ANNUAL REVIEW-2009-2010
MISSION STATEMENT.
Yes we can- provide our walkers with a selection of the finest walks on the island, there being four distinct areas-the Anaga and Teno mountain range, the Teide National Park and the Orotava valley, with a commentary regarding the island's flora and fauna, its weather lore, history and economy. This coming season we have a number of new walks to make fifteen in all over a three-week period. We now offer four walks per week-Saturday,Monday,Wednesday,Thursday. On Sundays, we are offering, as an option, a longer/harder walk, such as Masca Gorge, the Organos traverse etc.
We use a local coach company with professional driver to transport us to the start of our walks, thereby ensuring your comfort and safety. This also gives us the opportunity to change the walk on the day if the weather is poor at the original destination.
Accommodation.
We are able to offer even greater discount accommodation at Masaru Apartamentos, with its heated outdoor pool,sub-tropical garden, tennis courts, restaurant and cafe. This Apartment complex is of the highest rating -3 keys. Seven nights B&B (two sharing) including four walks, from November to December 23rd. and the whole of March is just 288€ per person!. Four persons sharing an apartment for seven nights B&B including four walks, over Xmas/New Year is only 272€ each!(See Masaru Hotel page for full details).
We also have an additional hotel-Bellavista, to offer at a discount in the La Paz area, with all rooms having splendid views of the coast and at prices to make your eyes water, (well, there's a heated swimming pool). Options are Room Only/B&B/HB. Seven nights RO (two sharing) including four walks, 23rd. December-3rd.April is just 287.5€ per person. The Xmas, New Year period will will sell out very quickly at this price so don't delay!.
Single occupancy of twin-bedded studio – seven nights RO including four walks, from November 15th. To December 22nd. is just 340€ (see Bellavista Hotel page for full details).. In this hotel you have to pay on arrival, either CC or cash in euros. There are plenty of restaurants in the area with a variety of cuisine at very reasonable rates which we recommend.
The new arrangements, where we quote in euros so you can assess when it would be advisable to exchange sterling for euros by looking at the forward rates on websites such as www.crowncurrencyexchange.com, worked extremely-well. As you pay the hotel and us in euros it means that even if the £/€ rate fluctuated, if you bought forward you did not get a shock when it dipped. When we left Penrith, in November, the Post Office was quoting 1.01€ to the £. but we had bought forward in August at 1.15€/£. Most of our clients also reported similar superior rates, which all made the overall cost of the holiday even cheaper. We will quote in euros for both hotel and walks and request a deposit with UK cheque. When you arrive and pay the walks in euros or the hotel with a credit/debit card/euros, we will refund your deposit with a UK cheque or in euros -your choice.
No, we can't be beaten on lowest price, highest quality or greatest enjoyment experienced on our guided walking holidays!
Charity Walks.
The Derbyshire Charity weekend was very well supported. Great to see so many old faces (surely-friendly faces-Ed.). Weather was ideal and £550 collected in aid of a good cause. Many thanks for your generosity.(see Charity walks weekend in the Lake District for details of our visit to the San Lazaro school for children with cerebral palsy in Tenerife where Steph. presented Loli with a cheque for 1,500€).
This September, we will be holding a long weekend of charity walks in the Penrith-Keswick area of the Lake District. On the 19th., 20th., 21st. September, in aid of the Uganda Humanist Schools trust. Full details of the walks will be published later. For Sponsor form click here
The Tenerife weather-Climate change or a blip?.
As soon as we arrived in November, it was apparent that Tenerife was experiencing warmer weather outside the usual Kalima hot spells. The first snows on Mt.Teide 3718m. tend to settle in November, but since four years ago the snow has settled circa.one month later each year, so it did not settle until end of February. Instead of snow falling on Mt. Teide (Nov.-Feb.) it was heavy rain. Usually, this heavy rainfall is a twenty-four hour event and occurs once a Winter season, but this time it was once a month and in February it caused damage in the form of mud-slides in the Anagas. Then came the high wind which “took out” quite a few mature pine trees on the 4,000 ft. line betwixt the laurel and pine forest zones. In between these short but dramatic events, we had deliciously-warm conditions. As we had clear warning of these extraordinary weather conditions, we were able to reschedule. Remember, with the private coach, you can take all your gear with and make a decision at the start of the walk as to clothing and equipment that you need. The strong UV factor at altitude means full coverage (trousers/long-sleeved tops) needed to protect from the Sun or wind.
Walking and Looking
La Caldera- sightings of blue chaffinch. They used to hang about at El Portillo during the Winter months but a number have now relocated 700m. lower at the BBQ spot in La Caldera. Clever birds. Also among the crowd were tits, robins and blackbirds. Kestrel, Great Grey Shrike and Buzzard.
Some superb vistas in the National Park from Guajara and Mtna. Blanca; a new route in the Orotava where we chanced upon protea being grown.(Kate noticed a white rabbit but it disappeared down a hole before we got the cameras out. Later that day we came across a black rabbit. Who was the Queen of Hearts and who the Mad Hatter?) ; the El Palmar-Masca route gave some outstandingly-contrasting views and in the Anagas, the walks to and from Chinemada provided a variety of interest-caves, fruit, Yamis.
A few walkers came with information obtained from various websites which was obviously “crap”. Please remember that anyone can set up a website and pour misinformation in it Voluntary walks leaders are still being sent
out, some for their first time in Tenerife, with sheets of walks directions, but we believe that our clients deserve experienced, professional guides in the mountains.
Culture
The booking arrangements for concerts at the Auditorio in Santa Cruz have changed again;25% discounts for OAPs.(c.17.5€ gets you a superb seat) at each Tenerife Orchestral performance. The International Orchestral concerts brought in a wealth of soloists and foreign orchestras; truly outstanding performances, but these were expensive. London Phil., StaatsKapelle Dresden, Gothenborg, then Russian State Orch. with a superb performance of Rach's piano concerto No.2.
Jazz concerts on Saturday in Puerto are now a regular feature
Glorious Food.
A couple of new, high -quality restaurants have been added to our list of recommendations, now separated into a Premier and First Division league. Remember, we rely on feedback (ouch) to ensure that quality is maintained and will try to test these out. There are so-called “Recommended Restaurant” lists in the Tourist Office and in the local newspapers, but we are skeptical because we know that some restaurants pay to be included. Unfortunately, we do not receive “free tasters”. Elena, from Italy, showed us how to prepare home-made pasta, “Bella Bella” and some of us showed her how to accompany it with vino.
Goods.
Because of the drop in the exchange rate, if you wish to purchase any electronic goods in Tenerife, make sure you are fully acquainted with the product, its accessories and cost in the UK. Additionally, make sure you receive a receipt, European-wide guarantee and manufacturer's manual in English. In practice, you will find few products cheaper in Tenerife than the UK except for booze and fags and a few of the local retailers are attempting to sell refurbished cameras as new, so be warned if the price is lower than the official dealer is quoting.
FITNESS.
A pleasing improvement in fitness this year. Still, one or two elder males need to practice with sticks. We're all getting a little wobblier (some on our legs). Remember, we are a no smoking group and no alcohol to be consumed until we visit the cafe at the end of the walk.
CLOTHING. Because there is such a variation in altitudes at which our walks take place (sea-level to over 8,000 ft.) we do advise both sub-tropical and Winter North -European climate clothing. Wicking vest, short/log-sleeved shirts/blouses, thin jersey or fleece, shorts(but never high up in the National Park) trousers, wicking socks (avoid wool) boots rather than walk shoes. Open-toe sandals do not support the foot on descents. Sticks are strongly recommended for descents, which be slippery in certain conditions. Sun and rain protection. A first aid kit. Water bottle. Sun glasses and lip salve for hot days in the National park (where the temperature variation during a day's walk could be +- 20C.). If extra clothing is obviously not needed, it can be left on the coach.
Stan. Knafler.
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