B(H)iking – Page 32 – SY Hullu Poro

🚴‍♂️…Calhau & Central Island…🚴‍♂️

On December 2, 2022

Today was an interesting ride. The island took us through two totally different landscapes and road conditions:

#1: First, sandy beaches hitting the steep volcano mountains on the coastal stretch between Salamansa to Calhau and once having taken the turn at the junction in Calhau, the lush green valley embedded gently among the surrounding hills taking us back to Mindelo from Calhau as the second part.

#2: Perfect tarmac on the first part and cobbles all the way from Calhau back into Mindelo. While planning this ride, Komoot indicated cobbles for less than 1km on the total ride but we ended up with more the 14km of cobbles. This kind of bug is definitely rare in the Komoot application.

Having said that, the Roubaix bike enjoyed the fact that its skin tubes set around 6-7 bar finally got some contact with real cobbles, while the rider remains sitting comfortably in the saddle testing the Future Shock suspension on the handle bar and the S-Works seat post specifically designed for unpaved roads. Not only the bike impressed me again but also the Cape Verdeans, who have laid these cobbles to perfection. Perhaps Komoot had that in mind as well!😂

The link below will provide more details and photos.

Fair winds…

🚴‍♂️…Salamansa & Baía das Gatas…🚴‍♂️

By Bernd

On December 1, 2022

In B(H)iking, Cabo Verde

Another trip on Ilha de São Vicente was on the T0-Do-List for today. These are the easier ones to tick off! More photos under the link below as usual.

It took me to the northeastern side of the island with less Harmatten today, two villages and beaches I wanted to visit.

Fair winds…

🚴‍♂️…Mindelo sniff tour…🚴‍♂️

By Bernd

On November 30, 2022

In B(H)iking, Cabo Verde

It was time to get back into the saddle and some blood circulation into the legs. Although there was some Harmatten up in the air bringing a bit of sand from the Sahara at PM2.5 levels in the range of 25µg/m3, it is considered to be okay to perform light exercise.

Being now out of the “European Culture and Comedy” for a while, above photo gives a sniff of the road environment here on São Vicente, particular Mindelo.

We also faced some hard cobbles, which finally broke the glas of my bike iPhone by ripping it out of the handle bar holder and smashing it on the road. Glas broken, phone working.

Hike – Garajonay National Park

By Bernd

On November 19, 2022

In B(H)iking, Spain

Together with Tobi, 1st mate on SY Sutje, I went for a hike today while the wind keeps blowing. We got a recommendation from Petra and Jan, both chief hiking experts besides sailing SY Sutje.
The bus ride to our starting point was already breath taking as you can see above. For details on the hike itself please have a look at the Komoot recording, if you like. I am still puzzled from today’s impressions. Amazing landscape!

Fair winds…

🚴‍♂️…La Gomera sniff tour…🚴‍♂️

By Bernd

On November 16, 2022

In B(H)iking, Spain

Many people I have spoken to, and who have visited all Canary Islands, vote La Gomera and La Palma to be among the most beautiful islands of the archipelago. Obviously this is very subjective but what I have seen today impressed me as well. Less touristy, slow pace, beautiful scenery and an attractive little market hall to name a few of the high ranking criteria.

After my short walk through the town this morning, I went out biking for a sniff tour in one of the many vales the island offers until the dead end road stopped me.

The elevation profile of today’s trip is representative of the overall island’s elevation profile. With the mountain peak of the island reaching 1487m and sitting pretty in the island’s circle centre, it grades down to the ocean from all angles like a sugar cone.

Fair winds…

🙋‍♂️…relaxed Sunday…🤙

By Bernd

On November 13, 2022

In B(H)iking, Spain

Today was a slow Sunday with just a few more short bike rides. Together with approximately 13 other Germans we stormed into Lidl simultaneously as soon as the door lock got released at 8:00 am.😅

As there was a bit of a cloud cover all day, I applied Boracol 10Y to the toerail. It showed some signs of black stains and I hope Boracol will tackle it over the next two weeks or so.

Jan and myself have studied and discussed the weather forecasts intensively and it looks like we are going to throw the lines tomorrow morning.

Fair winds…

🚴‍♂️…on the final mile…🚴‍♂️

By Bernd

On November 12, 2022

In B(H)iking, Spain, Trans-Ocean e.V.

I am doing some final miles for stockpiling food and jumped into the saddle this morning to get some fresh tuna into the fridge for the upcoming passage. Our departure date has now been set to coming Monday @ 9am. Luckily the marina accepted us another night.

I went to the Pescaderia in Arguineguin about 10km west of Pasito Blanco. Full trip and additional photos can be seen under this link. Carrying almost 2kg of tuna in the rucksack on the way back. Upon arrival I shared with SY Sutje and SY Momentum of Fal, as we are all tuna addicts.

After completing various other jobs from the To-Do-List and a short siesta nap, I took another ride to Lidl, this time via Playa de las Meloneras, a promising route, new to me. Find some photos under this link.

Rushing back against the sunset – with, again, a heavy rucksack on the back – the focus moved onto cooking.

8pm, after dinner, was time for a round of Brändi Dog on SY Sutje, a parlour game we played before and I am still learning. It’s hard brain work at the end of another sugar day…but good fun and makes you even more tired.

Fair winds…& good night!

🚴‍♂️…Maspalomas…🚴‍♂️

By Bernd

On November 11, 2022

In B(H)iking, Spain

Together with René, skipper of SY Momentum of Fal, we went out for another evening ride. The Dunas de Maspalomas were on my list besides some food shopping at Mercadona on the way back.

The copy right of the above photos goes to Oliver H., my close sailing mate at that point in time, while both of us serving the German Navy. He also inspired me for photography to be an art.

We have been to these dunes together in 1988 and I got vague memories on them but one aspect is very clear. The number of buildings and developments over the past 34 years has changed the scene. So have the people. Glad there is still something left of the dunes itself and its more than a stretch of a three meters wide beach. Construction industry sometimes does not stop. Maspalomas is pretty awful nowadays, if you ask me. A beautiful natural spot turned into an artificial touristic showdown.

🚴‍♂️…early morning ride…🚴‍♂️

By Bernd

On November 11, 2022

In B(H)iking, Spain

As we got a bit more time before sailing on, I took the morning ride today into the mountainous area of Gran Canaria. Nice biking ground, not too much traffic and back around 10am just before the sun starts to kick in. The landscape is interesting as you can see on the photos attached to the Komoot recording below.