Lanzarote, Thursday 2 March. Lunch stop at Playa Honda

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.

Lanzarote, Saturday 25 February. Volcanic landscape leading to Orzola

Tias with the hills of Fueventura visible in the far distance

Lanzarote, Sunday 26 February. Playa Cucharadas Beach at Costa Teguise

Lanzarote, Tuesday 21 February to Thursday 23 February.

Tuesday 21 February. El Golfo Ride.

Weather today was cloudy early clearing to a bright sunny day with a strong northerly wind. Temperatures reached 20C.

I decided on a ride south to El Golfo village for lunch. I headed out via Yaiza and then the backroad loop across the lava field where it streamed down to the coast. El Golfo is a small village on the coast next to the half eroded volcanic crater. I found a restaurant with a sunny terrace for lunch.

Then along the coast with views of the lava field stretching to distant mountains and the lava rocks being pounded by the Atlantic swell. Then under the main road and a climb on another backroad first to La Brenas and then Femes. After an 18 to 20% grade on the last part of the climb I stopped for a drink at a restaurant with magnificent views down towards Playa Blanca and Fueventura. Then a long smooth descent and back to base.

34 miles for the day and 2200ft of climbing.

Edwin


Wednesday 22 February

Weather today started cloudy clearing during the morning. Wind was still a strong northerly. Temperatures reached 20C.

I took a short ride up to the central plateau taking lanes up to Tias and then Conil. Then another lane to La Vegueta and Tiagua. Then south with a welcome tailwind on the main road with a diversion onto a parallel lane on the old road via Tao. From San Bartolome a fast downhill to Playa Honda and the Prom/cyclepath back.

28 miles for the day and 1200ft of climbing.

Edwin


Thursday 23 February

Weather today started cloudy but cleared by afternoon to bright blue skies. Wind was lighter but still a northerly. Temperatures reached 21C.

I took a longer ride today with first lanes up via Tias to Masdache on the main road across the central Plateau at 1000ft. Then across to Teguise and a brief stop for a break in the Square. Then on the main route towards Haria but turning off at Los Valles on a backroad down to El Mojon and then the main coast road near Guatiza. After a short way on the lightly trafficked main road I turned off for Costa Teguise.

I took a side road down the NE side of Costa Teguise down to the Prom at Playa Charcos. I then walked or cycled all the way along the Prom. I stopped for a long leisurely lunch at a Restaurant adjoining the prom with a beautiful terrace next to the sea.

Then on through Arrecife where I got an impact puncture after hitting a pothole. Only the second puncture in 6 weeks and the first on the road. The previous puncture was a slow one discovered at the Apartment.

Then a gentle ride back along the Prom/Cyclepath via Playa Honda.

46 miles for the day and 2100ft of climbing.

Edwin

Lanzarote, Wednesday 22 February, view across Lava Flow

Lanzarote, Wednesday 22 February, View from cafe in Femes

Lanzarote, Thursday 23 February, Costa Teguise lunch stop

Lanzarote, Thursday 24 February, Prom,cyclepath from Arrecife

Lanzarote, Saturday 18th February and Sunday 19 February.

Saturday 18th February. Beach Ride.

The weather was great today with light winds, sunny all day and temperatures getting to 21C. I decided on an easy flat ride with a stop at Costa Teguise beach.

The ride was partly a route finding exercise as I knew the cyclepath from Puerto del Carmen to the south side of Arrecife but I had not tried going through Arrecife to get to Costa Teguise on the other side because of concerns about traffic. As it turned out being a Saturday traffic was quite light and I was able to find more routes on proms and lightly trafficked smaller roads nearest the coast. I found a back road into Costa Teguise going past the water desalination plant and linking up with the prom/cyclepath into town.

I spent the middle part of the day sunbathing on the main Costa Teguise beach which is a beautiful rocky cove. Then a late lunch at a restaurant on a terrace over the sea next to the cyclepath and a return on the same route.

31 miles for the day and 200ft of climbing. For the week ending today a total of 213 miles.

Edwin


Sunday 19 February. Guinate Ride.

Weather was very good again today, sunny all day with scattered clouds and temperature getting to 20C. Wind was a little stronger than yesterday coming due north.

I decided on a longer ride to the northern part of the Island. With light traffic in the centre of Arrecife on a Sunday I followed yesterday’s route along the coast to Costa Teguise. After an elevenses break for a snack on Costa Teguise seafront I headed inland to the main coast road climbing to 600ft. Then gradually down to sea level at Arrieta. Then inland on a long gradual 1000ft climb towards Haria. Just before Haria I turned off on a backroad to the village of Maguez and then up a little more to Mirador de Guinate. This is a viewpoint at the end of a dead end road with views across to the Island of Graciosa.

Then back via Haria and up the hairpins of the big Haria Pass at 2000ft. I stopped for a late lunch at a restaurant at the top. Then a fast descent on a smooth road getting to 47 mph. I returned to base via Teguise, San Bartolome, and Tias.

62 miles for the day with 3100ft of climbing.

Edwin

Lanzarote, Saturday 18 February. Costa Teguise Beach

Lanzarote, Saturday 18 February. Sea Fishing viewed from near Playa Honda

Lanzarote, Sunday 19 February. Guinate viewpoint

Lanzarote, Sunday 19 February. Multiple hairpins on the Haria Pass