El Médano

Cycling UK Louth (El Médano section) Ride Report...

Tim Newbery joined up with Rob Cook for a week in the Tenerife sunshine and enjoyed a few rides kindly organised by Rob. El Médano (Spanish, meaning “The sand dune”) lies at the south of the island of Tenerife and is famous for its history of explorers dropping anchor in the beaches of Granadilla de Abona. Indeed, Ferdinand Magellan made a number of trips to the local sandy bays in the beginning of the 16th Century.

Departing Doncaster Airport in rain and gale force winds, it was a pleasant surprise to arrive in the Canaries with gentle breezes and the temperature a very comfortable 18 degrees Celsius (chilly for the locals!). Daytime temperatures would typically reach 24 degrees during the week ahead.

Tuesday 2nd February 2022

Having picked up a rather splendid full carbon fibre Swiss ‘BMC Team Machine SLR Three 2021’ from the local bike shop, Tim would join Rob for a ride to Las Galletas and San Isidro. A gentle ride promised Rob! The journey would first take us along the coast road to La Tejita with fine views of Montaña Roja (the remains of a former undersea volcano, the rock now a rich red from the oxidised iron content) and to the fishing village of Los Abrigos. Plenty of birdlife with sightings of swifts, the first of the year for Tim. It’ll be a few more months before they arrive in the UK.

After some climbing to a now rather busy main road at Las Chafiras, a return to the coast and the port of Las Galletas and a cup of coffee on the sea front. Cups of café con leche typically about £1, with a small beer about the same. A little further up the road very reasonably priced sandwiches were enjoyed at the local petrol station. Indeed, most service stations boasted clean, well-appointed cafes.

So far, cars and lorries had largely followed the requirement of when overtaking to leave a gap of at least 1.5 m, but of course there’s always the exception and some drivers don’t want cyclists on the road at all.

Inland now to La Estrella and Guaza, before more climbing along a winding country road to Atogo and Casablanca. It was noticeable how green the vegetation was, much more so than the last time cycling around the area a couple of years ago. Having been used to growing small pant pot sized cacti on the windowsill, it was amazing to see how big they can grow outdoors in the right environment. Enormous!

Having reached San Isidro, it would now be all downhill, past the Cueva Del Hermano Pedro, an important pilgrimage centre dedicated to Saint Pedro de San José Betancur who spent most of his life looking after the sick and poor. Finally reaching El Médano about 2 pm having covered 50 km and over 2000 FT of climbing, Rob very kindly treated Tim to a double scoop of ice cream. Delicious!

Thursday 4nd February 2022

This ride would be a little bit more of a test of the legs and the bike’s gears as Rob had kindly agreed to lead Tim on a journey to San Miguel de Abona. Having (unusually) being treated to rain on the Wednesday, the weather was brightening up nicely with the promise of warm sunshine and a top temperature of 26 degrees Celsius. This would take us once more through Los Abrigos before heading north into the hills. Past Las Chafiras, climbing steadily now through the wine growing region on the volcanic soils of Abnoa, the switchback roads finally taking us to San Miguel at an altitude of a little above 2000 FT. We had met a number of cyclists, some appeared to be local clubs, fully adorned in the latest kit and high spec bikes. Great however to take refreshments at the Pastelería Tiramisú, a very fine café serving a wide selection of tasty pastries. Tim’s was oozing with a rich custard filling. Coffee and cake for £2.

The route would now take us on a sweeping descent around the ‘Centinela’ a look out point affording views for many miles around and all the way to the coast. Great that today, the ‘Calima’ (the dusty haze from Africa) had started to clear. Further now through the scenic Valle de Lorenzo continuing our descent, past Buzanada and then to re-join our original route at Aldea Blanca.

More sweeping views of the airport and the Atlantic as we continued once more to San Isidro and the final leg to El Médano. Another 50 km ride completed, this time with about 3000 FT of climbing.

Five days riding in this little bit of a hidden gem in southern Tenerife. Many thanks to Rob for such great hospitality and thanks too for all the cups of café con leche!