Gael warning in Tenerife

[boatman]

Looking out at a gray, miserable January sky. No jealousy at all!

Ya wee fibber

 

[Lord Snooty]

Hi Si, we were out on the bike today, who knows we have even waved at you. Our last day on the bike, booo! We went west from PDLC onto the TF82 to Santiago del Teide, stayed on the TF82 until taking the TF38 into the mountains. Going through the cloud cover on the ascent and descent was not a great experience but once above the cover at over 2000 metres it was worth it. Took the TF21 back down the mountain, it was drizzling and viz was shocking at times but once below 1000 metres it cleared and started to warm up. Met a British couple from Bristol at a petrol station, she was on an RE Interceptor, he was on an RE Meteor.

We managed to avoid any real rain and had a great day, and so glad we went up the mountains again for one last hurrah! Still here until Sunday so will haveto find something else to do during the day.

Have a great trip.

PS. I'll be interested to see if your Garmin picks up the Tenerife mapping which mine failed miserably to do.

 

[simondippenhall]

Hi Lord S: Garmin working OK so far but having read your experience I also packed Quadlock so I could use my phone as backup.

Yesterday afternoon some great views on way back from El Medano as it started to rain

The other photos from yesterday are at the end of this post, for some mysterious Tapatalk reason

This morning I was in a real dither because I was considering whether to keep my room in Los Cristianos - forecast dry- as a base and just day-trip North where it was forecast wetter.

But I hate going back and also wanted to be free. So after much reflection I checked out. The bike was where I left it last night…

A bad boat/storm moment at El Medano

Grenadilla de Abona where I stopped to take a phone call.

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[simondippenhall]

So having decided to become a wandering traveller again, and eschew the comforts of the concrete jungle that is Playa de las Américas , I was pleased to find my bag fitted so easily:

Next order of business was breakfast and I had the divil of a job finding somewhere on my route. I even resorted to a Macdonalds only to find that at 9 it wasn’t open.

Finally at 10 am after a diversion into Guía de Isora a roadside café beckoned and I accompanied my bocadillo de queso blanco with a zumo de naranja and a café con leche

As I was enjoying this my recently hospitalised 90 year old mother video-called me and we did a tour by mobile phone of the local goings on, to her great entertainment


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[simondippenhall]

Then it was off for some fun on the road to Tamaimo and then Masca and onward to Buenavista del Norte. Prose doesn’t do it justice - the bike was excellent and some pictures may convey the wiggliness:

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[Captain jack]

Also following your trip with interest Simon. Was your tui flight so cheap because it was last minute? I checked out end of march and it looks over 350?

 

[simondippenhall]

Also following your trip with interest Simon. Was your tui flight so cheap because it was last minute? I checked out end of march and it looks over 350?

Afraid I don’t know as only looked at this week…but as today’s torrential rain attests, weather can be iffy now and probably great in March


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[Posh Pete]

Ya wee fibber

Does it show?

Keep it coming, Simon. Ta for posting some vicarious sunshine / bike adventures!

 

[brut33]

So Monday started promisingly with some blue sky

and I went and chose a motorbike- decided to go for the CB500X as relatively light and simple and with a sort of screen for weather protection.

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Looks like the tidal swimming pool in front of the Hotel Europe Villa Cortes. No doubt you had a swim as you did in the sea at Portsoy.
Makes me feel cold just thinking about it.

PS, I cancelled at Christmas due to Covid. I hope the restrictions aren't impacting on you too much.
It certainly doesn't look like it.
Puerto de la Cruz is worth a visit up north. It's an authentic resort (as opposed to the purpose built Playa DL Americas)
with an abundance of accommodation.

It's a long time since I went on the roads over and around Teide. Must try and get off the beach next time.

Some great photos Simon.

 

[simondippenhall]

Looks like the tidal swimming pool in front of the Hotel Europe Villa Cortes. No doubt you had a swim as you did in the sea at Portsoy.
Makes me feel cold just thinking about it.

PS, I cancelled at Christmas due to Covid. I hope the restrictions aren't impacting on you too much.
It certainly doesn't look like it.
Puerto de la Cruz is worth a visit up north. It's an authentic resort (as opposed to the purpose built Playa DL Americas)
with an abundance of accommodation.

It's a long time since I went on the roads over and around Teide. Must try and get off the beach next time.

Some great photos Simon.

You read my mind! After torrential downpours in Garachico I decided to head to PDLC for more variety and managed to dodge the showers. (Probably because I had put my waterproof trousers on!)

Visited the Drago tree in Icod on the way

Nice old hotel in the centre, bike parked in the Plaza

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[simondippenhall]

The restrictions are not difficult, just wear a mask and some hotels ask for vaccination record which I have on the phone.

After checking in to Garachico last night I had to go up to El Tanque to enjoy this road:

The views were stunning and the hairpins vertiginous

At the top I had a very belated lunch (3:30pm)

I went for the lentils…delicious

The fresh orange juice was great and in recognition of me spending £7.50 including coffee, the owner presented me with a few Canarian bananas .

My lodging in Garachico was a lovely (but expensive) quinta I stayed in a few years ago on a cycling trip

The open nature is very attractive, but less so when it gets cold and the rain falls in stair rods . The breakfast was excellent but I decided to move on to PDLC….


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[simondippenhall]

Some scenes of Garachico life, including a wait for a propane lorry to discharge its cylinders in a leisurely manner - and the last photo was the sea this morning

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[Lord Snooty]

Nice one Si, that TF 82 is some road isn't it. We had a walk around Garichico on Saturday, a lovely old place.

It looks as if my Zumo 660 is buggered then mate if yours is picking up the mapping ok.

 

[Drumacoon Lad.]

Good to have another Gael out on a trip and sharing the joys of the rainy season. Keep her between the ditches Simon.

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[DC]

What a proper trip. Images. Food . Bike. Enjoy all of it

 

[simondippenhall]

Cheers guys. Snowed heavily on Teide last night so maybe an interesting outing today

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[simondippenhall]

The rain was torrential last night and the streets were running like rivers.

When I started to get up, the outlook was poor

So I put on my merino cycle leg warmers under my bike jeans, and my ‘waterproof’ trousers over those, plus two levels of wool shirt under my Klim badlands jacket. I find it’s easier to stay warm if you act early rather than try to recover from being chilled.

To my delight the 500 was where I parked it last night and to my greater delight it started on the button - despite having been through the equivalent of a rinse cycle last evening .

As I rode SW heading upwards to El Tanque, there were some hopeful signs of blue sky

And the almond trees (?) we’re blossoming.


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[simondippenhall]

I had a fabulous ride up to the altiplano surrounding Teide. The Honda was delightful to ride. When I got to 2200 metres I stopped to put on my down layer and silk balaclava- it was very . I already wore my winter gloves!

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[simondippenhall]

I’ll add a few more photos which need little comment- the volcanic landscape is spectacular- and so much easier to ride up to on a motorcycle than on my last two trips by bicycle!

Note the frozen ice in the shade!


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[simondippenhall]

Then I saw a few cars stopped…for this: ‘cortada por hielo’. So ice would stop my progress North East and then down to Orotava, so I had to turn around and head back.

The views were pretty spectacular going back,too!

This was all that was visible of Spain’s highest mountain:

More icy mountains:

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