2016 Hike Lanzarote Haria to Mirador del Risco de Famara

1100hrs Wednesday 7/12/16 we drove from Arrecife Marina to the picturesque town of Teguise 

 

Teguise

 

where we visited the Aloe Museum

 

 where we learned amongst other things, about the Cochineal Insect which feeds on the cacti and is crushed to produce a crimsom substance used for food colouring and dyes.

 

The female Cochineal insect attaches itself to the cactus and sucks out the juices from cactus. The nymphs she produces cover themselves with a white substance living with their mother on the cactus until they are mature. They are harvested for dye production by simply scraping them off the cactus.

 

Then we drove towards Haria, stopping at the restuarant car park of the Mirador los Helechos

 

From the Mirador los Helechos one has superb views of the NE coast of Lanzarote with the coastal towns of Arrieta and Punta Mujeres clearly visible

 

One also has a very good view of Haria

 

We parked close to the center of Haria and walked to the Mirador on top of the cliffs  with superb views of the  NWest coast

 

To the north, the island of Graciosa was clearly visible

 

We then followed the track which skirted southwards around Montana Ganada

 

Eventually climbing back up to the clifftop through a picnic area to the Mirador de Risco de Famara, again with superb views of the coast below

 

 

 

 

The below Viewranger app map shows the track we actually walked from/ to Haria plus the car route to the Mirador los Helechos

 

2016 Hike Lanzarote Caldera Blanca Rother's nr 19

Tuesday 6/12/16 drove with our Orlando rental car via Mancha Blanca down a rough track to the carpark at the start of our hike to and clockwise around the rim of the Caldera Blanca - Rother's Walking Guide nr19.

 

Our track is recorded in the below Viewranger map 

 

We started walking at 1105hrs. The first part of the route was over a very rough track through the lava flows - quite uncomfortble on the feet.

 

Our first view into the crater after the steep climb to its rim

 

Our position when we took the above photo is shown by the red circle on the below Viewranger map

 

 

Since arriving on the island, we have been surprised at how green parts of the island are - we remember Lanzarote as being a very brown barren island.

 

 

The highest point of the rim - Montana Blanca, around 461 meters

 

Below one can see how the lava flowed around volcanoes from previous eruptions

 

After scrambling up a steep section of the rim, we were met by these mountain goats.

The official walking route descends before reaching this part of the ridge. We decided we preferred to complete the circumnavigation of the rim

 

The below Viewranger map shows our position where the above photo was taken. The stippled track to the left is the official route

 

 

The track on the rim of the caldera is a bit like a knife edge here - probably why the official route avoids it by descending and contouring around the outer base of the caldera - however, it is the most exciting part of the route!

 

View across the Caldera to Montana Blanca

 

After dscending from the rim, our track rejoined the track we had used initially to take us back through the lava flows to the car. 1555hrs we were back at the carpark - a very enjoyable hike.

 

2016 Sail Las Palmas to Arrecife

1500 hrs Saturday 3/12/16 we left our berth in Lasp Palmas and, after filling the diesel tanks at the fuel pontoon, 

 

we set off on our 115 nmile voyage to Arrecife on Lanzarote. We chose to start our trip mid afternoon so as to ensure that we would sail through the gap between Fuerteventura and Lanzarote during daylight - there are often wind acceleration zones in the gaps between the islands and it is much easier to handle these in daylight.

Passed close to a ferry boat

 

Sailed for an hour or so after leaving Las Palmas but the wind then dropped to a light WNW 1 to 3 Bft, so we had to motor for a few hours

 

Beautiful sunset

 

By 2345hrs we had cleared the shipping lanes between Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura

 

For some time, we had seen lights directly ahead of us but there was nothing on our radar nor anything on the AIS. Finally, when we were a few miles from each other, our AIS told us that the lights were from the cruise ship Mein Schiff 2 and that it was on a reciprocal course making 12 kts - all lit up like a huge Xmas Tree. So when we were 3 nmiles apart, we called them up on VHF Ch16 and they politely agreed to change course - we passed a mile apart at around 0030 hrs.

 

By 00200hrs the wind had increased to a pleasant WNW 4Bft so we unfurled the Genny and started sailing

Dawn breaking as we approached the gap between the islands

 

Broadreaching in 15 kts apparent wind making over 6 kts

 

Grip files showing also our position ( blue dot)

 

Entering the gap

 

Shortly before this photo was taken we entered one of the infamous accelleration zones with the wind speed increasing fronm 15 to 30 knts in a matter of seconds giving the autopilot a problem ( we had too much sailup for these gusts) requiring a bit pf hand steering. Luckily the wind soon died down again to its previous speed.

 

The south coast of Lanzarote

 

1400hrs entering Arrecife harbour

 

We moored in Arrecife's new Marina de Lanzarote on berth K16 with the help of the very friendly marina staff after a trip of 115 nmiles in 22.25 hrs of which 9hrs motoring. Average speed 5.2 kts.

 

 

2016 Hike Gran Canaria Bandama - Pico & Caldera

Tuesday 15/11/16 cycled to Telmo Bus Station and caught the 0955hrs nr311 bus to Bandama, arriving there at 0925 hrs.

We then hiked the Sunflower Walk nr 14 in reverse,  going anticlockwise around the crater rim. The below Viewranger app map shows our track

 

starting by walking past the Golf Course

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The walk ended at the Bandama Pico

 

 where we had tea and coffee at the Cafe Caldera with super views over the Caldera.

 

Took the 1357 hrs nr 311 bus back to Telmo, but got off a few stops earlier in order to have a late lunch at Manso's, our favourite restuarant in Triana.