January jaunts.

[Bierzo Baggie]

The overnight temperature dropped to -6ºC but the morning was pleasant for running. Cold, sunny, icy and with a thin layer of snow remaining in places. Decided to repeat the longish route around Monte Pajariel last done at the end of December. This involves a 25 minute uphill section where I entertained myself by trying to identify animal tracks in the snow. Walking companion and one-time running partner Miguel mushroom is the undisputed expert in this department. He’ll also recognize an impressive range of animal excrements.
“Dis is fox sheet. De fox always sheet on a stone”.
Once whilst out walking we came across a colony of bats in an old, abandoned water-mill. Only MM had the trained eye to spot the miniscule bat droppings falling like confetti from the gruesome creatures.
“Loook, de bats are sheeting…never I see de bats sheeting…”
An array of tracks criss-crossed the forest trail this morning. Boar? Deer? Rabbits? Hunting dogs? Without MM around I could never really be sure.
Dropped steeply into the valley behind Monte Pajariel before hitting tarmac at Toral de Merayo and running the last 20 minutes along the road.
Running time; 68 minutes.