A Sting in the tail!!!!!!!!!!!!

We got up early to another beautiful morning, not a cloud in the sky. We packed our things and loaded them onto the bike. We needed to collect our tickets for the ferry and then take off to Gandia some 210kms away. It was gone 3pm by the time we left for Gandia, after picking up our ferry tickets. We’d pre-booked our accommodation over t’internet, so there was no big rush, just set the cruise control and put our feet up. Oops, Sorry Ballingerbob, that was almost unforgiveable, cruise control on a BMW GS1200 motorbike, Whatever next?????? We arrived in Gandia after dark about 7.30pm (once again, experiencing the major benefit of our satnav). This late arrival was not due to us taking our time, but actual significant traffic ques, the first we had experienced since leaving ole Blighty. We must have been stuck in very slow moving traffic for the best part of an hour or so and all sorts of things go thru your head about what might be up ahead. As we got closer we spotted the Flashing lights, lots of them and kinda breathed a sigh of relief, at least we wouldn’t be too much longer, but both of us, still apprehensive at what we might see ahead .

Being on two wheels we were managing to move a good bit faster than the four wheel variety, so the delay for cars was considerably longer. We got closer to the front and started to pass the policea standing in pairs at staggered intervals of approx 20m and looking menacing and very regimented. This all seemed very odd to us, but hey all sorts of things are odd in Spain, so we didn’t think too much about it until Ann whispered in the mike, that all the police were holding guns and rifles. Bloody hell, there was no accident, this was a police heist.

I knew we’d avoided an odd toll booth, but sh-t, were they really lookin for us? We fell back behind a car and throttled back, I pulled down my sun visor, dropped a gear, I was ready to make a break for it in case it really was us they were seeking! We moved forward, almost into the open highway ahead and out beyond the policea cordon, but there was still a last line of three police. With their guns out and only a chuffin ‘stinger’ in their hands. They separated and stepped aside to allow us thru but then closed formation immediately as we passed them, all the traffic behind us came to an abrupt halt. Jesus , I opened the throttle and didn’t look back, I knew Ann would get it first so I would be all right, but if I weaved a little that might help Ann from taking a direct hit. Thank God , no gun fire, it wasn’t us they were after, but it certainly was somebody very close to where we were. We didn’t hang about, but were conscious of the speed limit, It was only a short distance on that Ann complained about a nasty odour, I suggested we must’ve been passing a farm!!!!

Our hotel, The Los Norangos (The oranges), was just round the corner from the town centre, so we quickly changed out of our kit, and went out to discover what the festival of the Fallas was all about (hopefully the pictures will give you an idea). The structures are made out of polystyrene and papier mache with a metal frame holding them together and in place. They were awesome, all different; they were comic book and Disney characters and even caricatures of some of the local dignitaries, and some of these structures were standing higher than the adjacent buildings - incredible.


 

oops don't know where she came from!



We made our way to the town square where all the festivities were taking place, singing, dancing, Andalucía dress competitions, with fireworks exploding all around us. We kinda experienced what it must be like in a war zone, there were literally explosions going on all around us and Ann & I kept ducking and jumping and diving for cover, it seemed we were the only couple doing so. However, all was not lost, for all of our ducking, jumping and diving was rewarded; the judges thought we were a late entry for the dancing and were so impressed, they awarded us first prize for a modern take on the traditional way of Spanish dress and dancing in the Andalucía region – what a result LOL. We continued our walk about, taking in all the magnificent scenes along with hundreds of people, all out enjoying themselves with their families. We found ourselves a local restaurant and enjoyed some tapas and wine before retiring back to the hotel - a welcome refuge from all those bloody firecrackers.

These were the runners up

Saturday 19th we got up reasonably early and ate our breakfast, over which, we had agreed to catch the train into Valencia to spend our last full day in Spain. The train journey took about 1 hour and it was nice to sit back a see a bit of the Spanish countryside. It was another beautiful day, temperatures in the mid twenties and we were really looking forward to experiencing the Fallas in Valencia. We were not disappointed at what we discovered. The Valencia Fallas, was Gandia multiplied by 100, the whole city was rammed, it was incredible, you literally couldn’t move, there were thousands of people.

 

 There were groups of street musicians who went around performing in different areas of the city, children and their parents dressed up and doing their party piece, and the ever present statue figurines all trying to outdo one another, it was all massively entertaining and a thoroughly enjoyable experience.



Ann 'Pulls' for two Knights

  

We finished a long day at Burgerking, eating a big burger and fries and I had a large beer, can you believe it?? We’d never crossed their threshold before, & I have to say that I’m not entirely sure we’ll cross it again. However, hunger can be a strong driver, I suppose I should never say never. We left Valencia at around 10pm arriving back in Gandia at 11ish, we had a walk about in Gandia before eventually retiring back to the hotel for a good nights kip ready to face, the following morning, the next stage of our tour.

 

This is all thats left after the Fallas are burnt.








That’s it for now, we have our fingers crossed for the next stage of our journey. Italy here we come!!

Lots of love The Easy Riders xxxx