Hike Gran Canaria 25 March 2012 Mirador Los Pinos de Galdar to Teror

Caught the 08.15 nr 220 bus from Telmo bus station to the Mirador de los Pinos be Galdar for the start of the 13 km Sunflower Walking Guide hike nr 9 to Teror.  The Hike is marked by the yellow line on the below map.

From the Mirador, one has a superb view towards the north coast

The first 20 minutes was the same steep slippery  gravel track as for the hike we made to Guia on the 4th March - it was no easier second time round. Unfortunately I must have accidently reset the camera settings so that many of the photos are overexposed.

After 20 minutes the trail to Teror turns off to the right, Guia is straight on

After a while we left the pine forest and later we entered a Eucalyptus wood.

Many wild flowers adorned the trail

Entered the village of Fontanales

The trail followed the crest of a ridge between fields, some of which had flocks of sheep

In the hamlet of Tablero, we were confused by a walking sign indicating that we should make a right turn to go to Teror. After following this for 10 minutes or so, realised that the route did not check with the description so turned back. After a while this road sign confirmed we were now on the correct route - the problem occured because the routes in our guide book do not necessarily follow any marked route - a lesson for the future. 

Passed this Belem - this is a stall where somebody makes an often very elaborate nativity scene just before Xmas - the making of Belems seems to be a tradition on Gran Canaria - we visited one in December last year.

continuing along the ridge

Halfway point - the route makes a sharp right turn and heads towards Teror

This should have been a beautiful photo had it not been for the over exposure of the camera ....

Descending into the beautiful Barranco de la Virgen - the most picturesque part of the hike

 At the floor of the Barranco we join the PR GC06 hiking route

from here we start the steep climb to the top of the ridge 500 meters above us 

 On the way up we pass this water channel which used to supply a mill built at the end of the 19th century used for grinding grain

 As our route uses the PR GC06, this part of the route is well marked

 

We pass this manorial house complete with its own chapel

 Looking back at the hamlet of Monagas as we approach the top of the final ridge

 La Laguna - a dried up pool on top of the ridge which is a popular picnic area

Descending to Teror the town comes into view

 Arrive at the bus station of Teror at 16.15 in time for the 16.30 nr 229 bus back to Las Palmas

Relaxing waiting for the bus

Arrived back on Dutch Link before 1800hrs.

 This was a very pleasant walk through very varied scenery - woods, ridges, hamlets, barrancos - but not as spectacular as the previous two hikes.

Breadmaker

Having been thinking about it for a while, finally bit the bullet and Friday 23 March treated ourselves to a Moulinex Breadmaker - one of the smallest lowest powered machines we could find

 

Tried out the simplest white bread recipe but with delay timer function set so that would have fresh bread by 0730 hrs Saturday morning.

Wokenup around 0330hrs by strange whirring noise - and indeed kneeding had started.

By 0745hrs the process was complete

 and much to our surprise, we had a delicious freshly baked loaf for breakfast

is this beginner's luck?

Hike Gran Canaria 18 March 2012 Tajinaste route PR GC12 & SL GC01

Left Dutch Link at 0745 for the 30 minute walk to the Telmo Bus Station where we caught the 0830 nr 12 bus to Telde in time to catch the nr 13 bus to Tenteniguada just past Valsequillo.

At 10.00hrs the bus driver dropped us off close to the Tenteniguada cemetry, the start of our Hike PR GC12 to the Caldera de los Marteles, some 500 meters above us at 1530m above sea level.

The route took us past the walled cemetry with views of the ridge in the background which we were to climb

past a grove of Orange trees

The track was very well marked - the yellow/white stripes at lower left indicate we take a path to the left

past several Almond trees

the path winds its way steeply up the spur to the ridge above 

View across the valley with the hamlet of Rincon below

Daisies

getting closer to the ridge-top

the start of the ridge-top part of the trail

Looking northwards along the ridge-top

views of Tenteniguada where we started our hike

view across the valley - the return route is over there

Amazingly, this in parts very steep , rocky slippery path seems to be a favourite amongst mountain bikers - several groups passed us - going downhill, of course

time for a break - with an allround view

 A superb example of the Escobon, the White Flowering Tree Broom

Our first Tajinaste - this blue candle-like flower was the main reason we chose this route as our return route is famous for the number of these flowers at this time of the year

Another welcome break

more Tajinastes

and a few white Tajinastes

We enter a pine forest close to the highest point of the hike

The highest point of the Hike - the Caldera de los Marteles,  at 1530m above sea level, which we reached at 13.10 hrs

and the right side of the Caldera

The start of the descent clearly marked by a sign - the SL GC01 hiking route

our trail

At this bend in the trail we saw a sun umbrella outside a couple of cave entrances

This cave was actually being lived in - the friendly occupants helped us later to take the correct fork in the path

more Tajinastes

complete with butterfly

zooming in ....

and in ....

more Tajinastes

more wonderful views

more Tajinastes - this time at head-height

more Tajinastes

and more Tajinastes

another break with an on-top-of-the-world feeling

 yes, more Tajinastes

more Tajinastes

the end of the trail with plaque indicating start of the ascent

A well posted route

The Candelaria cactii caught our fancy

as did the honeysuckle

and this colourful wild flower

At 15.25 hrs arrive at the nr 13 bus stop in Tenteniguada - tired but happy. Total distance walked was about 10 km with an ascent and descent of around 500 meters.

The nr 13 bus duely arrived at 15.45hrs taking us to Telde where we caught the 16.25 bus back to Las Palmas.

This was a suberb walk with fantastic views most of the way and lots and lots of the beautiful Tajinastes to brighten the day.