Day 5

Drove up the volcano, and down the other side. The way up was picturesque and terrifying - a whacky races road clinging to the hill side - and I had one hand gripping the door handle and my left foot hard down on an imaginary brake all the way up. We reached the rim (2100m) and descended into the lunar landscape of the crater. It was impressive but Lanzarote does volcanic better, I reckon. Apart from the massive central Del Teide peak with a cable car up the side taking people to the peak. No bloody way. You must be bloody joking.
Drove down the other side to the north coast. Half way down we descended into the clouds. Weird. The vegetation on the north coast is entirely different because it's cooler and more damp - looked like England all of a sudden; bracken and grass and dense greenery (and grey murky weather). The plan had been to spend the afternoon on a beach on the north coast but the weather was so crap there that we jumped on the autopiste and scooted back round the island to the south. Struggled on to the beautiful beach at El Medano, where the gale force winds had brought out all the insane kite and windsurfers. Was wearing Ali Baba pants (as they call them in India) and as I stepped onto the beach the wind caught them and I did my own special kind of upside down paragliding. I think the surfing dudes were impressed.

Chilled on roof, cooked Spag Napolitana and played cards.

Contract Score: Rich 688 Luce 574

Cheating bastard.