December; festive running.

[Bierzo Baggie]

Did a bit of research and the bloke in the pub confirmed my suspicions. The blowtorch is used on the (deceased) pig to burn off the hairs and smoothen the skin. Another method is to lower the pig carcass into scalding water. In this way you don’t get those nasty hairs in yer pork scratchings.

Ran the usual Toral-Pajariel route. Did the road bit first and then enjoyed the slopes of the Monte Pajariel trail with a nice temperature, peace and quiet and then…. a rustle in the bushes and suddenly a small roe deer shot out just above me. A micro-second later a dog appeared in hot pursuit and finally the shouts of the hunter, rifle no doubt at the ready.
“Poor little bugger,” I thought.
Upped the pace to get off the hills as quickly as possible. If they skin teddies, blow-torch piglet and shoot Bambi, what would they do with an Englishman?
About 5 minutes later I became aware of a jingling sound behind me. I was being tracked by 3 diminutive hunting dogs with floppy ears and dinky little bells around their necks. They followed me almost right down to the river. Hopefully I took them off the scent. Hopped across the rocks and arrived home unscathed. Hope the cute little deer could say the same.
Running time; 45 minutes.