#Spain’s Catalonia Is Spending $2.6 Billion to Survive Without Rain
#Catalonia, home to Barcelona, is building desalination plants. #Andalusia in the south is reducing water pressure "in an attempt to reduce consumption by 20%. If no rain falls next spring, it will require tanker ships to deliver water over the summer."
"#Andalucia’s reservoir levels are operating at just 22.21% of their capacity – #Malaga’s reservoirs are only 15.75% full, whilst #Almeria’s reserves have fallen to below 9%, the lowest level of any province in #Spain."
It's 37C outside. You are in the midst of a fierce spanish summer. Either "head for the hills" or as we did today, head to some dramatic local gorges and refreshing, cooling waters. Marvellous!
Yesterday we hiked the Ruta Gollizno at Moclin. A beautiful descent into a dramatic gorge with rope bridges and a heavily vegetated (cool!) river valley, followed by a tough ascent in the afternoon heat back up to the town. The cold beers afterwards were most welcome!
Sampled the delights of the new Via Ferrata at Cadiar today. A grade K3 and a grade K4 available. Wire bridge, tyrolean, pendulum and some steep, airy ladders perched in space. All very entertaining.
Today was a target pace run for 15 mins (and an optional extra 5 mins) with 15 min warm up / cool down. The target pace was 7:28 - 7:48 and I ran the first interval (15 mins) at 7:30 and the second (5 mins) at 7:38. I was pretty pleased with this but Garmin gave me a 62% (average) execution score 🤔 …
Spring is in the air and so starts our Andalucia river walking season. Yesterday, we found a 6 km long stretch of river, a bit overgrown after the winter, but full of color, challenges and interest. Glorious scenery with 20+ enforced crossings of the river with rock pools galore to cool off in. A fabulous day!
Last night I stayed in the pretty town of Cómpeta, so that today I'm around early to join a group hiking in the Sierra de Almijara. This scene is typical of the villages in this area
Some rather stunning wrought ironwork on an untended building. There really should be greater powers to intervene to protect architectural gems like this.
Nice to be out with my two daughters yesterday. They joined a group I was out with above the Hoya del Portillo in Spain's Sierra Nevada. Lovely day, nice temperatures and the predicted afternoon storms didn't materialise.
‘Sunset over the mouth of the Rio Guadalquivir where it meets the Atlantic – taken while wild camping on the beach in our campervan in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cádiz province.’
The road into Lanjarón from the Alpujarras with the prominent long valley of the Río Lanjarón that leads up to the snow capped peak of the Cerro de Caballo. At 3009 metres asl this is Europe's most south westerly 3000+ metre peak.
This is a route I’ve been meaning to run for some time now. It’s largely “out and back” which I’m not really a fan of, but having driven out to the convent (La Gañanía en La Almoraima) for lunch yesterday, I was struck by how pretty it was.
Cardio is definitely improving, which is great to see. Target VO₂ max is 50, currently at 47.
I’m wondering if I might finally be leaving behind whatever it was that has messed with my energy levels (aftermath of flu / Covid?) but it’s taken weeks. So, if that is the case, it’s good news!
Río Bacal, Jayena - Sendero de los Arrieros - Mirador de la Encina - Poza del Romance
Brilliant hiking route over some new ground for me/us. Incredible that so much varied and interesting walking terrain is available within an hours drive of home near Granada. Must have done over 100 routes so far.
Here's some photos from the "non-river" part of yesterday trip (see previous post)