The first leg of our journey to Barcelona was from Alicante to Benicassim which was only 270 km so there was no need for an early start. After the best buffet breakfast we have had, we left at 9:15am. This would set us up for a similar distance to ride to Barcelona the next day.

Our ride to Benicassim took us between the rugged mountains and the coast. We stopped for coffee and chatted to a couple of bikers from Glasgow who were on their annual holiday ride. We only know this because we consulted Google Translation Service to decipher what they were saying! For most of the day you could smell the oranges growing in orchards beside the road. That is until we started riding around the outskirts of Valencia when all you could smell was pollution. We were really glad not to be going in to Valencia! The afternoon was spent by the pool at our hotel before a cold beer and a late Chinese meal.

Unfortunately, our hotel room in Benicassim was right beside a street party! The kids were still playing hide and seek at 11pm and the street gathering did not end until 2am in the morning - it was Friday after all!. Needless to say there were three weary travellers when we met up in the morning. Just as well we only had a short ride to Barcelona!