After an early start and 9.30am flight, we were in our Corralejo apartment by 2pm yesterday. Helped, in part, by our bags been 3rd and 4th off the carousel and the private transfer caning it down the motorway at 90mph lol.
Checked in and unpacked, we hit a local bar for our first beer and soaked up the views in the afternoon before heading back for a snooze and to get changed before dinner as it had cooled down.
We hit the music square for a meal at El Pescador. A tried and tested venue. Great food, wine and music all night before we turned in early, tired from the travelling. The bonus was finding Elvis. He lives!
This morning we awoke to the waves crashing in front of our balcony and the sun rising over Lobos, a small island 4 miles offshore. Beautiful when sat on the balcony soaking it up drinking coffee.
It was hire bike pickup today so a little later we got changed and walked the couple of miles to the other end of town and the Campenero centre. A small retail space with independent shops and cafe’s. We ate an early lunch as we had skipped breakfast then took a walk around a new park, over the road, that had been built recently. A nice family space for locals where they provide BBQ’s and pizza ovens and picnic spaces plus a raised area with great views across town.
Then it was to the hire shop for my bike. A Cube Reaction Pro. It’s ok. I’ve never had an awesome hire bike in Corralejo. Road or MTB. They’ve always been ok at best. This one is the same. On paper a great bike but the gear shifts could be better and the headset is a little loose. I adjusted the front caliper when I got back to the hotel as it was binding on a pad. The gears need a new cable inner and outer and the headset another spacer but it’ll do for now. I’d hoped for an air fork too but that was wishful thinking.
After tinkering with the bike in reception, I got changed and went for a ride. It was quite hot and the wind was low so I just decided to ride up the coast to the lighthouse and back. Simple, but the gravel coast road had deteriorated badly since I last rode it a few years ago. Cars and vans have destroyed it in places. For long periods it was like riding a washboard and my hands, arms and back got absolutely pummelled. It’s gravel but a gravel bike would be horrific. Suspension is a must-have.
At the turn I couldn’t face riding back. I considered going the long way on roads but I decided to let some air out the tyres instead which, to be fair, did make a big difference although it was still bad in places.
I got back in well under 2hrs but given my new tan lines, baked at the same time it seems.
Tonight is Tapas. I’m off to get changed.
Adios.