My oh my....we're in July.

[Bierzo Baggie]

Sunday.
Went to inspect the fire damage. Apparently “somebody” started the blaze near the river and it shot up the steep gradients to the antenna at the top of Monte Pajariel. That’s 300 vertical metres, or over 1000 feet. According to the local paper it took 4 helicopters, 2 planes, 3 bulldozers and 120 people to bring it all under control.
Hopped over the rickety bridge and took the zig-zag which had acted as a firebreak. Everything up to my right was a desolute black with charred stumps where bushes had once been and the occassional tree trunk standing out defiantly. Otherwise there wasn’t a lot left. Below me to my left the chestnut trees and some pines had miraculously survived. And then there was the lingering smell of charcoal. Stopped to walk the final gradiant of the zig-zag and found a suspiciously located petrol can amongst the sooty remains, too high up to be significant, but suspicious none the less. People normally start these fires for a reason. And there have been a lot of fires this year.
Jogged down to Otero and completed a full circle by running along the river and crossing at the same place as before. Then I walked home.
Total running time 34 minutes.