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Thursday 11th March
At 9.45am the following day, the
group of 15 bowlers & 5 non bowlers boarded the mini
bus, some with headaches, some not, for their first
match at Benalmadena Bowling Club, a 15 minute
journey from the hotel. The morning went well, and
after the usual after match frolics with some quite
hilarious jokes from the Benalmadena captain, even
though they had lost by 24 shots, the sun was still
shining & everyone was happy when they left the club
at 2pm after a few drinks (Just to be social of
course!) and as soon as they dropped their bowls
back to their rooms they went back over to Tony’s
for a nice toastie & a cuppa before spending the
rest of the day relaxing at their leisure. Another
fabulous meal, another evening with Tony and the
second day ended as fantastically as the first! Yay!
Friday 12th of March
was the eagerly awaited “Real
Spain Trip”! Half of the Magnificent 7 had booked
this trip (Magnificent 3 & a half!) and were joined
by Ron & Sarah, the Ramage Raiders along with some
of the Pinces Gardens BC and boarded the coach at
9.45 for the 45 minute journey into rural Spain,
Lake Vinuela, far from the madding crowds of the
tourist side of Costa del Sol. Arriving at the lakes
somewhat refreshed, we all enjoyed a free cup of our
fancy compliments of Ron & Sarah! There was a lot of
sketching, drawing & photograph taking going on and
everyone marvelled at the dramatic view of the
lakes, mountains with thick white cloud stuck
thankfully at the top and valleys of green lush
plants & flowers , thanks to the 6 weeks of
continuous rain Spain had endured before we arrived!
The blue sky completed the perfect memory as we got
back on the coach to have lunch in the beautiful
Village of Frigiliana. Set in the mountains so high
it makes your ears go pop, this is considered to be
the prettiest village in Spain. Ron & Sarah lived in
the village for 2 years and had extensive knowledge
of the area and were able to recommend various
restaurants depending on each individual need, and
were able to show them the route along the quaint
cobbled streets littered with tiny shops selling
various items such as the local Frigiliana Vino,
arty shops filled with the most amazing and unique
trinkets, traditional clothes, and the odd donkey or
2! Everyone managed to find a tasty lunch of some
sort and headed back to the coach, bellies full, and
also mmmmm, legs worn in ready for later, although
they were not aware of that little gem until a bit
later! First, after a 10 minute journey down to the
coast, we had an hour or so in the working town of
Nerja, a typical working town with a handful of
hotels so although there were a few tourist shops
open and not much else because of the traditional
“siesta” we were there to see the famous Balcon de
Europa, a viewpoint at which you can see for miles
along the coastline all the way to Gibraltar, you
can even see the famous Gibraltar Rock from there on
a clear day! We all wandered around munching on
delicious ice creams & with around 40 flavours to
choose from including Ferrero Rocher, after eight,
mango & Rum, and we had to eat them quickly as the
sun was melting them faster than we could eat them!
With all of us chilled out on ice cream, we got back
on the coach taking a ride back up the 3d effect
mountains up to the Caves of Nerja, amazingly only
found in 1959. The caves are magnificent and well
worth the 41 steps back up to earth! Now you see why
they needed to stretch their legs in Frigiliana!
Despite sore legs, everyone said it was worth it,
although the photographs left a rather different
impression!
After a quick cup of Spanish
coffee we all got back on the coach for the hour or
so journey back to the hotel. We had been blessed
with blue skies & sunshine all day, no one noticed
the beautiful sunset as we all fell asleep!
Saturday 13th March
The next day was a day of leisure
to relax by the pool with their favourite tipple & a
good book, or to explore the many towns and villages
surrounding them. There is always something to do in
Costa del Sol if you want to!
Sunday 14th March
This was the turn of Tour Manager
Susan Walker, a very successful bowler in her own
right, to take the reins and escort the Magnificent
7 for the day. Firstly to their 11am match at
Benavista Bowling Club & then onto a half day
excursion to Puerto Banus in Marbella. They left at
9.30am, had a cup of tea or coffee and were raring
to go for a sunny morning playing bowls. After an
enjoyable match in which they only lost by 33 shots&
the obligatory after match frolics with some quite
hilarious jokes from the Benavista captain, they
bid farewell and headed for the playground of
millionaires, streets filled with high class
designer shops, Ferraris racing down the roads, and
portside marina bars and restaurants, and… Susan &
the Magnificent 7 touring party! They enjoyed the
afternoon mingling with the rich, bought everything
in sight and helped the Spanish government with
their national debt, well, not really, but it’s nice
to dream! A great day was had by all!
Monday 15th March
Morning at 10am sharp, The
Magnificent 7 were on their way with Susan Walker to
the picturesque village of Mijas. A fabulous village
with lots of shops, cobbled streets, restaurants,
bars, Mijas is a typical Spanish village in full
flow. After a couple of hours and a fine lunch they
all met up and travelled up to Mijas Bowling Club,
said to be the friendliest bowling club in Costa del
Sol. Mijas are proud of that title, and rightly so!
They welcomed the Magnificent 7 and challenged them
to the afternoon of bowls with relish! Well, it was
the Magnificent 7 who relished the game winning the
game by 39 shots! A Magnificent result! After the
match they enjoyed the company of the Mijas crowd
for drinks and exchanging of emails ( how times have
changed!) they left the club full of enthusiasm and
joy as they saw the panoramic views from the coach
on the way back to the hotel, for another sumptuous
dinner and more fun over Tony’s!
Tuesday 16th March
The afternoon was their last official
match of their tour, and they met on the Hotel
Belplaya green at 1.30 ready & waiting for their 2pm
match. The lovely Linda Frowd, Manager of the club,
welcomed them with welcome arms as did the rest of
the club, the match started and there was much
laughter and lively chatting going on and attracting
attention from outsiders who were curious to find
where this source of the fun was happening! The week
ended on a high note as the magnificent 7’s last
match drew to a close with them winning by 8 shots!
A rewarding way to end their tour & exhausted after
4 matches, 72 ends & a week of touring, the
Magnificent 7 sat down for drinks & relaxed with the
lovely people at the Belplaya & strolling back to
their rooms to get ready for dinner were undoubtedly
thinking of the next whole 7 days of leisure!
But first!
The prize giving presentation!
TOP RINKS PRIZES OF LEATHER SCORECARD
HOLDER & TOWELS WENT TO –
BENALMADENA - FREDA BURROWS, TERRY
DICKENS, ALAN EDWARDS & RALPH GARLAND
BENAVISTA – JANE DICKENS, TERRY
DICKENS, JOHN SHERE & DARRELL THOMAS
MIJAS – ALAN EDWARDS, GLYN HARRIS,
DARRELL THOMAS & SUB
BELPLAYA – ALAN JENKINS, JOHN SHERE,
DARRELL THOMAS & MARGARET WARD
OVERALL R.UP TROPHY – DARRELL THOMAS
OVERALL WINNER TROPHY– TERRY DICKENS
17TH – 24TH
MARCH WEEK OF LEISURE
WEDNESDAY 8 OF THEM JOINED US FOR THE
GIBRALTAR TRIP
AND ON THE FRIDAY ALL OF THEM MADE UP
A BOWLING ABROAD TEAM WITH THE RAMAGE RAIDERS &
PINCES GARDENS TO PLAY 7 RINKS WITH BELPLAYA BOWLS
CLUB
Rest of week was taken up with long
walks, bus and train journeys and 3 day car hire to
visit those mountain villages
24TH MARCH DEPARTURE
After an early breakfast, the
Magnificent 7 Touring Party were aboard the coach
escorted by Ron who saw them off at the airport, on
their way home, after 2 weeks of pleasure & leisure.
Ron returned to the hotel where he & Sarah waved to
them from the balcony as they saw the plane flying
over, and prepared for the next groups’ arrival!
As always Alan, it was a pleasure!
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