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Ride about Fuerteventura with East coast rides.

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chris-red
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PostPosted: 18:29 - 23 Sep 2015    Post subject: Ride about Fuerteventura with East coast rides. Reply with quote

I went away with my Missus last week and we went to Fuerteventura. The plan was basically a brain off mong holiday, with one exception I fancied seeing more of the Island on a bike tour. My Missus is a reasonably experience pillion, she has done France and Ireland with me so she was up for it too.

I was put onto East Coast Rides by Cansa who has used them before and I assume had as pleasing an experience as I did.

Luckily it was less than a 10 minute walk from our hotel so after breakfast we had a little meander down there.

We had to wait for our chosen steed to return from it's previous trustees. I decided to rent the mighty Suzuki Inazuma 250 (affectionately known as 'Ini'), I didn't fancy anything big, I just wanted a little plodder. I ride big bikes daily so something small was more of a novelty. We went through the all paper work with Russell (I think!) also asking lots of questions about the route and various aspects of hiring the bike. My concern was that the bike would be stolen overnight, to which he just laughed and said 'There's no crime here!'. He was very help full and full of useful advice (stop and toot your horn at goats and they should clear off) The route he suggested is roughly shown below.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/chris-red/Capture_zpsot4llior.png


Link

He kitted us out, there was full gear available, I was in Shorts T shirts and a trainers and as it was 28 degrees. I opted for just a half face lid and gloves. My missus took the option of a jacket she brought her own gloves (I had meant too but forgot).

Geared up and ready to go our bike returns and off we plod. First impressions of the bike where much better than I thought, it has 20k KMs on it and still felt pretty tight and new. It was more powerful than I had thought and had no problem with our fair sized bulk on the back. To start with I was a bit naff on it. Being used to a larger bike I found the steering really light and was not changing down as often as I should but this soon sorted itself out as I got used to it. It was a competent machine and if I lived on the island I would have one it an heartbeat.

We made fair progress on towards our first stop the Morro Velosa Statues, there was a long road to the mountains, which was flat and surrounded by mountains it was quite windy, I settled on a cruising speed of about 70-80kph the bike was more than capable of going faster (I hit 130 at one point) however the open faced lid was very noisy, 70-80 was good. The roads were fantastic all very smooth and not a pothole insight! We made it to the top and the views were spectacular. (A note on the photos I didn't take many so they ain't all that)

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/chris-red/Mobile%20Uploads/349_zpspo4u1vnz.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/chris-red/Mobile%20Uploads/340_zps0prpdr0c.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/chris-red/Mobile%20Uploads/342_zpsgd1vjz1r.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/chris-red/Mobile%20Uploads/344_zpsoznf0vkd.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/chris-red/Mobile%20Uploads/343_zpsyvw6hrye.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/chris-red/Mobile%20Uploads/348_zpsist4xr8f.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/chris-red/Mobile%20Uploads/351_zpsn5ksxluh.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/chris-red/IMG-20150924-WA0009_zpsmcrjn94o.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/chris-red/Mobile%20Uploads/353_zpsnf2wujxc.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/chris-red/Mobile%20Uploads/352_zpsm5uvugzd.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/chris-red/IMG-20150924-WA0008_zpsmqqtyzuv.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/chris-red/IMG-20150924-WA0006_zpsjbdgh1gm.jpg The selfie was forced honestly, you should have seen the bruises afterwards...


From there we headed through Betancuria, and carried on untill we got to Iglesia de la Virgen de la Peña. There was a 'Diversion' *In a Statham voice* And a Fuerteventurian Mountain Diversion is quite a fucking thing The photos above show what the land is like, the diversion was basically across that. The only real indication it should be traversed using road going vehicles was the hastily spray painted dividing line. To first get onto this "road" meant turning of the road and down a 20ft 30degree rocky slope, Fuck. I've been on the bike all of 45 minutes I'm 2 up with no gear and a 300euro deposit. "Do you want me to get off?" I heard from the back, she must have sensed my hesitation, I would not allow such a challenge to my manhood. "Pfft no this'll be fun I cockily replied". After the drop of death was successfully vanquished the road was mostly flat. (ignoring the fuck off rocks and boulders strewn about the place) I took my time and had no real wobbles or problems. We get to the end of the diversion and were met with the mirror image of the decent, no problem I thought going up is a peice of piss compared to going down. The car in front of me went and I followed, then Diego Dickheadio for no apparent reason decides to stop on the Crest. There is no need it's as completely clear with a good view and the road to the left is blocked off. I'm following thinking 'GO, GO, GO' I've slowed right down and and realising I'm going to have to stop. Then they goes to pull away and I think I might be alright, clunk, he has stalled. I am forced to stop. Which as soon as I do I start sliding backwards, the front wheel is locked and there is a crowd of locals watching me. My initially reaction is both feet on the floor, this leads to the realisation that 'Bugger, I can't use the rear brake' Laughing In the end I stand up and manage to hold the bike. "Shall I get off?" I hear again, "Yes please" I reply.


Anyway with Marco Moroni finally cleared off we turn into the diversion and park up just the otherside. It would appear we have bypass Iglesia de la Virgen de la Peña as there is some kind of festival/parade/party going on. There were a few TV trucks around too. No idea what was going on. There were loads of cyclists about however the event didn't seem cycle related, all the shops and bars were shut but they all had stalls outside selling various tat, food and drinks. However one of us needed to use a bog (probably her) as this didn't seem and option and none the wiser to what was going on we decided to plod along.

As we were gearing up a water truck appeared from the diversion apparently wetting it done to keep the dust down. We set off afterward and were probably 100m yards back when there was what looked like and Explosion! The water truck clipped the barricades stopping you from plummeting to your death this throws up a load of dust and start a small landside! As was pass the point where he hit 2 of the 4ftx2ftx2ft blockades are smashed to buggery with debris all over the road!

From there we headed to Pajara, it was a hot day and we decided to stop for a quick drink, it was a lovely little spot a real local town we didn't see any tourists of touristy stuff however the locals were very friendly, a bloke even got up to let us have a table outside. We people watched for a while whilst consuming some drinks and crisps. We left and headed towards La Pared, well thats a lie we headed towards Tuineje until I indicated to my map reader that it was the wrong way and we should have gone the way I suggested in the beginning Wink We had decided La Pared looked like (on the map) a good place to have lunch, passing it it looked a bit naff so we carried on going towards Costa Calma.

Costa Calma was OK, it was a bit touristy but not on the level of mini Britain where we were staying. We found a little cafe and stopped in for a salad, a Pizza and a couple of drinks. The bill came out and it was 15 euro, the food was lovely and we more than happily left a 20 to cover it. We had a little nose around the shops but it was mostly the same shite as everywhere else.

TBC
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.
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chris-red
Have you considered a TDM?



Joined: 21 Sep 2005
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PostPosted: 12:20 - 24 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote

Next stop was Morro Jable Which I'm reliably informed is NOT pronounced 'More-O Jab-Ball'. This involved using the 'Motorway', to me it was a very windy, very winding dual carriageway with blue signs, oh and with a speed limit of 110! Most vehicles were going much faster than this 70-80kph was no longer a safe option so I was doing 90 not overly comfortable (only because of the choice of gear and lid) but not too bad.

Morro Jable was a big town it looked much like many European touristy seaside towns and was full of shops all selling the same tourist tat. There was a lighthouse near where we parked and a boardwalk leading up to it so we headed off in that direction. By the lighthouse there was a beach and a bar, this looked very appealing.

Glass of the Local Brew.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/chris-red/IMG-20150924-WA0004_zpshfbya9vv.jpg

Showing off my lovely British Tan.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/chris-red/IMG-20150924-WA0005_zpsikgbdioz.jpg

There was then a minor bit of panic where my missus mentioned something about the guy at the hire place saying something about 'Strict drink drive limits'. A hasty bit of google shows the limit is half what it is the UK. I figure 2/3rds of a pint (ish) would probably be under that especially as we were going on a walkabout afterwards.

Wondered down the seafront and found this which was pretty interesting.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/chris-red/IMG-20150924-WA0003_zpsimov32xv.jpg There was a reason it was there I just can't remember Laughing

Walked back towards the bike dipping in and out of all the tourist shops. Truth be told Morro Jable didn't do a lot for me, it was built up and solely aimed at tourists AND you need to go on the motorway to get to it. I wished we had gone to Ajuy to see the black sand beach and missed it out looking back. Anyway after a brief stop in a 'Surf bar' for a dump and a bottle of water we started the journey home.

The ride back was fairly dull, we had planned to just plow back on the FV2 but in hindsight we should have just turned around and gone back the way we came at Costa Calma! We had planned to get fuel at the petrol station we saw in Costa Calma. Russell had warned us there were few and far between AND it was a bank holiday. Anyway for whatever reason we didn't go past it, oh well I though, "The fuel gauge is still showing 5/6 bars full we have loads left, wait a minute, we've gone bloody miles, he has been showing 5 bars for ages" Minor panic Set in as I was convinced the fuel gauge had stopped working, I didn't set the trip so didn't know how far I'd come but I'd been riding ALL day, over mountains, 2 up. The missus was map reading again and after what felt like an age, she said "I think there is a petrol station at the next roundabout", "great" I think, next round about nothing. "Maybe it's the next one", Nothing. This went on for a while until we eventually got to a roundabout with a petrol station. She hopped off and I opened the tank and laughed, I could still CLEARLY see loads of fuel sloshing about in the tank, By this point I reckon we had done 100 miles, up mountains, 2 up. I managed to squeeze 4 liters into the 13 liter tank. And off we trotted again, blitzing the 40kms back to the hotel so we could show and change to get out for the England rugby match.

On the way back we met Speedy Buszales... We were in a slight queue on the FV2 (it is single lane by this point) in front of me was a smart car and a few other cars then a Tropical Beer Van, we are doing 90kph, the limit is 90kph. I was fairly content. This bus, a full on 50+ seat coach was not happy trying to do the speed limit and kept trying to overtake Laughing He was right up my Arse, in the other lane, trying to pass, getting level with me then backing off. There must have been 8 vehicles in the queue and there was not space for a bus between any of them. I had closed right up to the Smart Car at this point as I didn't want him to think he could squeeze into the ~8 car lengths I was leaving. In the end I got fed up with it and just nipped in front of the Smart Car to get away from it.

The rest of the journey was uneventful we got off Ini at the hotel and locked up for the night and went to watch the rugby. In the morning we dropped off the bike, I had been asked to fill the bike up, however I opened the fuel cap it it was literally 1cm from the underside of the cap, I didn't fancy trying to buy 0.5 of a liter of fuel so took it back as was!

It was a fantastic trip, ALL in, including food and drinks it cost well under 100 Euro for the pair of us. The Suzuki we hired was 55 Euros for 24 hours, the fuel was ~5 euros then the rest was food and drink. It was an absolute bargain especially when I inquired later in the holiday as to how much a Jet Ski would be to hire it was 55 euro too, for 20 fucking minutes. Laughing

I was impressed by ECR very pleasant and easy to deal with, and all the bikes looked clean and well looked after. Ours was great. The ONLY thing I would say is the website makes NO mention of the deposit required. (200/300euro scooter/bike) This wasn't a problem I assumed there would be a deposit and it is a reasonable amount but it wasn't mentioned.

Hope you enjoyed reading it sorry I went a bit teffers!
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.
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CaNsA
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Joined: 02 Jan 2008
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PostPosted: 12:37 - 24 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thats very similar to the route we rode.

That road (dirt track) upto the light house ? was sketchy as fuck Very Happy

This is the bit of road when a group of 5 riders on nice bikes came flying round the corner, one ran really wide and was heading right towards me.

I had to duck inside his line otherwise deadedness woulda happened.

Quote:
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/chris-red/Mobile%20Uploads/348_zpsist4xr8f.jpg
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