|
|
|
More Walks ___________ |
|
|
||
| ||
|
Distance 13 kms (approx. 8 miles)
We arrive at the picturesque bay of Puertito de los Molinos and notice
a change from our visit several weeks ago. A bank of gravel and rock has
been built to act as a damn between the mouth of the barranco and the sea.
I am chuffed to learn that my walking report is attracting a large number of readers both in the UK and here in Fuerte. A few of the locals have commented that some of the time scales that I predict for each walk are often unrealistic. I agree that I would certainly allow more time if I were leading a group with me but often I walk on my own and set a faster pace. In fact some of the times shown can be doubled if you want to make a day of it. When I lead a group my primary concern is safety and enjoyment of the group. Life here on the island is a much more relaxed way of life so get away from the stresses of work and have fun. It’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, the great outdoors, and it’s free.
|
Los Molinos to Agua Verdes
Although I arrived in my shorts and without a t shirt (it’s 22
C) you quickly get a reminder that it’s the end of January as the winter
swell brings huge waves crashing against the rocks.
The man made path
that has been created up the face of the rocks only leads to a viewpoint
and it doesn’t take us to the top cliff edge.
We need to make our
way back out of the bay along the road until we come to a branch off the
road onto a dusty track. This is the point that we start to head directly
south.
The track takes us past a large goat pen made from volcanic
rock and leads us to the first of many barrancos that we cross on route.
This is an easy barranco to cross, just follow the track in and out.
The
further south we go the more the change of rock formation becomes
noticeable and we experience solidified sand formations that have been
eroded by the sea.
The next barranco runs down from the mountain called
Salinas (333m) and is bigger so we need to cut back into the barranco and
drop down then back out towards the sea again following the track in a V
shape.
As we continue on route you are tempted to stop and examine
many of the hundreds of fossilised sand structures, it looks like mice
have been at this piece. Much of the track is simple
to follow but you
need to be aware that it often takes you fairly close to the cliff edge
and in many places has eroded to become virtually
non-existent. The
waves bounce off the rock and the spray is carried across our path giving
a welcome shower for a few seconds. At one point the track cuts back onto
the rock face and we come to an area of thousands of seashells scattered
high above
the track. This clearly reflects fluctuations in the sea
level causing the shoreline to advance and recede. After a while we come
to a point of the cliff edge where we can look down onto the bay of a
small black sandy beach called Playa de la Mozos.
Moving on the
next barranco we come across Fuerteventura’s answer to a mountain bothy
found in the Scottish highlands. This would be used as a storage hut or
shelter and is firmly secured with three locks on the Canarian yellow
door.
So far we have come across a few lizards several gulls
hovering on the thermals and a few dozen goats.
But now back on
track we spot the first sign of life with Agua Verdes in the distance. The
final barranco ahead stands between us and our finishing point at Agua
Verdes and the track is clearly visable over the top.
We now drop down
following the track into the barranco and back out of the other side. The
way down to the village of Agua Verdes is to continue along the top
heading towards the sea.
Then the dusty
track snakes down to a few houses and we cross over to the white archway
which dominates the village. There are not any busses operating here so it
is necessary to arrange your own transportation. Our car journey back soon
brings us to a swift halt as we climb the windy road we are faced with a
group of goats crossing the road. The last photograph is especially for
Tony G who often tells me that he hasn’t seen many goats in the north.
This should prove there are more goats than humans on the
island.|
|
 |
