67.14 Tenerife: The full blog of the journey from Afur to Taganana with a particularly tough return (for us on the day).

Returning to half-way point for a steep climb to the car while taking in the glorious coloring of the section.
Climbing downwards after trying a new route. Going 'backwards', in a manner of speaking, is often a good way.
One of us on a narrow path below with the villages of El Chorro and Taganana in the rear; in the distance, the sea-stacks protrude which we mention often. The leaning pinnacles are a delight.
Jen doing her thing despite feeling a bit 'off'.
Doing his thing, too...whatever that may be.
...which takes him quite high heading toward a narrow edge.
An indication, below the pinnacle, of where we commenced.
Well, at least it's downhill for a while.
The richness of the groundcover is uplifting.
Downhill, still going on for a while. The balance in life will even things out a little later.
'Bird's eye view'...all very well but where's the bird?...on pinnacle, of course. One hopes the bird is not gloating of its talent...being able to sit in that enviable position.
'Here's the bird.': But don't ask to 'eye' the eye.
Why would Jen turn her back on that colorful coverage?
. ...Because she's going for a close-up of this scene again: The village/hamlet of El Chorro below. Toward the top-right corner, one can spot the road leading down into the developments. Never ceases to amaze where humans will position themselves. Commendable!
Ocean scene with Roque Taborno at highpoint.
Another of the 'Roque' but with a prickly sentry below.
We resisted providing an appropriate caption for a number of reasons. Select your own...at risk.
After struggling on the day because of illness (since recovered), who better than Jen to close the hike pictorially? She still faces the toughest part of the day.
Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey

Tenerife: Early ('nearly') morning sunbeams filter through the forest...complementary to former cover picture.

An outstanding sight, an unusual occurrence, an incredible beginning of the day.

The last sunbeams we remember were on Mount Woodson, San Diego.

67.13 Tenerife: Anaga Rural Park. An Introduction: Down-and-up from Las Carboneras to Taborno Rock and return...an incredible experience, a top 20 um...30...um...somewhere up there!

  We selected a few pictures and added a couple more. Later, we'll put together a full selection. In the meantime, these should provide an indication of the coloring of the Atlantic, the rugged and attractively shaped mountains of Tenerife, the coastal mountain edges, the lush forests and flora, as well as an idea of the various routes and activities available to mere mortals. 

We parked the car in Las Carboneras, the hamlet above, hiked down the mountain into the canyon then up again heading toward Taborno Rock, viewed in the distance to the right. It was clearly an 'up-and-down' day in a most beautiful environment. Typically, people are able to drive to- and park at- Taborno itself, knocking some 3 miles in length and 1,700 feet in elevation from the hike.
There's a circuit around the butte, Taborno, with a cliff-edge to where we headed. There are some very narrow and sharp edges with falls of over 1,000 feet and much more.
I'd call that a winner, both the picture and the gutsy subject, after a remarkable day on cliff-edges, steep climbs and descents.
   A week before, we hiked from Afur, which is over 2,200 feet below, up to the hamlet of Taborno, where the rock of the same name rests a mile or so outside the hamlet. Today, we set off to Taborno, but from a completely different direction. We have now witnessed some incredible scenes from different places such as, for example, the sea-stacks, particularly fascinating and attractive. We've stood in three towns/hamlets at different altitudes and seen the stacks, the settlements nestled in the mountains and of course, the various mountains with Roque Taborno most prominent.

Some perspective of Tenerife's "Matterhorn", RoqueTaborno. We climbed towards the mountain from the ocean side and reached below the really steep rocky section. It appears there is no path or trail to the pinnacle. So we settled for the 'pimple' instead of the pinnacle. (2-below).
We stand on the 'pimple' (right) and enjoy it including the breathtaking views deep below and across the mountains. To the left is the hamlet from which we began the hike. The crevice gives a partial indication of the 'up-down' mentioned earlier.
First glimpse of the distinguished 'sea-stacks'. This is one of three hikes in different regions and at varying altitudes from where we have observed them.
A glimpse of one of the climbs with the commencement position behind in the distance. The atmosphere of the open forests was extraordinary. We felt we were in a unique space until, we suppose, we struggled up the steep inclines while 'fighting' for oxygen.
Love these scenes.
A view as we approach the rock, although when we got closer, we circled it and climbed higher.
From a high point, we look again at the coastline, see the sea-stacks, the pointed peaks and two villages below.
Jen had just passed the most dangerous position on the hike but seemed to still have a spring in her step.
Returning to our commencement point before we begin the last major uphill and take in the Rock and the lush, dense surroundings.
Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey 

We don't see Mount Teide, the volcano, too often as it's rather shy. Perhaps that's why we could not resist showing it from another hike.

67.12 Tenerife: El Sauzal reached from Las Brenas, followed by (for us) 'a staggering' find.

This epitomizes the experience.
Jen commences the descent striding directly toward the Atlantic Ocean before the sun appeared brightly. Hopefully, she'll turn before reaching it (ocean).
If that's her reflection, I fear she did not make the turn.
Yikes! She's heading for the water.
Phew! She stopped for lunch on the rocks. Never can resist a peach yoghurt. The funny thing is that it was high tide and so she moved back ten feet from the edge. Cautious! Did not wish to wet the yoghurt. Behind and above is the building abandoned in 1972 while under construction. We wonder if this is what's meant by "Mañana".
Making a big splash at brunch as we find a spot following our descent.
As we view the coastline, Puerto La Cruz is prominent. Jen asked, "When are you going to put some color in my life?"
I hoped her question was of a literal nature. Try these three for starters! 

I hope she was not wishing to fence me in.

Trusting the above colors were acceptable. Sometimes she can be a little prickly.
Dare I say, perhaps, even a little 'crabby'...could that be the correct word?
Time to depart.
We decided to follow a hunch on our return and seek a new route up to the commencement position or at least close-by. A hunch sometimes proves to be correct, but this one looked more like a 'chancer's guess'. We discovered a stone path which led to an abandoned graffiti-covered hut. The path proved to be relatively outstanding for its position, quality and of course, it suited us ideally. We now have a further route to follow up/down to the coast making it a total of 4 in this confined region. It also allows us to increase the tally of successful hunches over 15 years to...um...3...might be stretching things.

We passed the abandoned and decrepit hut alongside the exquisite tree.

Kept on going along a path that never seemed to reach a logical conclusion.
At last, we reached the end of the regional park and trail but found ourselves continuing up through a 'jungle'. The gradient became even steeper.
Finally, we reached a road which was even steeper and much longer than we envisaged. Thereafter, we made a turn to the left and began a successful search for our car. Fortunately, the car remained where we had left it but the diversion added over a mile which we welcomed...well, one of us did.

Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey  

Approaching the hut, tree and on a great path. Hiking-life doesn't get much better.
Another hole in the wall through which to peek at the breakers.
Closing color.