It's been 10 days now that we've been waiting for a weather window to depart, but the wind keeps blowing from the wrong direction, or doesn't blow at all. We have no commitments so we're not in a rush, and with the temps in the low 70's it's a great place to to do boat chores, take long walks and take day trips around the island. We marvel at those we see sitting in their cockpits reading in the afternoon, something we never seem to find time to do.

Yesterday we went hiking for several hours in one of the island's many nature preserves, the Barranco de los Cernícalos ravine near Lomo Magullo, just inland of the city of Telde. It was good to stretch our legs what with the weeks of sailing ahead of us. Considering how close the preserve is to the east coast resorts and Las Palmas, we were surprised to encounter no other tourists, only a few Canarean families who were walking their dogs and grilling at the picnic area. Evidently the locals prefer it that way. It was poorly signed and would have been hard to find without our Tom-Tom GPS app.

The area has a high water level and gets more rain than other parts of the island, making it a major agricultural center. Water rushed alongside us for much of the trail and some was diverted by canals and pipes to irrigate crops. There were even some small waterfalls. Bright green clover blanketed the ground under the wild olive and willow trees, such a pleasant change from the dry, barren terrain of much of the island.

We passed by a farm where a bunch of goats were clambering up and down a vertical stone wall. This little guy took his time figuring out his next step:

We also visited the nearby village of Valsequillo, known for its almond orchards, strawberries and other crops. The houses were painted cheerful colors and everything looked neat, tidy and prosperous.

CLICK FOR MORE PHOTOS