If it drizzles in the UK, any cyclist worth his salt would still go out. Here it is different. With rainy days being so infrequent on the Costa, the chance of getting wet can send a shudder through the spine of even determined cyclists. The rain is late this year. Last Sunday showed no sign of it, though at 8 in the morning an extra vest was a wise addition. The Benissa cycling club meets at 8.30 in the plaza so in my case I have a half hour to climb up there.

First we hurtled along the coast to Altea before climbing up to Callosa. The rollercoaster through the Bolulla valley is good preparation for the 10km climb to Tarbena. Already the group had fractured. But this is not a race and the ascent is so beautiful that one could be excused for taking one’s time.

Part of the ascent to Tarbena.

Nevertheless, we regrouped before the very top so that we rode together to the Bar Pinet in Tarbena, well-known for its owner, who lost most of one arm in the Civil War. This of course was not the reason that the service was so slow on the day, but we lost far more time there than ever we would have liked. So much so that when we had rode over the Col de Rates to Parcent, all the Spanish riders understandably decided, unanimously, to head straight for home. That left just Pete and Jim, Nino (Dutch) and Jurgen (German) and myself  to finish the scheduled route through Orba and Gata. I taunted the Spanish lads that we were the “autenticos”; I just hope that they understood I was joking. We are their guests, and very grateful to be included.

Distance   110kms    Time cycling  4.5hrs    Average speed  24.4

(For a host of photos and videos of this, and other rides, I recommend you visit www.ciclistasbenissa.blogspot.com)

Yesterday I plucked up courage to join the Pedreguer cycling group. Thursday is the day when the fastest follow a route that does not vary from one week to the next but is always at a good speed. The last time I had joined in, when I was not in good form, I struggled badly. So I was a little apprehensive. Jurgen, Jim and I rode together to the Tasca bar near Pedreguer where the group meets for a pre-ride coffee. (On Tuesday, riders bought 6 copies of my book “A Home to Head For”, available also through Amazon). Amazingly, only seven of us turned up. It was not because they were at home reading my book but because there had been some talk of a gota fria (exceptionally heavy rain).

Two hours later we had passed through Oliva and then Font d’en Caros, managed the loop around Ador, Villalonga and Podries, passed round Gandia and arrived at Miramar on the coast, where the barman was busy extending the awning to allow us shade while we ate our tostadas. By now we were only five as Ken had had to stop at the bike shop in Gata and Gary had got lost in a village before Ador. We had waited for him but to no avail; he turned up however as we were halfway through our food.

Then back through Oliva and off to Pego from where we took the Pillaret ascent. Invariably this climb causes a few muscles to flex and ends in a sprint. The route back through Sagra, Orba and the Jalon valley is taken more leisurely.

The whole trip was delightful. It is so much more enjoyable when you do not feel you are on the edge of your ability and can arrive home and still get stuck into some work instead of retiring to the couch for a doze!

Distance  135kms  Time cycling  5hrs    Average speed  27.1kph

My thoughts are never very far from the Thamsanqa orphanage in Port Elizabeth and Tia and Loise who manage it. Despite constant setbacks, Tia’s recent health issues being particularly difficult, they continue with a never-say-die attitude. In Tia’s most recent blog, she has kindly made great reference to myself, which I thank her for. But please look at the new group that has been formed in Holland by people who have helped at Thamsanqa and realise the tremendous work being done and the vulnerability in the wake of the charity Be-More pulling out of South Africa. Volunteers can now organise time at Thamsanqa through this group if they so choose.

Tia’s blogsite is www.tiathamsanqa.blogspot.com

I particularly find interesting what she writes on parenting, although we have brought up three of our own. To read this, click on the the right of her blog, where it says “on parenting et al”.

The rains have now come with a vengeance.

Best wishes,

Eric.