El Campello

We had a blast hanging out at our last couch surfer in Albir. Oana and Robbie treated us like family. They have a smiling baby and a little girl named Nora, that called Joe poppi. Poppi meaning, grandpa. So cute. Oana is from Romania and Robbie is from Hungaria. We connected with the family right away being we're all into the same things. Enjoying life, family, music, and simple way of living. I hope we reconnect in our travels again. We already miss hanging out with them. We left Albir yesterday passing through Bennidorm and into El Campello. We camped the last two nights on the beach. Some how we always make such the perfect place to sleep. Waves crashing with the sun setting. We make our dinner on a pocket stove. We had beans, garlic, and meatballs with toasted bread n melty cheese. We had a few mixed drinks last night, so today we are being lazy in the sun on the beach while Seth is trying to catch some dinner in the ocean. Life is grand.

Calpe, Al Vere

We made it out of the rainstorm and onto Calpe. 7 people died in the storm and got washed out to sea. Riding down the mountains we rode through rivers that wasn't there before and tons of debre. 5 days straight it rained and flooded everywhere. We took the next two days to recooperate in a hostel. Treated ourselves to 13 tapas for 7 euros, a cervasa , and a glass of wine for a euro. Good times in Calpe. Reminds us of Morro Bay in California. We're now in La Ver celebrating Christmas with a fun family down on the beautiful coast. Sun every day now and enjoying the adventures.

La Vall Laguar

We left Valencia and felt as though we didn't get to see everything they had to offer. Such an amazing place. We biked 38 kilometres to Oliva. Passed by towns built into the mountains and down the coast and inland. Oliva is a cute town with lots of people walking everywhere. They had a Thursday market going on with half clothes and half produce. We camped right by the town in some overgrown bushes and tall grass. It was like sleeping on hay. Super cozy. In the morning we headed off to a help ex in the mountains. Thought after camping it would be nice to be indoors for a few days. We rode and mostly walked up 2 huge mountains. Rain came and we found shelter in a old house that looked to of been occupied by someone else. Glad they weren't there for the time being. The rain passed and we walked some more until we couldn't walk or ride anymore. The thing is the help ex looked a lot closer than it was. Not realizing they live on top of the mountain way past the town. We couldn't continue on for it was way past dark and getting cold and had no energy. We set up camp in a olive field that was kinda rocky. At that point we had no choice and didn't know how much farther their house was. Vague directions, no street names anywhere, and no addresses on houses we realized. Not long into the night, it poured with thunder and lightning. Poured so much that our tent started leaking and before long puddles were in our tent. Joe's sleeping bag and all his stuff got soaked. Seth slept through the night for the most part and had a tiny puddle in his tent that by the morning his sleeping bag got wet too. Joe and I were awake all night with high winds shaking the tent just trying to make it to the morning. When morning came it was still pouring hard. We all got our rain gear on, left everything in search of the help ex place. We're super high in the clouds, wind, rain, trying to find the house. We tucked into a donkey stable and waited there until a car drove by. We ran out to a car and asked where their house was and we were right by it up a little pathway. We showed up super wet, cold, and exhausted. The help ex people had no idea that we were coming for they never checked their email since they've been so busy with the holiday. Even though super shocked they took us in by the fire and gave us a cup of hot tea. They said it's on a code orange for super alert of a major storm in the area. Could last up to 4 day's. We settled into a warm camper and in 2 loads retrieved our stuff. All around floods everywhere. We're trying to dry our stuff out but we have to leave in two days since they have family coming to stay where we're at. Bad timing on our part but we had no idea since in earlier emails all seemed a go. Rain or shine heading out Monday to the nearest town or further.

Valencia architecture

Amazing design's.  Both with pools below that you can swim in.

Valencia, Spain

We found another perfect place to camp right off the beach in Castellon. Always behind some palm trees and some brush that way you don't get blown away with wind and keeps you warmer. The weather now has been sunny during the days and tee shirt while at night when the sun goes down gets pretty cold. We all enjoyed the sunrise over the water. Starts your day in good moods and feelings all around. We had a 28 kilometer ride to the big city of Valencia. Luckily for us there are lots of bicyclists out being Saturday. The kind that have all the bike gear and ride in packs. Whenever we didn't know what way to go, we would pull off and see what way everyone else would go. They lead us to a bike path that went through little towns along the way to Valencia with lots of orange trees. We've been here for 4 days now and really loving this city. Castles and such old architect all over. Punk scene, rock music, rock bars, old and young walking and running, peeps are friendly, everyone seems healthy, cheap hostels, all around fun. Not so crowded like Barcelona. More mellow. Youth hostel I've got to recommend. 26 euro's for a family of 3, 8 euro's per person around with free breakfast, super clean, friendly staff, rooftop hangout, and right in the heart of the center by 4 castles.

Benicassim, Spain

We had a 12 kilometer ride to get to Benicassim which seemed like no big deal. Excited to go such a short distance. We rode through the ever so empty town on our way to basically the other side of a small mountain. Rode along the beach on a path and cut over to the road. We debated staying on the bike path along the ocean for they always seem to leave us at a turn around. We headed up the mountain and very shortly after we began walking/pushing our bikes since it was very steep. Luckily very few cars drove by. Extremely exhausted we reached the top to a beautiful view. To the left, creepy twilight zone town, to the right Benicassim with people around. Joe and Seth looked around the corner to see if we had more hills to walk. The good news they said that it's just downhill from here. The other news is that we could of taken the bike path all the way there. Well, the ride down the mountain was fun and once we got on the bike path, it was awesome. Carved between two rocks it went, old castles along the coast, no cars, and flat as can be. Once in town, we had our favorite, patas bravas and cervasa. A local came up and bought us a round and Seth a coke. People are so nice in Spain. Then we stayed with a really neat chick named Paula. She's a sailor mate. Sounds so fun to sail around the world and be one with yourself, others, the weather, and all together go with the flow. It was very sweet she put us up in warm beds for the night and great conversation.

Vinaros, Spain

Christmas lights and a old structure we passed by on our bikes.

Torre De Mar

I was dreading today for the map showed we had to go through some grueling mountains on the freeway. There wasn't an alternative route. We ate our hotel breakfast which was croissants, toast with sliced cheese, sliced cured ham,  chorizo, orange juice, and cafe con leche's. Full and exhausted from the day before we set out on our bikes. We went on the freeway as before and in this stretch it wasn't as bad as I thought. We rode right in between the two mountain ranges and not up in them so the rode was pretty flat. This week is the constitution holliday. It's on every other day and this next weekend so not alot of truckers out whizzing by. We saw some other bicyclists and they cheered us on. When this happens it makes us feel good and gives us encouragement. We took many breaks and rode it pretty casual today. Whenever we stop off at a gas station for water and snacks we're quit the spectacle. Everyone stares at us and a few people will ask us about our adventures but most just keep to themselves. Rode about 40 kilometres today. We followed our map to Torre De Mar for there was campsites. What a weird creepy place like out of a twilight zone. First rolling in there's 5 campsites. All of which you rent a small casa (house) or roll in your motor home. All full of an elderly community and no families. A couple of them you can pay to put your tent on the ground but wanted 50 to 30 euro's. Funny cause we camped for free right next door to the campsites. We could hear the waves crashing all night. The creepy part was it's all next to a huge city that's completely empty. The whole city is shut down in the winter. All the huge hotels and beach front houses, stores n all, all vacant. No cars or busses or people except the campers. Ultra feeling of the twilight zone. We watched the sunset and slept cozy all night. Woke up to see the sunrise which was amazing the next morning.

Vinaros, Spain

We made it off of the farm and into Vinaros. Rode about 35 kilometers today on a freeway with semi trucks honking at us and giving us a thumbs up. They knew we were crazy and headed up some big grueling hills. Luckily there was alot of space to ride on the shoulder so we could stop at anytime and catch our breath. Slow and steady I kept telling myself. Seth had no problem for he is a fit kid and can handle anything. Joe kept us all encouraged and made the ride sound easy. He likes to fluff things out and make it not so terrible. Once we came to Vinaros, we tried to find a hostel but there wasn't any. Next thought a hotel. Cheapest one was 60 euro's but it was Joe's birthday so we took it. First thing was first. A nice hot shower since we hadn't had one in over a week. That's when you appreciate the little things in life. Next we headed out to the nicest restaurant in town on the beach for seafood paella. Funny cause we were the only one's in the restaurant being that's it's the off season of the year. Most places close in the winter and open again in spring for there's no tourism right now. Seafood paella, mussels in a wine sauce, crustini bread served with a garlic aioli, sliced cheese, thinly sliced cured ham, potato chunks in garlic aioli, calamari, sangria, and to top it off a white chocolate flan. Best meal ever. Expensive but so worth it to splurge. With our bellies full we walked around the quiet town and saw all the Christmas lights hanging in the streets. We spoiled ourselves with lounging at the hotel and watching tv, for there are channels that speak English.

Santa Barbara, Spain

We've been on a farm now for a little over a week right outside Santa Barbara. Also passed through a place called  Ventura. A lot like California since there's mostly agriculture farming all around. There's orange field's, almond tree's, tangerine field's, and rice farming near the ocean. The farm we're on has 2 horses, a dog, lots of cats, and lots of chickens. The lady here built up her homestead by hand a long time ago. It has a main house and another living courtiers attached to a farm stable with a kitchen and hang out room, and a pool for the summer time.
We worked on chopping up wood for the winter, organizing a super packed shed, made two new doors for the shed, and made a new handle for a axe. A big storm came through so most of the days it rained and it's pretty dang cold at night. Lucky for us we had a rocket stove in our room to keep us cozy. At first it was going great here then everything turned. The lady is very depressed here and after asking us to watch her farm one day, the next she's been very rude to us. She never has thanked us for our hard work and only complains. It all makes sense now why all her helpers leave. Definitely not good at communication or community. All her negativity has taken a toll on our family and we're leaving here tomorrow on Joe's birthday. We haven't had a shower for over a week, no hot water to wash up with, all of our clothes are filthy with no laundry, and limited wifi for she is passed out all the time so we couldn't use it anyway. Definitely can't wait to get off this farm. Funny how we go from the best host ever, Imme to the worst host. Onto new adventures tomorrow.