Club Tour(s) 2011

Broomwade Bowls Club Tour

Calpe, Spain

3rd to 12th April 2011

On Sunday 3 April twenty-four bowlers and guests left from the pick-up points at the lovely hour of 4.30am (many of the travellers didn't know that this time even existed on a clock, let alone be out and about !) and were taken by coach (lovely driver !!) to Luton Airport, where we met up with our final 2 bowlers, and then proceeded to check-in for our flight to Alicante. We were sorry to leave Haydn behind, as he was taken poorly the night before our departure and was unable to travel; we were pleased to hear, on our return, that he was much better.

On arrival at Alicante, and after reclaiming our luggage, we were met by our Resort Manager, Mary, who took us to the coach, which was to take us to Calpe and our Hotel for the next 9 nights, the Hotel Diamante Beach. We had plenty of time to unpack, have a wander round the resort and enjoy a snack and a drink before we met Mary in the Piano Bar at 6pm for a Welcome Drink and a chat about the events lined up for our stay. This was followed by the evening meal, and for many, an early night.

Monday morning saw us travelling to Finca Guila Bowls Club for our first game - the result was not our best, as we lost the game by 86 shots - we all thought that the only way was up from there, but, by the end of the tour we were unfortunately proved wrong ! However, we received a warm welcome from the Club Captain, and all enjoyed the game in the sunshine. There were a few folk (they know who they are !) who had a few mishaps, i.e. contact lens cleaner being used as sun cream, learning that before applying sun cream to your face it is essentail to remove sunglasses, and a couple of wrong biases during the game - jet lag ?!

We then had a lunch of courgette soup and baguettes, and bid farewell to Finca Guila, and spent the afternoon in the lovely village of Altea. Altea means "Health to All", and this is evident in the delightful old lady of about 90 years of age, who held the keys to the ancient Church, and who charged us 1 euro each to enter, but she did give us a free postcard of the Church. We then spent a little time exploring the village and admiring the stunning views of the coast before returning to our hotel for the evening meal.

Tuesday was a day at leisure or optional tour to Valencia. Most of the group joined Mary on a coach for this trip for a very enjoyable day. We were joined by another tour group when we arrived in Valencia and were taken on a walking tour viewing many buildings, and a large market, which sold all sorts of fruit, vegetables, fish, etc.

The visit was tinged with a little sadness as we were aware that it was Pam McLeod's funeral that day, and we all toasted her at 1pm, and this coincided with a street player starting to play his saxophone. We think Pam would have appreciated that !

There being no evening meal in the hotel that night, everyone ventured out and enjoyed a taste of the local cuisine.

Wednesday morning was spent relaxing in the warm sunshine before our departure to El Cid for our second game of bowls. We fared slightly better here and, although we lost, we did have 1 winning rink - well done Brenda, Peter, Janet Kemp and one other (trying to be modest here !!)

Thursday was another free day. Some of our group went by bus and train to Denia, but most spent the day in and around Calpe, walking around the salt lake, exploring the rock (mainly the bottom as no-one felt like mountaineering), or just relaxed by the pool.

Friday was scheduled as an optional excursion to Moraira and the Jalon Valley, but as there were not enough people interested, we were able to please ourselves. Quite a few folk boarded the local bus and made their way to Moraira to visit the outdoor market and stroll along the seasfront, and enjoy yet more food and drink. Others went to Denia, as they had received good reports of this town from those who went there on Thursday.

Friday also saw us us all venturing out for another meal in the local restaurants - most landed up in the same restaurant with much bantering and laughter to accompany the meal. We were also all given comlimentary chocolates and wine by the Hotel Diamante Beach that eveing, as there were changes planned for our meal arrangements at the hotel.

After a leisurely Saturday morning, we travelled to Bonalba Bowls Club for a lunch before our afternoon game. Yet again, a very enjoyable game in the sunshine, with good company, but anothjer loss, but again we managed 1 winning rink - well done Roy, Malcolm, Colin and Janet P. ! This day also saw Mary playing her first ever game of bowls after having persuaded her that we needed her to complete our team - she had an excellent game, playing with Ollie, John and myself.

Sunday morning was our last game of bowls of the tour, to be played at La Marina  - we were all hopeful that we could win this game as it was our last chance, and it would be nice to go home with one victory. Oh well, not to be, as we suffered our worst defeat, but we had all enjoyed ourselves. This day also saw Mary play her second game !

We left La Marina and made our way to Benidorm for a browse round. On our return to the hotel we were met by around 40 coaches bearing students from Portugal, who were to be staying in and around Calpe. An interesting evening ensued !

Again there were not enough people to warrant a coach to take the party to Guadelest on the Monday, so 8 people left in taxis to enjoy the breathtaking scenery of this venue, while the rest of the group made their own way around the area.

A further compensation for the arrival of some 2500 students, our hotel offered a free hour in the spa, or facials, on the Monday afternoon. The best way to describe the hour in the spa was to compare all and sundry with the ages of the students with lots of laughter and pranks throughout !

The evening saw our Farewell Drink with our lovely Resort Manager, Mary. Mary kindly gave the best rinks of each day, prizes - Hubert's rink on Monday, my rink on Wednesday, Roy's rink on Saturday and Tour Leader's rink on Sunday. Congratulations to all ! Allan Rumble presented the Trophies to the Best Man of the Tour  - Colin Kemp, and the Best Lady of the Tour  - (time to be modest again !), and the Ron Child Trophy was shared for the first time in its history by Colin and me, as we landed up with exactly the same minus score !

Allan also presented Mary with a gift from us all, and extended our thanks for all her hard work during the week. She said that she intended to buy her first set of bowls with our gift, so would always remember Broomwade.

Tuesday saw our departure from our hotel and our journey back to Alicante Airport for the flight home. A slight hiccup here, where some kind local relieved one of our group of their wallet, but, otherwise, it was a good flight with our luggage arriving quicker than anyone had ever experienced when we got to Luton.

All in all, a very good tour, and I think everyone will agree that the hotel, food, trips, weather, etc. were excellent. I know that Mary is planning on checking out our website, so, can I thank her again on behalf of all the Broomwade Bowls Tour members for her hard work and great company during our stay, and also for her help in trying to obtain reports etc., from the Alicante Police with regards the stolen wallet.  Happy Bowling, Mary !

Finally, it just leaves me to say a huge "Thank You" to Allan Rumble for all his hard work in making yet another great tour. Well done on organising beautiful weather, and sorry we couldn't recipricate by winning a game or two !!

Denise Williams

May I add a few words of thanks - Firstly, to Denise, as my "Tour Reporter", and endorse our thanks to Mary (sorry I had to 'fine' her for the misdemeanours - Rules are Rules on a 'Bowls Tour' !).

Also, thanks, to those who supported the Tour, and not forgetting the support of Michele and Sharon of Personal Touch Holidays Office in Sussex.

Now, for details of the Fixtures, which one can only describe as "Dis-as-ter".

  4 April v Finca Guila  Lost 67 - 153
  6 April v El Cid   Lost 79 - 121
  9 April v Bonalba   Lost 71 - 105
10 April v La Marina  Lost 62 - 156

Apart from the Results, I know we all enjoyed the Tour, and, hopefully, we will have another next year.

Allan

More photos of the Tour can be viewed by left clicking once on this link :

CALPE, SPAIN - APRIL 2011