Remedial

The cloud that blanketted the Island was so thick it obviously never completed cloud school. It evidently needed remedial studies to progress at all. This did not bode well for a sunny day.

After some deliberation it was decided that the car was the best escape - The Gorse Fox and Silver Vixen could head along the coast and stop wherever we wanted - if and when the weather broke. Seemed like a good strategy - and as we turned north up the west coast it seemed liklely to pay-off as the n-w corner of the Island seemed clear.

We dropped down onto the coast raod, for a change, and zigged and zagged toward Los Gigantes, then started to climb towards Santiago del Teide. From there, the plan was to cross the mountain pass and drop down to Masca, then continue through the mountains to Buenavista and along to the lighthouse Faro de Teno. However, the cloud had closed in once more and the attractions of Masca nd Teno are pretty irrelevant if you can't see them!!!

We reconsidered. We turned around and headed up the west side of El Teide. Visibility dropped as we penetrated the cloud and the temperature plummeted to 6C. We carried on and finally as we climbed through the 1900 metre mark we popped out of the top of the clouds into bright blue sun-drenched skies. The temperature shot back up and we decided to linger.

Making our way to the Parador for a comfort break and some sandwiches we marvelled at what a contrast there was between the clear blue of the mountain and the miserable grey of its cloud covered ramparts. The Parador was busy with cyclists, walkers and tours. In fact GF would say it was the most cyclists and walkers he had ever seen up there. (The Parador is at one end of the 16km Siete Canadas (seven ravines) trail, and there was a constant trickle of hikers arriving at the end of their trek).

Eventually we moved on. Stopping for the odd photos and then at Boca Tauce choosing the route down the southern flanks of the mountain. We immediately dropped back into cloud and saw very little of the scenery down as far as Villaflor, but as we left there and continued to San Miguel the cloud started to clear and by the time we were back down near the villa - the sun was out.

It had turned out to be really good day - though completely unexpected.