Woke up at 2am yesterday evening with head filled with the previous days events. A particular memory came flowing back. For some strange reason the words started to flow and I had to write them down. Is it poetry? Is it prose? The words don't rhyme. So here it is. THE MOUNTAIN STREAM Take a […]
Some time ago, during the onset of the Covid crisis in 2020, I decided to form a small local walking group. The objective was simple. With an organised series of weekly walks I would be forced to get out and do a major hike each week. This would improve my health and fitness accordingly and, […]
Describes a walk alongside ancient irrigation channels originally installed by the Moors high above the town of Lanjaron in the Alpujarra, Spain Today's walk from home alongside the sparkling waters of the Acequia Mezquerina today to a friend's cortijo. 11km with 620m of ascent taking approximately 4 hours. Beautiful spring-like weather. Is this truly winter? […]
In the UK we just got out the hosepipe and watered everything. It was easy. Just turn a tap. Not as easy in a hot country like Spain where water is at a premium. This is how we water our land in southern Spain. In the Alpujarras where I am fortunate to live, we live […]
A summary of our expeditions to the Southern Patagonian Icefields
Some of the best ones are here, some happy, some sad. But mountaineering quotations that will make you think. The word ‘adventure’ has gotten overused. For me, when everything goes wrong — that’s when the adventure starts. Yvon Chouinard Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement. Evan Hardin One gains nothing worth […]
My own personal experience of the effects of becoming snow blind, after a tough time on the Patagonian Icecap
A “Guiri” Stumbling Around Andalucia A collection of emails sent home in the early days of my arrival in Spain. In late 2002 packed up my pickup truck with my worldly possessions and Rocky, my black Labrador and headed south. The first place we came to was Lanjarón in the Alpujarras. N.B Guiri (pronounced [ɡiɾi]) […]
We are not naturals at the self-sufficiency game. Were not experts either. But, it is fun and there is a certain satisfaction at growing your own! Irrigating the land – "Camposinos" or Muppets? It's that time of year again. The waters from the snow melt of the high Sierra Nevada are flowing strongly. Soon this […]
I have kept sane during the enforced Covid19 lock down by getting involved in projects that normally I wouldn't have time to complete. One such project is researching my grandfathers role in World War One. Below is a summary of my research including battle maps Horace (Harry) Leak was our grandfather. During his life he […]
