August or bust....

[Bierzo Baggie]

Sunday morning run. Ran up to Otero passing the little church halfway up the hill. The church bells were summoning a procession of over-70s (some accompanied by their grandchildren) to midday mass. Wonder how many of them will still be around to keep the church going in 10 or 20 years time. Up above the village I could see the devastating effects of yet another wildfire which we saw raging from Ponferrada yesterday afternoon. It was probably the result of livestock farmers burning to clear land for grazing. Problem was that they almost took a couple of villages out in the process, not to mention the expense of the helicopters and land-based firefighters who had to risk their lives to put it all out. And the empty expanse of blackness that now underlines the Montes Aquilianos is simply depressing. Especially for anybody in the business of attracting tourists this way.

For the second time in succession I chickened out of the longer run that I’d originally intended and exited the Monte Pajariel trail to drop down to San Lorenzo where a small dog nipped at my ankles. I have a long running feud with the dogs of San Lorenzo. Back home again via the road.
Total running time: 51 minutes. Hard work.