Walking in the Volcano

Persephone... Cruiser/Racer
Nigel & Karen Goodhew...
Wed 15 Jul 2020 09:24
We are waiting a few short days before setting off for Vigo. A brief puff of strong wind is expected this week before conditions settle down and light to moderate summer breezes return, with the commensurate sea state. The next bit of Persephones journey is all upwind, so the sea state is particularly important.

So we have explored the beautiful scenery of La Palma, and particularly the awe inspiring grandeur of the huge caldera of the Taburiente....the simply huge extinct volcano which dominates the island.

We had checked out some walking opportunities back in March, and had planned a return to one particular spot. However, we got slightly lost in our little Fiat, and instead, found ourselves following signs to Taburiente, up a tiny track, with hairpin bends through a boulder strewn landscape, often requiring first gear to maintain progress.

Eventually, after a half hour of increasing doubt as to the wisdom of this adventure, we arrived at a tiny car park and the start point of a 6 km easy- ish walk down the inside wall of the caldera, towards a camping facility at the bottom. The walk down was very pleasant, with spectacular views and a largely gentle slope, through pine forest. We gently made our way down in just over ab hour and a half. When we arrived at the bottom, we found a delightful bubbling stream, and better prepared folk, in swimming costumes relaxing in pools between the rocks.

So we cooled our feet and drank the sweet clean water, rested ourselves and took in the amazing blue sky, the sheer scale of the geological power that formed all this scenery.

Then, the return, climbing a retreat. Hot work and a proper work out, we made it to the top in the same time it had taken to descend.


The next day, we found our originally planned walk, higher up the mountain and on the opposite side, with amazing views in all directions.

Now we are completing final preparations to leave this place. Water maker to be recommissioned, fuel purchased, last minute supplies of fresh food etc. We could be out there for 10 days or so....


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