Spain 2016 - bicycling Isla Canela

Mum and Dad headed in to town to go to the market (we are trying to buy most of our produce there) and the "buck store" (this is the closest equivalent we can come up with, cheap store, wide variety of products in disarray) for a new ice cube tray and a second cutting board. They dropped me at the Isla Canela Golf Hotel.

It looks like a nice golf course and the hotel, although 4 star, is quite understated. It has a quiet little lobby with a bar and outside terrace.

I had asked at the office of Isla Canela Tours, the company that manages our apartment, and they had suggested that I might be able to rent a bicycle at the hotel at the golf course. The hotel clerk spoke excellent English, outlined the costs (2 Euro for an hour, 10 Euro for a day, 50 Euro for a week) and when I chose to rent for a week adjusted the bike to my height and showed me how to work the locking mechanism.

According to the map it was about a 7 km distance back to the Marina. It was dead flat and all on marked bicycle paths, very comfortable.

After leaving the golf course area I crossed a marsh. The tide was out and there were various wading birds, poking around in the mud .

I thought this was a curlew but on looking in the book discovered that it is a Whimbrel (stripy head, white on lower back) (Sheesh, Cyndy must be right, she says I'm in denial and am becoming a birder!)

In front of the developed areas there is still plenty of foliage between the path and the buildings. Grey cement for the bike path, pink bricks for walking path.

Beach beside the path.

Where the path goes through undeveloped areas the is a lot of native scrub on both sides of the path. We have been here just over a week and already there are more people here than when we arrived. Lots of people walking the path by the sea, most with small dogs.

They are still building so there must still be a market even though there are a fair number of units listed for sale.

The Goldfinch here looks quite different from our North American Goldfinch. Quite stunning with his bright red face.

I biked to the end of the path, where the river comes in and bends around to Isla Christina.

The Melia Atlantico Hotel has the end property with the beach in front and the river beside. Blue and white tile roof and a lovely pool area.

I got back just as Mum and Dad drove in to the underground garage. Lunch and then an afternoon of reading as it showered (as forecast) for the first time since we got here.

Supper recipe: Black Olive and Anchovy Tapenade
100gm pitted black olives
1 can anchovies
pinch of Herbs de Province
2 cloves of garlic
juice of 1/2 lemon
dribble of olive oil
Blend in food processor and let rest for 10 minutes. Serve on thinly sliced baguette.