Tenerife

Arriving at Tenerife at about midnight, our plan to anchor was scuppered by strong winds at the north of the island, so we headed for Marina Santa Cruz.

We took Lilly on numerous walks around the city centre, seafront, harbour and parks. There were numerous old buildings and an impressive looking music venue, just a few minutes walk from the marina in the centre of the working harbour.

Hannah needed to head back to the UK for a few days to visit her cousin and decorate her flat ready for new tenants. I set about repairing the wind generator that nearly fell into 2000m deep water on the trip over from Gran Canaria!

With a sunny day forecast, I took the opportunity for a day out cycling and decided a trip north to the beach at San Andres would be worthwhile. From here, the road heading inland towards the hills looked inviting, although steep! I set off towing Lilly in the trailer behind in search of a decent walk somewhere in the hills. After 12kms of climbing we were rewarded with a good walk along part of a ridge high in the hills, with great views down to the west coast. The ride back down the hill to the marina was much easier and considerably faster than the ascent!

Luckily my friend Paul, noticed my post on Facebook that we were currently in Tenerife. He would be on the island with his family on holiday over Easter, so we arranged to meet up. It was good to see a familiar face and have a chat for a few hours on a very warm and sunny afternoon.

There were a few other British yachts in the marina, including a friendly Scottish couple whom we had briefly met at marina Rubicon on Lanzarote. We also met a couple who knew our boat! They are friends with previous owners several years before we had bought her, a small world!

Finally, with a favourable weather forecast, it was time to leave Tenerife and the Canary Islands, heading for Madeira.

Gran Canaria - Mountain Walk

Caldera de Los Marteles to Tenteniguida
After several short walks in the mountains we were both keen on a longer walk through the hills and mountains.
A short drive into the hills took us to the viewpoint at Caldera de Los Marteles at 1600m above sea-level, from here we descended on foot to the village of Tenteniguida.
We passed through pine forests, sheep grazing pastures, amazing displays of shrubs and wildflowers, cacti and eucalyptus trees and even open moorland similar to Exmoor and Dartmoor. Lilly enjoyed her walk through the hills, although progress was a little slow walking uphill in the afternoon sun.

Gran Canaria - West Coast and mountains

West Coast road, Puerto de La Aldea and mountains
A drive along the north and west coasts of Gran Canaria took us to the tiny old port of La Aldea. a seafood lunch, a stroll along the beach and harbour was followed by a drive through fantastic mountain scenery past reservoirs to Artenara, Fontanales and Moya.

Gran Canaria - Central Mountains

Fataga, San Bartolome, Tejeda and Teror
Starting from the motorway at the south of the island we drove up through numerous hairpin bends past the village of Fataga and onto San Bartolomeo for lunch. Following a brisk walk through the pine forests at the head of the valley we continued along the narrow roads to towns of Tejeda and the Teror. On the way back into Las Palmas we narrowly avoided being caught up in the rally of Gran Canaria!

Gran Canaria - Laurel Valley and Canarian Harbour

Moya, Los tilos de Moya & Puerto de las Nieves
A morning visit to the hilltop church in Moya was followed by a drive round the laurel valley and a short walk. Further along the north coast we visited the small harbour of Puerto de las Nieves and ate in the Cofradia de Pescadores (fishermen cooperative restaurant).