Today is the first day of investigation and reconnaissance of the land in Otal.
Coming up from Oto (where I live at the moment), on the slopes of the Pelopin I have found some large and meaty mushrooms, very good for a grill. It may have been this a sign? I have made a bonfire with stones, in a place out of fire danger, and now I am waiting for the embers to be done to put the grill for mushrooms. I have forgotten to bring some salt, garlic and spices. Next time, I’m going to bring some of these. I am next to the fire, tranquility, the cows have already gone to sleep, and they have left the meadow clear. Only the birds and crickets are heard.
I still have not been able to meditate. It has been quite a hard day, with strong sun and wind, which has burned me and now I am tired.
I feel lonely here … even though I have met a rancher from Oliván, who comes here every 5 days. Very kind and very nice. We have talked a little about the town and it has taught me where there is an old well where you can draw fresh water.
I feel tired … it’s my first longest outing (from Oto to here it’s about 10km with a drop of almost 800m), from the fucking confinement (lie of covid). Damn confinement, a fucking fucking lie! On the way here I have thought a lot about what I am going to say to the judge. I’m going to write another post about this.
The fucking fire has to be looked after every so often and fed with firewood. I start writing and it burns right away. A lot of firewood is needed, a lot, it is never enough. Well, later I will sleep in the hammock, so for today this fire is enough. The hammock is ready, under some trees, overlooking the valley.
I thought will stay 2-3 days, but it seems that a strong storm arrives on Sunday and tomorrow, Saturday, some rain too. So let’s see how it is in the morning and decide. I can take refuge inside the Gabarre house, in an emergency, but I like to sleep outside in the open air. I have to go back another day to build a wooden shelter, where I can hang my hammock underneath, and always have it ready. In the central house, which is still standing.
And where people or ranchers take refuge inside in the event of a storm, I have found tools that can be used. I also need to bring food reserves, just in case, that I stay more days around here.
Just by collecting firewood and cutting it, and it gets pretty tiring. Well I’m not used to it yet, and after all this day walking, I need to rest. I need to meditate and go slowly. You can’t do everything at once. You have to go little by little, rest, here time runs slower.
Water, water, water. Water is a problem here. There is little in the nearby ravines. Only when it rains, there are two ravines, about 1km more or less, from where you can collect fresh, good, clean water. But you have to load with drums and garages, it is difficult but not impossible. There is also the well but I do not trust 100% of this water. Need to boil it first to be sure. To wash it’s okay. Another solution, that I think, is to collect rainwater, put some water tanks under the Gabarre house roof and storing water.
21:50 And the fucking firewood is over. I have left for 1-2h, but it’s ok, I’m very tired, I don’t know why so much. Will see if I can meditate in the hammock. Here is awkward. I’m like a caveman now, by the fire, sitting on a stone. I have to make a plan for a good fire place and shelter nearby. And a chair is missing by the fire. There is a lot of elderberry, sloes, walnuts, cherry trees. The earth seems good to put a garden. But it takes water and a lot of hard work, to remove the grass, clear the grass, plowing.
22:10 It is already dark. Today there is a full moon, Tomorrow I am going to sow, I have to try, 3 potatoes and some sunflower seeds. They are resistant plants and let’s see how they get caught the earth, and protect them from wild boars and cows.
00:10 LOL I’m writing under the moonlight. It’s impressive how the moonlight gives a focus on the town. It leaves behind the Gabarre peak, and when it comes out, it gives the EXACT light on the center of the town, it seems that there is someone with some movie lights there in the town. Then the light spreads over the entire valley and it reflects even stronger, which makes it look like daylight throughout the valley, town, and meadow.
My hammock is facing the moon, I don’t know if I could sleep tonight. But it is wonderful! I have caught a unique night, magic! Maybe this would be the message, the signal? It is like a theater show with lights. Looking at the moon it seems to be hot, but at the same time it is cold. It seems someone is watching me over there, from the moon.
02:15 I could not sleep … I was all the time looking at the moon and the meadow, that the trees seem like made of silver, total silence, just a little wind and the ravine that is far away, the water falling. The moonlight almost hypnotizing me, empties my mind, I can’t think of anything and I can’t sleep either. I have than sleep, because I’m very tired.
02:40 I have to put the tarp over my hammock, it is windy from the north and this brings cold and / or rain. Better be prepared than caught by surprise …
02:50 Okay, now much better, the moonlight doesn’t bother me anymore, I can close my eyes. I’m going to drink a little more pacharan 🙂 and go to sleep.
04:10 FUCK! I’m cornered by cows! I was awakened by some nearby noises and when I lifted the tarp, a giant cow moor in my face! I turn on the front-light and I see like 6-7 cows around, mowing to me, very upset. Yes, I know that I am the intruder, I think this was the place where they came to sleep for a while under the trees and I have squatted it. Sorry girls, but I also like this place. Let’s sleep together in peace and tomorrow I’m leaving. That goes, the cows very angry … until 6:45 they did not let me close their eyes, curious, smelling my tarp and around, moving and making a lot of noise. I could not sleep not even a minute.
08:45 The sun has already risen and it hits hard on my tarp. The cows have gone quietly in the Gabarre meadow, they have seen that I am not a threat and they have let me sleep for 2 hours.
10:00 I see cars coming down the forestal road … Damn, some filthy people are coming! Can’t have any peace, not even here in an abandoned town ?! Who comes with 3 cars on the mountain?! And with face masks! Damn these people make me sick! These are not neighbors from around here, they come from far away, in cars, in the mountains. I have to think carefully about how to do it so that these filthy people don’t bother me anymore. Village invaders.
