SKL's Walking Blog

Fuerteventura – 4

Betancuria to Pajara – 21st February 2025

The first day was hard because it was long, this day is hard becuase it has three summits in it. All my start and finish times are askew because of the need to let the babeo sleep but no matter, having your own driver is a blessing.

Heading up the first climb of the day.
Leaving Betancuria.
Prob about a third of the way up.
At the summit and Esme and Duckie are waving at me from that view point.
The town of Antigua which we seem to pass through going anywhere.
A forest! Mucho surprised. THe pines look dead but are probably dormant as a few have green sprouts at the end of their branches. There is a car park and small kids play area below.
Loads of these ground squirrels at every tourist stop where they obviously get fed.
And who do I meet at the park – Duckie!
Vega de Río Palmas, looks inviting but is still two and a half miles away. Turned out I was too late for lunch in what looked like a very nice restaurant.
A family of cactii?
The wifi is great here with these rural routers.
The river course ends in a dam but it must have been years since any significant water came this way for those trees to grow.
A bit outside Vega de Río Palmas and I’ve got to climb the slope to the road above and then keep going to the summit. It is bloody hot in this valley. There is no wind and the heat is coming off the sides.
Around a third of the way up and I’m already wasted.
Nearly at the top, about to go over a small hump so this is the last look at the road that wend sit way through the valley.
Sanctuary and the blessings of his God on the guy who built this haven.
Toto down the other side and then a few miles to Pajara on reasonable paths.
Damn mountain. Won’t forget you in a hurry.
Just got time to find a refreshing beverage before the driver gets here.

This was tough. I was a hair from despair climbing that last mountain, down to about a kilometer per hour, if that. Thankfully I now keep one of my waters for my overheaded bonce it these situations and that woke me up enought to get me up. Hopefully that is the end of the hard hard days.