The End of the Adventure

Well, not quite the end because my very last stop, before a garage to fill the car with fuel, is to the Centro de Visitantes de La Caldera de Taburiente, or the Taburiente Caldera Visitor's Centre,Läs mer
Well, not quite the end because my very last stop, before a garage to fill the car with fuel, is to the Centro de Visitantes de La Caldera de Taburiente, or the Taburiente Caldera Visitor's Centre, but I guess you worked that out. 🤭
The caldera is the great chunk that's missing from the top half of La Palma and it is it's highest ridge where I was taking photos those first two nights. It's a protected National Park.
I really enjoyed my time at the Centre. The exhibition is very well done, but I was fascinated with the model of the island which shows the main roads and the many walking routes. It's a walkers paradise here though some of the walks are hard and not for the faint hearted. There is one which is about 18km - The Volcano route. There is another which skims the edge of the caldera, past where I stood with my camera. Fancy doing them?
But now it's time to go to the airport and wing my way home. Actually, with luck maybe I'm in a seat like everyone else!
I hope you have enjoyed this adventure with me and that my never-ending words and photos have brought some enjoyment to your days. I've loved this trip even though at times it has felt exhausting. Hopefully I'll have photos to be proud of.
Thanks again for travelling with me and I hope you will join me for the next one.Läs mer
In an earlier footprint I said I'd get some photos showing the impact of the volcanic eruption in 2021. Here they are.
The other day, seemingly ages ago, I was on the other side of the flow so I was happy to view the solidified river of lava from the northern side.
It's impressive to see but if I lived in those properties I would have been seriously worried. It really is deep so imagine the heat given off as that lava made it's way past here. I'm sure they had been evacuated of course. They probably ran like crazy. It was annoying that access was restricted (those signs and fences) as I felt compelled just to touch this newly born land. Not sure why, but I was good and didn't.
One thing I realised from being close up and on this side of the flow, is it doesn't look as though the lava came from that cone. There must be more that can't be seen from here and when I was at Mirador Astronómico del Llano del Jable, which is above the eruption site, access is restricted from there too. That's so annoying, but I must find out where the flow actually originated. Hello Google.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy seeing these photos.
[Edit: This web site has some great photos from October 2021: https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2021/10/photo… ]Läs mer
ResenärQuite awesome and rather frightening. Presumably the surface is comparatively cool now but not solid or safe enough to touch let alone walk on and underneath it could still be seriously hot! What an amazing spectacle to see up so close. I think you have been very clever and lucky with your choice of holiday. Safe journey home.
ResenärThe eruption was pretty much exactly three years ago so everything should be cold and solid by now. I suspect it's because they don't want people climbing over it - there will be sharp edges and loose terrain. Higher up and above the eruption site where the volcanic ash is deep, they will be trying to protect the natural environment, to allow the landscape to recover. We all love to explore and find the dramatic (I do 🙄 ) but that potentially unnaturally erodes a newly generating landscape. The urge to go where I shouldn't was very strong and it was hard not to just sneak a touch, or a view for a photo. I am in heaven in places like this and one day, please can I see an active volcano close up? Not from a helicopter like before, but up close and personal. It's a dream.
ResenärIt was very thought provoking to get an insight into what happened and realise first hand the impact an event such as this can have on people’s lives.
In case you're itching to see what my accommodation looked like inside then this photo sums it up. I've just packed and put things how I found them.
There's a twin bedded room to the left and the bathroom with shower to the right. The thing sticking out bottom right is a settee that can be convert to a bed.
This was all just perfect for my needs. I've loved it here.Läs mer
ResenärAll looks quite cosy and ideally practical. An excellent choice especially with those views too! And who can forget the self positioning outdoor chairs!
I realise it's not a great title for a footprint, but today didn't work out how I planned.
My aim was to look for astro locations along the north west part of the island. I would have loved to revisit the highest peaks but that would mean a very late affair and tomorrow morning I must pack and leave my penthouse villa. 😁 I therefore needed a good location about 45 minutes away maximum.
I checked out a couple of great places but didn't take photos as I thought I'd be back again later. But the cloud cover got worse and as time ticked by, it looked as though it would be a no-go for astrophotography this evening, so I drove back to the bananas. The last night too. 😥
The photos here are of Tazacorte town, rather than the port, where I enjoyed a pizza and a stroll around afterwards. It's a nice place, with narrow streets and, naturally, bananas galore. The first three photos are testament to that.
No star photos tonight then, but sometimes things can't always work out as you want them to. Nice pizza though, making three since I've been away. I'll become a Ninja Turtle soon. 🙄😂Läs mer
You may think it weird this footprint has the title it has. I guess it is weird, but I wanted to take a moment to compare the street lighting in La Palma, to the absolute calamity we must suffer in England.
Councils have just spent many millions installing brand new LED lighting in villages, towns and cities. Millions. They had a perfect opportunity to do that with intelligence and careful planning, but instead they paid the electric companies to install brighter lighting that creates intensely white light, harming the nocturnal patterns of all living things. Though I accept that many do spill less light towards the sky, they are still way brighter than needed, in my opinion of course. This will never change now, the opportunity for a better and correct solution is lost.
In La Palma pretty much all the lights are amber and are much less harsh to our eyes and the surroundings. Further, they are designed to deliver light downwards and are only sufficiently bright to do what is needed. We are not talking hugely dim here and you don't walk around feeling unsafe or that everywhere is way too dark. Not at all, it's actually really nice.
There's is more. Many street lights react to passing people or traffic and increase their brightness for a short time, before reducing their light level afterwards. All this is easily doable, makes the environment a better place to live and has the benefit of maintaining dark skies. Clearly, this concept is beyond the mental abilities of planning departments in Britain. Rant over. 😂
Oh, and the parking? It's all free here, no Ringos, PaybyPhone or machines, no pay and display ... nothing. Our councils can't even agree to use one parking payment system - they do in Iceland! While we're at it, there are no potholes here either. Nor in Iceland come to think of it.
It's okay - that really is it, so I'll stop moaning now. 😂😂😂Läs mer
ResenärI totally agree with your analysis, Rob, very convincing and so obvious. Did you also know that by selecting just one colour it is cheaper to run? All this has been done by a very aware and conscientious council which has its community at the heart of its decision making. Well done them! We could really learn a lot from this kind of thinking and attitude. Thank you, Rob, very "illuminating!"
ResenärAs the week went on I felt more strongly that our planners need to think more about the quality of our lives, in all its aspects.
Oh my goodness am I worn out this morning. I appear to have forgotten that I'm no longer in my twenties and that repeatedly staying out all night does take its toll, and today that toll is definitely being taken. I am reminded that this is a holiday and as such, there is no compulsion to work myself to death or induce total exhaustion. I therefore planned no nighttime photography and made sure I had a relaxing time today, spending a lovely evening in the port of Tazacote. I neglected to photograph this the other day so this footprint makes up for that. No captions to the photos, just views from this evening.
Having enjoyed my meal, followed by a pleasant stroll, I headed back to my luxurious villa, where the wind was fierce and the plastic chairs had migrated to the parking area. I still admired the view though, whilst my hair was being torn from my scalp. 😂 Then I had an idea.
The video at the end is the result - a half hour timelapse showing the view. Half an hour reduced to 24 seconds.
There is actually quite a lot to see, so you may want watch it a few times. First, those clouds look great don't they. Then there's the stars - looks how far they move in just half an hour, much further than we see in England. That's because at my latitude here, level with Africa, the Earth's circumfrance is greater so I'm therefore travelling much faster than in England as the Earth rotates ie: the stars move faster across the sky. Finally, look for the moving headlights of the cars and how some of them zig-zag around as they manoeuvre all those bends. Fascinating. Hope you enjoy it.
(If reading this on a phone or tablet then turn it sideways to watch the video. You see more detail.)Läs mer
ResenärVery different images from all the other ones so far. I did like the time-lapse section initially because of the wispy clouds but when I reread your account I watched the time-lapse again and was amazed by the movement of the stars! I hadn't noticed them before! Fascinating! Thank you.
The most southern town here is Fuencaliente and this is where I have chosen to eat before heading for my photo location. It's around half an hour from the apartment. The problem is that it's Monday and Google doesn't say the restaurants are closed here on Mondays. Oh dear ! 😥 A supermarket is therefore my restaurant so I can't say that healthy eating is the order of tonight. Crisps, cheese slices, a cereal bar and a Kitkat with apple juice as a chaser. 🤷🏼
The light was rapidly fading so I headed down towards the lighthouse, not quite at the most southerly point, but almost. My first photo of the night was not to be there however, because I wanted to get a photo of the Milky Way with a volcanic cone as a foreground. Hopefully what I captured will work, with the last photo here a bit of a preview.
The main subject for the night is the lighthouse with the main photo perhaps showing why. I had a great time here and that photograph, when I've processed it properly, will undoubtedly be a favourite. It's ideal for the preview photo of this trip, even as it is, so I've already made it just that, as you can see.
Once again it was a very late return with me feeling very tired as I fell into bed. Or maybe it was the lack of food today - I'm not sure what I've eaten would keep a mouse alive. Squeak!Läs mer
I knew I would be up late again tonight but wanted to check out where the lava had flowed during the last eruption. I've neglected to take photos for you so hopefully before I leave I'll take some. What I can say, however, is that it is unbelievable how much lava flowed down towards the sea. They have rebuilt main roads already and as you drive through the freshly created land you cannot fail to be amazed. In places it must be at least twenty to thirty feet deep, perhaps more.
The main photos in this footprint are of the lava fields created in 1941 and they also cover a large area. After the recent eruption I believe the road must have been redone given it looks so new, plus the area looks like it is covered in black ash. I loved this little drive of discovery and the weather was so nice too.
I realise I haven't let you see the outside of my villa, so the last two photos here reveal all. Villa sounds so much nicer than apartment, don't you think. 😉Läs mer
ResenärQuite an awesome sight and thought really, it does make you realise the power of nature. you can't help but be impressed also with man's determination, and ability, to rebuild so soon after what must have been such a frightening, unstoppable and unpredictable event!
ResenärIn a later footprint I've included a link to some photos taken during the eruption. Some of them are scary to see.
Brian GloverI wonder if you would feel quite the same when you are watching something so terrifying so close to you... i would probably rather than thinking that is awesome... more like i beter get the hel out of here
ResenärFrom the apartment there, it was far enough away. Itvepykd have been awesome. To be honest, I'd love to be closer. 😂
My location tonight is a viewpoint at around 1200m, about 4000ft. The translation is 'Astronomical Observatory of Llano del Jable' but let's stick with 'a viewpoint created for viewing the stars with information boards and a pointer to show where Polaris, the North Star, is located.' 😳 It's half the altitude from my previous two nights which is enough to get above some of the clouds, but no guarantee you avoid the high flying ones.
Two things were evident when I arrived: the number of people there (a photo workshop group were just finishing) and the strong wind. It was really blowy. The first photo shows the lights from the group and both the first photos show how the wind is blowing the trees. I thought my tripod would blow over at one point. Soon the group left and I was alone.
Photo 3 is the view back towards Tazacorte with the cloud hanging in the valley plus, you can see a well known constellation too. The last photo was taken when I accidentally turned the dial on my camera to automatic. It looks great doesn't it, until you look closely and see the trees are kind of mushy. It has impact though, I'm sure you agree.
Then the cloud arrived and with the wind blowing volcanic sand at me, I decided to leave. I got a few photos though, so I was happy. It was another late night though.Läs mer
ResenärI rather like the first picture with all the lights in the carpark. the trees have created a fabulous foreground.
ResenärI haven't looked at the actual photo yet. Hopefully there's much more dealt than this shows.
ResenärThe trees look unreal, quite unusual. It's impressive that your camera can do so well in automatic mode! Also quite impressive but just think what your "controlled" images will be like!
The pattern today is the same as yesterday, with me completely out of it until lunchtime, then breakfast, coffee, check photos, sort myself out then decide what to do. Just how long should that take? Well, it's got to mid-afternoon and a spiral of indecision about should I stay here or should I go ... somewhere? Lethargy is the word of the moment.
I took swift action and in a flash of inspiration I put the cushion on the sun lounger and settled down to read my book. See, I can make a decision when needed. 😂 Later, a stroll to investigate the bananas was a task which, you understand, is a very important thing to undertake. I made an astounding discovery too: once you've seen one bunch of green bananas, you've seen them all. No photos I'm afraid as they'd just send you bananas.
This first footprint photo of today, then, starts in the restaurant on my way out to my photo location for tonight. This will satisfy my daughter who has been known to ask why I don't photograph my meals. I do, but they are always half eaten and the photo in this footprint makes no exception. 🤣Läs mer
ResenärThank you, Rob, it has been a pleasure and a privilege to follow you on this adventure. I look forward to seeing some of the finished images soon. Safe journey home, enjoy the flight.
ResenärThank you Richard. My flight is delayed by almost three hours so it looks as though it's another 5am bedtime in a B&B near Gatwick. Clearly, I've been in training for this all week. 😂
Brian GloverGreat adventure … thanks for sharing …. Safe journey home
ResenärI arrived home safely, though rather late after the flight delay.