57.17 Tenerife: Camino de la Vueltas to Taganana contrasted with an alternate route to the town.

The majesty of the forest.
On the way to the trailhead, we stopped at an overlook. 

The hills are alive as they flow into the suburbs on one side and the ocean over on the other.

  

I suppose it’s one of the attributes that makes Jenni so lovable. I should explain and probably, as anyone reading our blogs has nothing better to do, you might as well continue reading. By the way, women have a certain way about them that’s missing in men or at least, me, that adds to these ‘lovable’ attribute/s. Thank goodness for that. 

  It all began one Monday morning when the weather forecast predicted no rain for at least the next few minutes. When you have a relatively small piece of land surrounded by a massive ocean, it appears anything can happen, and it usually does. There is something really enjoyable about the feel of the weather in Tenerife even when it rains, except while we are outdoors. Add the wind that comes blowing in uninvited but seemingly out of nowhere and that we find less than ideal, too. Then again, there is a lot of space surrounding and above us which probably creates these vacuums for the different elements to fill. Over the years, I’ve come to realize how insignificant we are in the scheme of things in our world. Acceptance of the concept is a wonderful thing because thereafter, that too is immaterial.

  Anyway, enough about that and back to Jenni and today’s hike down a very steep path and conversely, a tough one back. We prefer the inclines in the beginning heading up to a peak rather than on the way back. Grand Canyon is a typical example. It (canyon) is probably one of the most spectacular places on Earth. However, we would prefer to see it upside down. Heck, I didn’t ever argue that we aren’t a little odd, especially Jenni. I wasn't always this way though...continues at end. 

  Jen probably thought she might come across a bear. Perhaps that accounts for her 'growling'.

Taganana ahead. This is an early glimpse of the town after leaving the forest. 

  Follow that curve.
Been out the forest for a while and enjoying wonderful views of the town, the ocean and mountains. 

Above is one route to the coast, below is another route down, linking them creates a circuit. Brilliant deduction! The width between the two trails is about 4 miles, yet the foliage differs vastly. Find this stunning as Jenni makes her way along the path.

A few weeks later, we approached from the coast, which afforded us some of the most attractive sights seen on the island. See a few below.
A walk along the wild side, Taganana ahead and to the right following Jenni's path.
Stepping-stones along the way to Taganana via the wet route 

The prominent icon of the town.
When Jenni realized how far below we had to walk, strangely, she was a little overcome. Jenni is not particularly talkative. However, she whined the whole way down. 

  “I can’t believe how steep this is. We have to walk back up this ridiculously sharp incline. I don’t think I can make it. I didn’t sign on for this. I am still tired from yesterday’s climb.” 

  I tried to assuage her fears. ‘Firstly, you do this often. Secondly, you know you can do it. Sure, it’s steep but it’s what you do. One foot in front of the other. Why are you being so negative? Tiring yes, but a piece of cake for you.’ 

 “Of course, I can do it,” she replied, “I’m here, aren’t I?” 

 ‘Yes. So why are you moaning so much?’ 

 “I’m entitled to moan, aren’t I?” 

 ‘I suppose so, but you haven’t stopped for a second. It doesn’t help you one bit. In fact, it wastes your energy.’ 

 “I need to whine.” 

‘Okay. Don't let me stop you. It makes a change from the sweet-chirping birds’. 

 The whining continued for most of the way down (For the record, this is without precedent). When she stopped to drink water, I should admit, she was rather quiet. I thought to myself should this performance on the way down when one needs skill rather than stamina be the precursor for the return journey, then it will be a nightmare. We stopped for brunch at the turnaround point and I could see that look in the eye. 

'Quiet, Jeffrey, I cautioned myself.' I found a spot where we could sit comfortably and invited her to join me. “No. I need somewhere where I can stretch and relax to regain my energy. She found, laying in the open, an abandoned plastic pool tube/lilo. She made herself comfortable. The weather had been perfect for the trip down. However, the clouds began forming and it appeared we were in for…you guessed it…more rain. We had a few drops and then the sun returned. You gotta love that. 

Prior to commencing the return trip, Jenni suggested we halt every thirty minutes for a break of 2 minutes. I suggested every twenty minutes. I was trying to curry favor with her. By the way, it took us about eighty minutes to get down. Jenni calculated that it should require nearly 2 hours, maybe more, to reach the peak. She is surprisingly accurate with her forecasts, certainly much more than me. It seemed like a fair estimate. During the whole walk up the steep climb, I did not hear much from her.

 Furthermore, after asking me to not ‘race up’ (she flatters me), she was quiet until close to top. We trudged efficiently and at about sixty-five minutes, she became nervous about being on an incorrect trail. She said she did not recognize a certain tree stump. Huh! Then she uttered that we could be lost because the forest, which is beautiful by the way, did not appear to be as thick with growth as that she viewed on the way down. 

I never realized she was that sensitive and aware. However, I had had no doubts but began to allow her comments to raise questions. Such detail she remembered, such awareness. Perhaps, I should not have been confident of our situation. (‘I talk to the trees’ came to mind when I thought of her relationship with this massive forest. A tree stump?) I kept looking up and thought I could see the peak. I figured we were minutes away from reaching the end. I passed on this encouragement.

 “Impossible,” she half-ridiculed me. "We still have miles to go. We've not even reached the eighty-minute mark we took to get down." 

 I was a little put off but still felt we were close. Lo and behold, another ten minutes and we reached our vehicle. Surprisingly, we got back up in less time than it took us down. The look in her face was uplifting—no face lift is necessary for this woman. 

What took the cake was when all she could utter from then on was, “Wasn’t I impressive? I think I did very well. I’m proud of myself. That was pretty good. What do you think?” 

 I could not believe what I was hearing. In probably my best exercise of self-control, I smiled and refrained from answering. I don't know whether I'll be able to repeat such restraint again. 

 I suppose that’s one of the reasons she’s so lovable…particularly, when she behaves herself. 

Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey

A Supplement to satisfy aggression: One of us enjoyed observing the temper of the Atlantic as it pounded the shore and anything in its path.

'Smashing'.
A sultry Teide watches over the waters. (If still waters run deep, are these shallow? Just asking.)

Focusing on the blue building (same as above) as it too gets the treatment.