It was the best of times!

After a long day of travel we reached hotel Lancelot, Arrecife. It was ideal!!

The next morning we set off looking forward to lots of outside time, warmth, exercise, entering back into that simple life!; An abundance of solitude ahead.

I always love the first day particularly noticing and appreciating of surroundings, usually lots of the contrasting things to home.

We pedalled along the Lanzarote coastline, taking in the immense brightness: whitewashed walls, coloured shutters, the expansive ocean, breaking waves, cactus, volcanic rocks, rocky paths and smooth roads...yes!!

We were aiming for La Graciosa to then start the Gran Gaunche route through Lanzarote and on to Fuerteventura, journeying as far as our 2 weeks allowed. The objective was fun, appreciation , connection rather than any particular speed or distance.

The trip evolved so amaazingly; time seemed to slow and days lengthen as we pedalled each day and camped most nights.

It was amazing to be back in La Graciosa, it is such a small island paradise. A special place to spend a night or two and explore.

Then setting off through Lanzarote. Incredible ocean scenes, idyllic for camping. Expansive views taken in as we climbed up through farming areas and journeyed through massive amounts of dried volcanic rock which was incredible to see. We enjoyed greatly learning about the ingenious farming methods of the farmers who started to use the volcanic rock to build sheltering walls around plants./vines. The porous nature of the rock enabled the plants to flourish and despite a small yield quality was high, with that perseverance in such a challenging time in the 18th Century these farmers enabled the island's economy to continue to grow. The crisis of the volcanic eruption was turned into something that continues to be fruiful.

t love that we have spent all these days entirely outside

Love, love, love

Multiple nights sleeping by the ocean... the crashing of waves as the background noise 

We took a snorkel set each this trip, it was really amazing to see under the water. It is utterly mesmerising to gaze below the water; the depth, the gently swaying grasses, then all the fish, so colourful. My favourite was an orange, blue re and green one and the electric blue ones that darted around occasionally. It took a bit of getting used to at first, the sharp shock as you entered the cold water and then learning to trust that the snorkel worked and breathing through your mouth ....totally totally worth it though!

The second week was just wonderful. I had started to think we didn't need 2 weeks , one was enough, it had been so amazing! As we crossed on the ferry to Fuerteventura there was a quickly evident total different vibe, a surfing scene! We loved the more remote feel to the island and the incredible beaaches for miles at time. The strong wind was wonderful when on your back, as a headwind it was um extremely good fitness training!!!

It is hard to summarise this whole trip but it just was awesome!! Each day started with coffee and contemplation based on some teaching etiher by Tim Kellar or a bible passage and then tchatting it through and trying to apply ti to our daily life. I have loved remembering again what love we have in Christ, what hope and what joy. It is everything. A hope that doesn;t just cope but conquers. It is a way to daily enter into that treasure chamber in our hearts and seek to find there all we need, our identity our confidence. Oh to more and more live from that peaceful place and to know more how to handle our anger/pain/ disappointments/stressors. A joyful reset it was all in all, we are sooo grateful for these 2 weeks!