After a free breakfast roll there, we met up with some others and decided to do last week’s route but in reverse.

Today’s line up was, Pete the Scoot, MAD, Jeff ( as a mod on his scooter!) Mark on his Royal Enfield and 2 new guys. Joseph(with the beard) on his Fat Boy and Kees on his Ducati.(Don was drooling over this bike!) We set off with Pete in the lead and headed off via Orba, Parcent and up to Coll de Rates,toward the clouds. It really looked very unsettled so we stopped for a quick coffee in Tarbena before taking the road to Castell de Castells.   This really is a lovely route, and we had a good clear ride to Castells. Here we took the new road, towards Benichembla.

I have to say I think I prefer this direction. At last the sun came out and this was a great ride out. After a bit of confusion we all stopped in the Co-op bar in Parcent for a drink and sandwiches.We had more time to have a chat with the new guys as the rain clouds had gone somewhere else.

We then made out own ways home. Very enjoyable 80 odd kms. Hope to see the new guys again.

We headed off up the hill and then dropped down into Murla and on to Benichembla and then on down the new road to Castell de Castells. This road is excellent, lovely smooth surface with some nice sweeping bends. We were going to stop there for coffee but as we hadn’t been out for long we continued along to Tarbena where we stopped in the village for coffee. The road from Castell to Tarbena is one of my favourites with tight bends at the start giving way to long open stretches of undulating road where you can see for miles ahead and make use of all the road and then as you come into Tarbena it changes to tight twisty bends again. There are some lovely views along this section of road with views down to the sea and up into the mountains.

After coffee we headed off back to the Coll de Ratas and down the mountain to Parcent. We were going to stop at the mirador for photos but it was too busy with cars and there was no room for 10 bikes. We headed from Parcent to Alcalali and then to Llosa. From Llosa to Pedreguer and then to Beniarbeig  where we all split up and made our own way home.

A nice shortish ride and it was only starting to get really hot as we finished. Unfortunately we didn’t get chance to take any photos today. So we will have to make do with a Google map of our route.

View Larger Map

We headed off at about 11am down through Beniarbeig to the old N332 and then north through El Verger and on towards Oliva. As we went through El Verger we passed Pete the Scoot going in the opposite direction ?? We went up to the drive in cinema and then turned down onto the coast road. We had a slow ride down through all the traffic and pedestrians to Denia (now I remember why I don’t go to Javea or Denia in July and August). We then went along past the marina and over the Montgo and dropped down into Javea port, where we stopped for a cold drink.

We then headed off back up the main road towards Gata and onto the N332 and then turned left down the side road past Monroes towards Pedreguer. We turned right and headed off back towards Beniarbeig and passed Siggi (solo) going the opposite way just as we left Pedreguer. We split up and headed for home at the Beniarbeig roundabout.

A nice gentle ride for me to check the Valk out after the carb rebuild and the weather wasn’t too hot but the black clouds looked threatening all day.

I am not sure if I can make it as the Valk is poorly at the moment.

Hopefully Sunday will be dry and that we can get out somewhere.

We will be starting these again in September when it has cooled down a bit. Until then we will do the odd evening ride so keep an eye on the site and your emails for details of these.

Good News:

I have it on good authority that the Castells de Castells road to Benichembla has re-opened so we need to give that a try soon.

I suggested to Jeff that we follow him so that he could set the pace. That was the last we saw of him until we reached Gasolinera. That 180cc scooter of his really flies. We headed through Alcalali and Jalon and then through Lliber and on to Benissa. We went along the twisty road through Pedremala and down to the coast road and then along to Gasolinera. We had a couple of drinks there and put the world to rights.

As it started to get dark we decided to head for home just before 10pm and we continued along the coast road to Calpe and then up to the N332 and then back to Benissa and down to Jalon. We all went out separate ways from Alcalali to home.

It was a nice 35 mile ride and the temperature was not bad at all. Definitely the right time to go riding. We may do something similar next week please consider coming it really was not bad at all.

The bikes at Gasolinera

After Pete refueled we headed off for Albaida up through Muro del Alcoy and onto the N340, there are some major roadworks going on as the N340 joins the A7, we went on to a lovely new section of motorway standard road up into Albaida. We arrived at about 11am and had a look at the parked bikes and some of the scenery. Unlike last time there were only two small stands with T shirts for sale and fewer bikes which was a bit of  a shame. Just as we settled for coffee the rideout set off and rather than rush our coffees we decided to finish them at leisure and then wander around the remaining bikes and look at the stalls. Once the rideout started everything closed down, including the archery that Pete was going to have a go at.

As a result we decided to leave and took Robin up on his offer of a cold drink (and so Ken could get some cash from him). So we headed off to Robin’s village, we saw plenty of  stock for a ‘road kill’ cafe if there was one in the area en route. We invaded Helen’s peaceful afternoon and had a cold drink and some Key Lime pie on their terrace (highly recommended, thanks Helen). We left Robin and Helen and Robin kindly showed us the way out of the village and onto the CV 60.

We had a long straight blast down the CV60 all the way into Gandia where we decided to pop down to the beach at the Grau for another cold drink as the temperature was nudging 30 in the shade. Whilst we were settled there Pete and Wilf popped off to the shops to buy Spain T shirts and flags for the World Cup final as they were celebrating / watching in Alcalali later. We left Gandia and had a straight blast home down the N332. Getting home about 3pm and straight into our respective pools to cool off.

Nice ride and route, it was a little warm though.

In the group today Aad & Mieke, MAD, June, Pete the Scoot and Siggi & Bella. As the weather looked a little unsettled we decided on an easy ride.

Down the N332 towards Javea, then  Benitachell before heading down to Moraira for a coffee stop on the front. Plenty of space to park today for the 5 vehicles. We then followed the coast road to Calpe. At the junction with the N332 we saw loads of bikes at the old Road King but decided not to stop. Shortly after joining the 332 we passed 2 Guardia on bikes. Siggi was in the lead at the right speed but soon disappeared. Then we saw one of the Guardia tearing past us on his bike. We thought he was in hot pursuit of Siggi but it turns out he was after a car!!

A second stop at Allelujah bar in Jalon for a chat and then home to beat the rain. Luckily apart from a few spots we stayed dry. We saw quite a few bikes on the road today also all chancing the weather.

Perhaps the rain (and the water leak) was confined to Orba today!   No photos this time.

We wandered around looking at the bikes and Colin found another Brit on a Valkyrie. We also bumped in to Annette, it was nice to see her again after all these weeks. There didn’t seem to be as many bikes as in previous years and there were only 3 T shirt stalls this year and no one selling leather gear. There were, however, the usual Brazilian dancers.

The ride out started at 11.30 (only Colin and John went on it the rest electing to stay in Oliva) and took us all around the town as usual and then down to the beach. Here Colin found a Valkyrie Rune ridden by a Spaniard and his son. At the beach there were the usual ‘give aways’ of hats and T shirts by the Brazilian girls followed by the strip show. Following last years complaints it was only topless this year.

The sky started getting dark and there was the odd flash of lightening and there was a light patch of sky to the south so Colin and John decided to head for home. Just as we left Oliva it started to rain for about 2km and then it stopped. Then as we got to El Verger the heavens opened and we got a little wet by the time we got home.

A good day at what in my opinion is one of the best matinals.

An update: Rumour has it that June fell in love with a Blue Kawasaki VN900 that was for sale. I wonder if we will see her on it shortly?

I went to the Javea Matinal and met up with a few other non BOPA friends there. There were about 400 bikes which is down on previous years but I suspect that this was due to the other 2 competing Matinals today. The ride started on time at 11.30 and went up through part of the Old Town and up to the Cabo San Antonio lighthouse and then stopped at a bar on the lighthouse road for a midway break and a beer. We then returned to Javea and road around all of the Old Town and then down along the inner coast road to Cabo Blanco, along the seafront through the Arenal and then into the port and then round to the trawler roundabout and back to the start.

I stopped and listened to some of the music there and headed home when I saw the clouds getting darker inland. It was a good day, not too hot and a nice ride and I got home without getting wet.