21-12-06

Contrarily to yesterday, today everything worked out even better than planned:

Woke up early and well-rested, got up and found an open grocery shop just around the corner. And open, although it’s a public holiday being Spanish Constitution Day today.

Then walked half a block up to where google thought there might be a taxi stand. It’s there and with one taxi just waiting. Got in with a nice female driver, who told me that she just loves Ayagaures (where she was driving me), because it reminds her of her home – the island of La Palma (at least before the recent volcanic eruptions there).

Shortly after, I stand again on the church square of Ayagaures, looking back out the valley to see my taxi make its way down.

I start my hike in lovely cool weather (19degrees the taxi driver thought), some few clouds giving shade, and some few other hikers (also locals making use of their holiday).

First strech is along the reservoir lake, and then up and crossing the dam of the second, inner lake.

Then the route starts climbing steeply, first as a road past some few houses, then reduced to a path.

The path is probably one of the old caminos reales, because it’s really nicely stone lain in several places. And I also read on one of the boards that the people of Ayagaures used this path to bring their dead to the cemetary in San Bartolomé.

There is a lovely light pine forest, for once completely natural and without artificial watering. Great with some shade working myself up the about 900m ascent!

Great views both down and up.

Then finally I’m at 1187m asl at the Degollada de la Manzanilla, and the view opens up towards the east as well. I can even see the sea, although it’s quite hazy.

After a second lunch break and 20min just lying-in-the-sun (because I can), I start my descent towards Tunte / San Bartholomé de Tirajana.

Before too long I’m entering this lovely little town, with a lively cafe/bar street (that I forgot to take a picture of).

I visit the quite big church; actually I also followed a Camino de Santiago up to here – so it seems to be / have been an important one.

Inside, everyone is already prepped and waiting for X-mas:

Total for today: approx. 12,5km with just under 900m of ascent and the full heavy pack again.

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