| GR
130 report on our round about La Palma
It seemd romantic to us. And ofcourse it would be a good test...
Walkint the 210 km. long GR 130 around the island. So we did it and
made it our honeymoon. Here you´ll find a short report and some
pictures. If you want to know more, just send us an e-mail
with your questions.
We
started on the 19th of May and it took us 7 days. We walked an average
of 8 hours a day and were about 10 uur per day en route. An average
of 1,5 hours ascending and 1 hour descending, per day. Because we took
our caravan with us, we had the great advantage that we could walk until
we liked. When we wanted to call it a day, we just stopped, looked for
a busstop or called a friend. And so we went for our caravan to put
it on the place where we stopped that day. Ideal!
Day
1: Tijarafe - San Nicolás
To descend and climb the
Barranco de las Angustias at the hottest moment of the day, wasn´t
the best thing to do... This also was the day with most asphalt: from
Los Llanos until La Laguna. At the end, just before San Nicolás
a neighbour ignores the right to cross his finca. We need to climb the
fence to get out and to spend the night in front of Virgen Fátima.
Day 2: San Nicolás - Mazo
Actually an easy walk. Not too much climbing or descending; the main
part is at 800 m. altitude, at the upper part of Fuencaliente. We round
the Souther part of the island. But, it is a tough day! Daphne´s
legs just seem two heavy columns. Just impossible to get along. It didn´t
help her mood very much... But Ricardo is not impressed by her bad mood.
And the surroundings ar very varied: from young volcanic ground until
lovely Mazo.
Day
3: Mazo - Santa Lucia (Puntallana)
Now we are trained! A nice walk, with a pretty steep hill downwards
(la cuesta) in Santa Cruz, on asphalt. After that we start with the
gorges in direction Puntallana. A creative solution was found for too
much highway at the Barranco Seco. But it is a very steep one! Without
our lanza´s, we wouldn´t have done it. And how should it
be done, when you go downhill: with hands and feet?
Day
4: Santa Lucia - Los Sauces
This also is a beautiful part, especially the gorge of La Galga. It
is quiet a tough day, with all its huge gorges. But so beautiful! All
the time we come very close to the ocean, and she lures... At the final
gorge we give in and let us be spattered by the sea. We think swimming
is too risky in this unknown water. But we get totally refreshed. In
Los Sauces we can see the new waterfall: a breech in Los Sauces´
waterbasin let faal hundreds of cubic meters water per minute downhill.
We can´t even go over the last part of the GR 130, because it
is under water.
Day
5: Los Sauces - Los Franceses
The first
day that we really get lost. We did quiet a bit extra, and when we really
can´t get further in the bush-bush, we decided to go back. Later
we see the workers that are indicating the path better. We suggest they
look a bit better on that crossing... At the end of the day we arrive
in Los Franceses . Our lanza´s draw attention. The old men, commenting
the weather and the patatoes outside on a bench, regocnize immediatly
the antique lanza. And in this way we enter into a conversation. In
the old days these men walked daily from Garafía to Los Franceses
to see their girls. And then they returned. "Why do you stop already?
You have plenty of time to get to Garafía!"
Day
6: Los Franceses - Garafía
We knew this would be a tough day. But we are very well trained by
now. Every gorge is a piece of cake. We watch uphill and estimate:
this should take us 45 min., this is half an hour. The San Pedro´s
gorge, well that is defintely 1,5 hour. Halfway we meet Juan de la
Mata. A shepherd that tells us beautifull stories about the old days.
He has plenty of time, but we need to go on... Just before the planned
terminating point of that day, Garafía, we are unpleasently
surprised: the last gorge is officialy closed, because of rockslides.
But there is no alternative and we definately won´t go back!
We just take the risk and see the enormous rock that has fallen down.
We pass quickly and arrive save and sound in Garafía, where
the cold beer tastes extra good.
Day
7: Garafía - Tijarafe
We are going to make it! And in a week. Still huge gorges are in front
of us, but after the whole northern coast, we don´t see that
as a problem. What a beautiful rough land, at Cueva del Agua. And
after that lovely Las Tricias. We leave the path for a cup of coffee,
but unfortunately the bar is closed. In Puntagorda it starts raining.
Doesn´t matter, we just continue. We can see Tijarafe already!
On the 25th of May 2008 at 17.55 o´clock we finish our excursion.
And we are still happily married.
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