Day 7 - 73km and some stories
1st week adventures
Well, our first week on the road is done and dusted, and we have travelled really not far at all. Since our Day 0 post, where we had just gotten as far as our local motorhome service area in Turis, we have covered a whole 73km (45miles). But our journey isn’t about the amount of miles we cover, it’s more about the experiences we have along the way.
We decided to just spend the one night in the service area in Turis. Not that there was anything wrong with it, it was just a little too familiar to us plus, we already knew we loved our next destination, which was the (unofficial) motorhome/caravan parking area in Puçol that we had previously enjoyed so much for my birthday weekend treat. Before leaving, we did have a little trepidation about how busy it might be. For those that didn’t read our previous blog post, the parking area in Puçol is right on the coast in the region of Valencia, and this time it was coming up to the weekend of Easter. We thought that as it was coming up to a bank holiday, it might be full of Spanish families enjoying the coastline, but to our surprise, as we slowly rolled around the corner to the parking area it seemed quiet, a little too quiet. There appeared to be just a couple of motorhomers and to our surprise, a fellow caravaner on our arrival. As we got ourselves parked and got organised, it still felt like everyone was watching us, like we were doing something we weren’t meant to be doing somehow.
Hitch or unhitch?
One big question we were asking ourselves was: do we stay hitched or should we unhitch? Staying hitched meant we wouldn’t be, particularly level but as this was an ‘unofficial’ parking area, it was probably the most legal option or do we unhitch and be more comfortable but probably not entirely legal? The other large caravan that was parked on the site was already unhitched, and they also looked as if they had been there for some time as they had a quad bike that seemed like they were working on. Also, the motorhomes had chairs out, which you aren’t technically allowed to do in a parking area.
So we came to the conclusion that the rules in Puçol were slightly more relaxed than they might be in other places. So we took the chance and unhitched, placing the car next to the caravan to save space as well as to give us a little privacy. In hindsight, we probably should have stayed hitched to save us from worrying about getting knocked on the door by a policeman handing us a fine.
Change Of Plan
The following morning we arose to blue skies, birds chirping, and the sound of the waves rolling in, and we started getting the feeling that we were doing the right thing by giving up the security of bricks and mortar to be in our little home on wheels. We started planning when we should start heading towards our next destination, which would have been inland towards Madrid if only Livany hadn’t been scrolling through her Facebook at the time. “We have got to go to this!” she excitedly announced. Introducing ‘Kucavanasfest’ Spains “First National Festival of Motorhomes and Campers” starting on the 21st April to the 23rd in Lleida, which is inland a little bit from Barcelona...definitely not in the direction of Madrid!
The exciting part of this life we have chosen is that it doesn’t matter if our plans change we can go with the flow. So, out come the maps to re-root north. We found a motorhome service area that accepted caravans not too far away at the location of the Coves De Sant Josep. Again, this is a place that we have visited before, but certainly not with a caravan in tow. We decided to stay one more night in the beautiful area of Puçol to enjoy the sea air and relax before we set off again. We again woke up to blue'ish' skies, birds chirping, and the sound of the waves rolling in. We gave Chewie his last run on the beach where he met his Husky friend.
Coves De Sant Josep
We then decided to call ahead to the tourist information that is located at the Coves De Sant Josep to find out more about the service area before we set off. They informed us that they would be happy to let us park there if we could find a space for us to park as they were nearly full. As we now needed a service area to empty our toilet cassette, we decided to go for it. The worst-case scenario was that it was full, but at least our toilet wouldn’t be!
We drove all the way to the town of La Vall D'uixo, the town where the Coves De Sant Josep are situated, relatively event free. Although, as we were passing through the town, we got stuck behind every caravaner’s worst nightmare: ‘cyclists!!!’. As we were creeping along behind the cyclists, I peered down at my dashboard only to see the temperature gauge creeping up. We did what we all do in these circumstances: ‘panic’ and turn the heater on full blast to get as much heat out of the engine as possible, whether or not it is a thing that still works with more modernized cars; it is a thing that our parents taught us, which their parents taught them! The temperature gauge did get perilously close to maxing out, but thankfully the cyclists went in their different ways which meant we could get some much-needed air running through the car’s radiator.
We then proceeded to the parking area. As we drove past the parking area on the way to its entrance, we noticed one spot still available, large enough for the caravan and car to fit together. We eagerly went into the parking area, looking around to see if there were any motorhomes or caravans in front of us that might be heading toward the same space we had seen. Luckily for us, there was not. We were able to drive in comfortably, and because we had already called ahead, we knew we were allowed to unhitch and park the car next to the caravan. We also knew that this would be our home for the maximum time allowed (72 hours) which meant we could relax, enjoy the scenery, and enjoy Easter.
The Coves De Sant Josep is well worth a visit if you’re staying in the Valencia area. The attraction consists of a series of underground caves that can be explored by taking a guided boat tour. The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes and takes visitors deep into the caves, where they can see stunning rock formations, stalactites, and stalagmites. If you’re planning on visiting the caves, we recommend pre-booking, as they were fully booked when we arrived.
In addition to the boat tour, there are various hiking trails in the area that allow visitors to explore the beautiful natural surroundings, they also allow you to see some ruins left over from the Spanish Civil war. In December 1937, the town was the site of a major battle known as the Battle of La Vall D'uixo. Republican forces attempted to halt the advance of Franco’s Nationalist troops who were moving towards the city of Castellón, and fierce fighting took place in and around the town. The battle was ultimately won by the Nationalist forces, who captured the town and went on to capture Castellón.
The impact of the Spanish Civil War on La Vall D'uixo was significant, and the town still bears the scars of the conflict today. Today, however, the town has been rebuilt and is a thriving community that welcomes visitors from around the world. The town of La Vall D'uixo itself is also worth exploring, with its narrow streets, picturesque squares, and historic buildings. Overall, the Coves De Sant Josep is a must-visit destination for anyone travelling to the Valencia region and offers a unique and unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages.
Onwards To Week 2
Spoiler for our next blog post! We are currently in the beautiful town of Peñiscola, which we plan on seeing a lot of before heading north towards Barcelona. We don’t have much planned yet in terms of where we’re going to be sleeping, but we’re sure we will have lots of adventures and surprises along the way.
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Any Questions?
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Great to hear your progress and look forward to hearing more about Peñiscola - I think it must be very pretty there. So what's the story about the policeman and the fine?