The flight was just under 3 hours to Alicante, we arrived early and straight through passport control, the official was not really looking at the passports. There was a short wait for the bags, before I collected the hire car. I then left the airport to go to the hotel. This is when the plan went slightly astray. I normally use the sat nav on my phone, however, that is not an option here as I have not got a local SIM card (yet!). I try to follow the Google instructions I have printed out and get to the main area. I then drive around the block several times before locating it. It was a Best Western and situated on the sea front with some nice views.
I checked in and then decided to go for a run, nothing better that looking around on a gentle jog, reduces the carbon footprint. I started out through the town in the light, found a Carrefour so I could buy some fruit and water, not too much as I had to carry it back. It was after this that it started going wrong, it was now dark and all the roads looked the same, I knew had to get to the sea, but which road to take? I ran around past all the tourist areas and eventually found the beach. I then saw a Macdonalds, a Big Mac was needed? No it has free wi-fi so I would be able to establish where I was and the way back to the hotel. I discovered I was about 3 miles from the hotel, not too bad I would be back in under 30 minutes.
The next day I was going up the coast, so I had an early morning run, then breakfast before driving the 30 miles on the toll road to Altea. I had a SIM card by now, but it didn't really help as Google Maps kept sending me to the wrong hotel. I eventually found the one I was staying at, it was in the Hills. This is ideal for improving my running and stamina. I checked in and I have been given an apartment, it has a bathroom, separate bedroom and a living area plus a balcony. The weather is warm with occasional showers. I unpack my clothes and then go for a run. I decided to run down to the Port area, it was downhill all the way and then found a restaurant for a cappuccino. I ran along the beach, which became a problem when I ran out of sand and only water, so I had to run through a small pool to get to the sand on the other side. My shoes are going to smell. I have a new running backpack so I can take my Ipad with me to read. The restaurant was a bit posh, so I think me in my running shorts and sweaty clothes lowered the tone, not quite the clientele they wanted to attract. It was a nice coffee and I sat there watching the boats in the marina and reading my book.
I then had to run back to the hotel and it was all up hill and these were hills like you find in Wales! However, it was challenging but I made it to the top. I stopped at the supermarket to buy some salad, meat and fruit for my tea and then ran the rest of the way. In the evening I relaxed, I was going to use the gym but it was closed. There is a cycling team staying here, so they have taken over everything.
Friday was a sunny day, temperature in the late teens and the sun was out. I had some bread and fruit for breakfast, before leaving for a run. I decided to run up into the hills, seemed a good idea at first, but not so good halfway round, but I made it to the top, you have some good scenic views over the mountains and valleys. Running down was not as easy as its seems, the roads were quite steep so you had to be careful not to run too fast otherwise you were going to fall over and I had to remember which side of the road to run on. Altea town was the target and I got there quite comfortably, it was only about 6 miles according to my Garmin watch. I then found a cafe on the front, enjoyed a cappuccino in the sunshine, just sitting there reading my book. I then had to run back, uphill again, it was only 4 miles, so not too bad.
I was back by mid afternoon so I cooked some scrambled eggs and sat on the balcony to rest. In the evening I visited the gym to do some weights and cross training. There is wi-fi at the hotel so I can Facetime Linda, however it confuses the puppy, as she can hear my voice but not work out where I am!
Today (Saturday) I had an easy morning, cooked some scrambled eggs and read the paper whilst drinking coffee. I left before midday and then drove the scenic route back to Alicante, avoiding the toll road. I stopped in Benidorm for a coffee, it was a bit of a dive and full of old people, so a quick coffee and then left again. On arrival in Alicante I went to the shopping centre, I needed a salad and some fruit for my evening meal, but I had lunch there as well, a nice steak and jacket potato. I arrived at my hotel early afternoon. I decided to go for a run along the promenade, a gentle one today as a bit stiff after all those hills, it was going well, covered about four miles, only a couple back to the hotel, and the heavens opened and it rained, I got drenched. It is a 11am flight back tomorrow so will need to be up early to get to the airport for around 9am.