Leaving the campsite at Santa Pola around midday, the first surprise on the ride heading south west was a large group of flamingos in the salt lake next to the road, in the Salinas de Santa Pola.

Continuing around the outskirts of Torrevieja was a large salt lake with the salt piled up in pyramid shapes, being transported by a conveyor belt in the direction of Torrevieja. The city experienced rapid population growth between 1990 and 2010 when much of the land was rezoned to allow building.

When I reached Pilar de la Horadada, there were a large number of homes that looked like they had been built fairly recently, in traditional style. The town is home to thousands of British, Germans and Northern Europeans.

Distance: 30 miles

Maximum temperature: 28 degrees C

Flamingos at Salinas de Santa Pola

Salt at Torrevieja

Pilar de la Horadada