Lanzarote, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 February.

Saturday 25 February, Orzola Ride.

More cloud than of late today but with some good sunny spells. A strong wind from the SW kept temperatures high at 21C.

I decided on a long hard ride to the north. I headed out via Tias, San Bartolome and Teguise with a stop for a break in the square. Then up the big Haria Pass climb to 2000ft and down the hairpins to Haria at 1000ft. Then further north on a loop via the village of Ye. I started down the descent towards Arietta but then turned off on a narrow backroad for Orzola on the coast in the far north of the Island. This was the first time on this road for this trip. The road wound its way down towards the coast across jumbled rocks of an old lava field partly broken up by struggling vegetation. High above the road was the broken rim of the volcano which created the landscape.

At Orzola I bought food at a Supermarket and had a picnic lunch at the port. Then back on the coast road via Tahiche with a hard ride into the wind all the way.

66 miles for the day and 4800ft of climbing. For the week ending today 236 miles.

Edwin


Sunday 26 February

Bright and sunny all day today with scattered white cloud. A brisk westerly wind and temperatures up to 23C.

I decided on an easier ride today with a visit to the Costa Teguise beach but with a few mountains thrown in. I first climbed up to Tias on the main road, and then a backroad up to 1100ft to the plateau main road at Masdache. Then north towards Teguise but turning off on a backroad to Nazaret and then down the main road a short way to Tahiche. There I turned off on the old coast road and turning off that after a few miles to descend on the back road to Costa Teguise.

I made my way down to Playa Cucharadas the main beach for the northern part of Costa Teguise. I had a leisurely lunch at a restaurant fronting onto the prom and then a couple of hours sunbathing on the sandy beach.

I rode back on the prom/cyclepath and then into Arrecife. Sunday afternoon is an ideal time to ride through the capital with hardly any cars around. Then the prom/cyclepath back via Playa Honda.

39 miles for the day with 1500ft of climbing.