I wonder what the best way to travel is. I know a few that are definitely bad. But none that are always right. I’m currently asking myself that on Fuerteventura. Even though the wind yield was more than poor, we saw and experienced a lot. We completely overlooked other things. Dominik is probably just arriving home for the winter. I’m staying here for another week.
Travelling alone is always different to travelling together. It’s more strenuous, less secure and usually much more expensive because of the rooms. Nevertheless, both are good. When you’re travelling alone, you see completely different things. I didn’t notice how empty everything was here last week. (more…)
Storm Over Fuerteventura
One of the heaviest storms of the year is approaching Fuerteventura. At Flag Beach, the wind is already blowing full offshore with up to 35 knots the day before. The rescue boat is still broken. We head south to Gran Tarajal. A thunderstorm including a downpour unloads over us. Then the wind comes back. But unfortunately not enough, and totally stubborn.
Dominik alternates between overpower and underpower for a few laps. I flub his kite twice in wind holes in the water before I even get on the board. We head back to Corralejo. In the evening, the wind is blowing at over 55 knots. The car shakes in every gust. The storm is here. (more…)
Spot Search & Poker
The wind remains westerly the next day too, which means full offshore at Flag Beach. We spend the whole day travelling to every conceivable bay that looks kiteable on Google Maps. Kitebar with a westerly wind requires a coastline to the north or south.
Puerto Lajas: black volcanic sand, but again only rough volcanic rocks with thick bone-crushing holes at the nod exit south. Caleta del Fueste: A small sandy bay, but covered from the wind thanks to the many hotels behind it and too crowded even in the low season. Gran Tarajal: Beautiful sandy bay facing south, but there is not enough wind. Tarajalejo: Long free sandy beach, again no wind. Down to Rene Eglis Sotavento. (more…)
Offshore And Engine Damage
We are surprised by a heavy downpour at the bus stop. One of three rainy days in November on Fuerteventura is now a thing of the past. The bus to Flag Beach is cheap, but you still have to walk a kilometre with 30kg of equipment. Sport before sport is bearable, sport after sport is absolute rubbish.
There are things that are simply never good together: blow-drying in the bathtub. Blind cow on the motorway. Unprotected sex in South Africa. The wind only blows from the east 10% of the time here, so fully offshore. Today is 10%. Wouldn’t be too bad on its own. But together with an engine failure on the only rescue boat far and wide, it’s hell in heaven. (more…)
Better Fuerte Than Ice Tea
Time to travel. Travelling through the first snow flurries of the year to the airport before dawn. Air Berlin has a new slogan: fly full. After an exuberant breakfast, the stewardess notices my pitifully questioning look through the hole in the centre of my lox bagel. Humming quietly “All this and much more”, I fall asleep lying across four seats.
The last time Dominik was on holiday was two years ago. Iberia swallowed his suitcase – without a trace and to this day. His kiteboard is the very last thing to come off the conveyor belt. From then on, everything can only be good. The wind forecasts for the next few days on Fuerteventura range from great to surreal. Our apartment has a terrace with direct access to the pool – it’s in the centre of Corralejo and is ridiculously cheap. (more…)
The Author
Frank Woelky, born in 1973. Kitesurfer since 1998. Since 2006, I have been combining kitesurfing and web design on trips lasting several months off the beaten track.