This was the first
time on La Palma that I could see the other Canary Islands – since Puntagorda
is on the “wrong” side (north-west).
I was particularly interested to see El Hierro, from where I could
sometimes see La Palma last winter, while staying in La Frontera / Tigaday.
Also nicely visible were
La Gomera (where I was two years ago), and of course Tenerife, with the giant
volcano El Teide. Gran
Canaria did not seem to be visible, as it is well past Tenerife from this
vantage point.
I made contact with an
older German couple who spoke English and were very obliging to my request for
a few photos. We ended up chatting for quite a while, including about
bikes and travel. They even asked me to get in a photo with them, taken
with their own cellphone camera.
After a bunch more photos
around the lookout, I put on the gloves and headed back down.
Descending the endless switchbacks seems a bit vertiginous at times, but
once back below the tree line, it felt better.
An uneventful return to
Puntagorda by way of LP-1 closed out the day’s ride.
Photos belong to Jaro Franta
