We have had a few days off the bikes, and now a few days back on. This octopus' garden goes on for acres. Just imagine the thousands of people from all over the world that have left their small mark on this beach.
The climate and much of the flora of Tenerife is very similar to Central California, but the farming techniques are reminiscent of Southeast Asia. Everything is so steep, and so much of the topography is volcanic in formation, that small plots of land are carved out of whatever small spot that yields some farmable soil. At this point we had climbed about 1500' above sea level.
This picture does not do the view credit, sadly. If the ocean looks a long ways away, it is because we are 6000' above the town and the sea. We haven't even started to climb the freaking volcano yet, at this point! As I was doing the ride today, I was planning a picture I would like to stage; all of the warm clothes I have packed with me on this trip that were sitting in my drawer back at the apartment. I have warm gloves, a hat, leg and arm warmers, wool socks and shoe covers. I have in fact invested a lot of money in said accoutrements, and a lot of planning went into the packing of those items. When we left town today, at 1000' of elevation, it was a pleasant 16c. By the time we reached our start point, it was down to 9c. No problem, we thought, we will be climbing, and it will warm up. Well, wishful thinking on our part. Going downhill for 8 miles in the 52 degree weather, which was now also foggy and windy was a tough haul.
And as a final note, lunch at the magnificently politically incorrect name of a restaurant with equally oddly "throwback Thursday" attitude was just fine! (yes, it is called la negrita)
Hasta luego, amigos!
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