Absolutely perhissed it down all night.. We were prepared though and had tucked the outside table and chairs away as the bad weather had been forecast. In fact it forecast much worse than we had.
We caught the bus into Valencia again to pick up the hired car we had ordered. Went slightly later than planned as needed the rain to stop first, didnt want to stand waiting for the bus in the pouring rain. In Valencia we then grabbed a taxi as the car pickup was over 2km away from the bus stop and our feet were after yesterday. Car Hire at GoldCar Rent which we had found via DoyouSpain.com was fine and very reasonably priced. Handed over our reservation, used card to secure insurance deposit and we drove out in a sweet little Fiat 500. Bob had already programmed the old spare satnav so he plugged it in and it quickly took us out onto the main road out, along past the modern art centre buildings and back to the campsite.
Grabbed a quick lunch and then went off to explore the Albufera Natural Park which surrounds the campsite. This is a vast wetland area
where rice is grown and it is absolutely heaving with wading birds. We first of all came to a little town, El Palmar, with a single narrow main street with restaurants and cars parked along its length. Stopped for photos then carried on through the park along the very narrow roads which run between and slightly raised from the rice fields. Only just room for two small cars to pass. We had seen some the park when driving to Valencia and back but once we were on the quiet roads through the Park we could stop and take a closer look. Never ever seen so many Little Egrets in one place but there are also lots of Grey Herons, Black Backed Gulls,Great White Egrets and to our delight a bird we hadnt seen before, Glossy Ibis. We had to look those up as couldnt identify them but they here at this time of year where they overwinter.
Some lovely views across the water especially where the buildings are reflected. We also drove past lots (and lots) of fruit trees oranges and satsumas for which this area of Valencia is famed. Had a really super drive and the
Came to Silla, a town on the approach to Valencia from the West and found our quiet backroad blocked by the motorway so turned round and went back the way we had come.
Hadnt thought of rice growing here in Spain but of course a lot is eaten in Paella. There is a big lake in the middle of the area but all round are irrigation canals and then the rice fields which are wet and today especailly so after last nights rain. The birds were having a wonderful time in all that water and mud. In summer there are boat rides along the canals of the park but not now which is still classed as winter.
We found our way to the coast below the campsite at El Perello hopeful of getting a drink somewhere but though the town was filled with what are obviously holiday apartments that is all there was, except a superb empty sandy beach, nothing open anywhere, closed for winter. So back to the campsite where we had coffee at the campsite restaurant and booked a table for Sunday night.
is much fuller tonight. The touring pitches have been pretty well occupied since we came but not the bungalows in the other areas of the site. Friday night is the start of the weekend and the Spanish seem to like to weekend at campsites. Lots of children running round until late having a lovely time and this campsite has pretty amazing entertainment facilities. We are surprised there is not more given the size of the all of which is open except the pool (too cold to swim !).
