had brought my working clothes with me this time, I still had to wear Elizabeths clothes again as I had left mine in the boot of the car, which is now locked up at the Opel garage in Altea where it is waiting for a part to be delivered (won't get it back until Tuesday or even Thursday of next week)

Sunday, 22 October 2017

From England to France and Spain – October 2017



Ivy, Steph, Jackie and Brian
Ivy's Christening and first birthday was a lovely event, great to be able to say cheerio to that side of the family before heading off on our travels again. With our usual efficiency we had managed to go via Go-Outdoors in Coventry to buy a new ski jacket and new lightweight walking boots for me and then to Sainsbury's to buy Marmite and mustard for dad in Spain. Monday was the usual round of cleaning and baking before saying goodbye to Bella, Coco and Sue, while keeping track of hurricane Ophelia. We didn't think it was going to affect our sailing on Tuesday, but would it affect Sue's journey south, Dad and Elizabeth's flight to the UK or our French ski apartment owner Caroles return to France? Fortunately no, on all counts.


Brians niece Steph with Ivy
Brians daughter Fiona with Jenny, Becky and her boyfriend Harry
So having tried and failed to get our winter tyres on Friday and being promised they would be in on Monday, they weren't, we had to trust they really would be on Tuesday! We decided against starting to pack on Monday, instead cutting the hedge and going round to Sarah and John for a cuppa before out for a final curry.




Strange red sun as hurricane Ophelia approaches
Finally got the winter tyres on the car (its those 4 behind the single tyre)
Tuesday finally have to pack, both bags, and the car, so just starting the final sort when B got the call that the tyres were there, so off he went to get them leaving me to pack. In one way this was really good, no bickering, but obviously if anything is missing....... Now don't get me wrong, the car was rammed but it all went in, and without impeding the view out of the rear window. We must be getting better at this! 

The Tardis compartment in the boot
It Included 30 paperbacks in what appears to be one small pocket on the RHS of the boot that I have claimed as my own. He puts a can of oil in and says it's full, ha! if you have a Vectra see what you can fit in?








All these books (30) went into that small space
Packed and ready to go, incl skis on the roof (a bit wierd in October in England)
Quick bite to eat and we set off to Portsmouth, earlier than Brian would have liked but with an assault on both ears from me and mother he decided to give up the unequal struggle. Yes we were early but at least I wasn't stressed!


It's the second time we've got the overnight ferry and yet I still haven't explored the boat. Well with departure at 23.30 and disembarkation at 08.30 that doesn't give much time to sleep, which is the point, though sadly it eluded me this time, fortunately not him, and he does most of the driving anyway!


Day 1: Le Havre to St Jean d'Aulps in the French Alps. Toll charges €53
View from the back of the car park at the apartment
We couldn't believe the ETA the sat nav gave us, but checked that she was on French time and off we went buoyant and happy. The journey was pretty good until we finally realised that the ETA was to a way point we had marked to take us off the motorway to avoid some of the toll charges, it worked but perhaps not the best plan at rush hour, but it did only add the hour we had originally expected the journey to take. 
View from the front of the car park at the apartment. Ski slope is still green!
Fortunately Carole wasn't waiting for us at the apartment, she'd popped in and left it open so we were free to come and go at will. Unloading didn't take long and I'd just finished chopping veggies for our quick dinner when Jeremy arrived, we don't know Jeremy but he seemed very nice, and very appreciative of the two tins of Hammerite we had brought him. He'd posted a message on the valley expats email group asking if anyone was coming and could fit them in. It didn't seem much to ask!


View from our apartment window. A familiar scene, but much better with snow
It was lovely being back in the apartment, I so wanted to unpack, but that didn't seem in the spirit of the thing as we are not officially there till December, but it will make our arrival back so much easier. A good nights sleep and we set off for Perpignan, our elected midway stop in the south of France very close to the Spanish border. Nothing special but very convenient, and much better than doing it in one, though what we saved in tolls we probably spent on accommodation, but at least we didn't feel like a hazard on the road.


Day 2: St Jean d'Aulps ski resort to Perpignan in south of France. Toll charges: €53
View from our hotel window in Perpignan
Day 3: Perpignan to Altea-La-Vella, Spain
Friday, day three, and we arrived in good time in Altea directly behind Jane, who had come to let us in. We have slipped on our housesitting duties, we were meant to have been here from Monday to look after Pepa cat, but all agreed that Brian getting his lump removed was more important, so Jane had been on feeding duties. I guess it had to happen at some point in our housesitting career, so much better with an understanding family than a complete stranger. It was lovely, there was homemade breaded chicken, taken out of the freezer ready to fry, and we could relax and stare at the view with a G&T in hand, and breathe.


Relaxation was relatively short lived, we had to be up and back from the supermarket by 11.30 to ensure we were here when Jonathan, Lucy, Charles and Caroline arrived. Mission accomplished, we had lunch for all and dinner for us for Saturday and Sunday. We'd just finished a bit of sweeping as it's not only the UK that has had weird weather, hailstones the size of golf balls had given the trees a battering on Thursday. The family arrived, fortunately leaving before Tropical Storm Brian upset various planes and ferries. We've hosted Charles and Caroline at various houses (all with the owners permission of course) but it felt really odd hosting here with D&E (Dad and Elizabeth) away! We had a lovely afternoon, after lunch J&L went food shopping and to find the villa (which took a lot more finding than expected) leaving us with the kids. They very bravely went in the pool, we very bravely watched! Just as well they did as today is windy and a lot cooler with a bit of cloud, but after their hideously early start yesterday they were planning an easy day, and we too had a lovely lie in. It's hard to wake at 07.00 when it's pitch dark till at least half past.
Richard (dad) and Elizabeths lovely house in Altea-La-Vella with the Bernia ridge mountains behind
 
Little Pepa cat makes a rare appearance for a stroke

 
Even Brian got a stroke

 
Charles (with his 6 pack and pecs) and Caroline about to go swimming

 
Bravely in the water. Its sunny with an air temperature of about 24C, but the water is a bit chilly

 
Jackie contents herself with a swing

 
It does feel a bit like paradise here, sunny, warm and relaxing with plenty of rock climbing, mountain scrambling, hiking, drinking and eating. We're here until the snow falls in the Alps, possibly until Christmas or the New Year. It'll be hell!

 
The familiar view from the balcony as the sun sets. We have so many photos of this, but every night we just want to take more! Nice to look at the highest pointed mountain on the left and know we have stood on the very top of that!

 
The Bernia Ridge from the terrace as the last rays of the setting sun bathe it in orange light