What Floats Your Boat

As I head to La Gomera on my third ferry trip of my Canarian adventure, I presently have no plan for five days time, but what I DO know is that I will not be returning to Los Cristianos to stay. I may be coming back to the port, but then I will move on. I have fond memories of Los Cristianos, back in the days before our children were born! Coming here this time served a purpose, it was my first base from where I could take stock, and I’ve taken stock.

Knocking a pint back at Kinsella’s, a place I will never return to, I met a guy who’d come over for four days, four days of drinking it seemed. He’d lost both his mates (in other pubs), but we held a coherent conversation for half an hour despite the best efforts of the karaoke, and we were sitting outside!

I came to Tenerife to ride my bike in a beautiful climate and it’s certainly ticked all the boxes, I really feel my decision to come here has worked. I wish I could transport all my biking buddies here to feel what I feel. But it’s also made me realise that I am in a completely different sphere from other holiday makers here, from even where I used to be. I suppose I’ve moved from being the two week tourist to becoming the two month tourer? It’s a pleasure that being retired offers me, and is presently working very well.

Waiting to board the ferry Reg had his usual admirers, and then a Spanish guy came up to me and said “Hi” as if he knew me. My mind went completely blank, not unusual you’ll be thinking. He enthusiastically explained that we had met at a restaurant on the north side of the island a few days ago, and went into great detail about everything that was said. What an idiot I felt at not being able to recall it, until we located the restaurant on Google maps and everything came flooding back. His mate then joined us and said “Aah this is the bike you sent photos of to all the group”! We chatted about all things motorcycling and laughed as if we’d been mates for years! And then a valuable bit of information came my way:

“There are only four petrol stations on the island”

Enough said!

I’d been on the island ten minutes and that was me hooked. I’ve extended my four day stay to seven, and will consider my options about day five.