And then there was light...

 ...and not only at the end of the tunnel.

For many years the demand for lighting of the two tunnels below Arure down into Valle Gran Rey had been vociferous, not least after a serious accident involving a cyclist in the 625 metres long tunnel of Yorima. 

As I reported in 2020 the Canarian government had allocated substantial funds for the installation of illumination in both tunnels, but it took another few years for works to be completed, and some time ago the light came on, which I failed to report up to now. 

Many years ago when newly arrived in Valle Gran Rey, I once naively walked down from Arure to La Calera through both dark tunnels at night, trying to hitch a lift down. Nobody stopped for me as they probably thought they saw a ghost. A very scary experience for me and one to be avoided even now that the tunnels are lit, as the bit of pavement on both sides is too narrow to walk on safely, and only serves for standing on, back tightly pressed against the wall, when a car or truck thunders through the tunnel.

Light at the end of the tunnel for tunnel illumination

The entrance to the first tunnel near Arure

The two long and dark tunnels on the main and only  road (GM-2) to/from Valle Gran Rey in La Gomera's south-west will now get badly needed lighting after several serious accidents within and years of promises that came to nothing. The Canarian government has finally allocated 1,2 million Euros for the illumination of both the tunnel of Arure, which is 430 metres long, and the nearby tunnel of Yorima of 630 metres lenght. Additional emergency lighting will also be installed and the electrical supply cables will be laid underground to avoid impairing the breathtaking views in the area. The project has already been put out to tender and a speedy installation is expected, with the works to take 19 weeks to completion once a contractor has been selected.

Two accidents leave one dead and one injured

Two separate accidents this weekend left one dead and one injured on La Gomera. 

First a local man in his eighties from the Arguamul area in La Gomera's north-west was reported missing by his family when he failed to return home late on Friday. Yesterday his body was discovered below a precipice near the chapel of Santa Clara, but the abrupt terrain made the recovery of his body extremely difficult, and only efforts by specialised mountain rescue teams finally resulted in recovering the corpse later on Saturday. The octogenarian was well known and respected in La Gomera, particularly for his reliable regular ringing of the the bells of the chapel of Santa Clara.

Arguamul seen from near Santa Clara

In a separate incident a 62-year-old woman who was out hiking in Valle Gran Rey suffered a fall and a suspected knee fracture. She had to be rescued by the GES helicopter and was transferred to the hospital in San Sebastian de La Gomera where she was said to be recovering from her injuries.

GES Search & Rescue helicopter in action (archive image)