-_Kira "The Explorer" In A New Adventure_-

   From the steep mound she had the feeling of dominating the valley; while she was glimpsing to all that vast expanse of land that once upon a time was her, in the longing of her wild existence, a pure and elegant air served her on a platter an aromatic cocktail with an endless array of nuances.

 And, for a moment, she felt alive and in connection with that vague essence that, generation after generation over the centuries, the time and the human had darkened.

My dog Kira and I needed a bit of urban disconnection so we decided to escape two consecutive days to a couple of different places without practically planning on the route to follow or what to visit.

This first session of photos that you will see corresponds to the first day, in one of the many short routes of Xorret de Catí.

We began to walk these narrow paths of goats bordered by a great number of pines and holm oaks, in the absence of an hour and a half to dusk; although I was prepared as for equipment for any unforeseen, including having to spend the night ―always have to go minimally prepared to the mountain in case anything happens―, we lighten the pace so as not to have to walk too far back in the dark, although I had the flashlight in my backpack.

Breathing fresh air and being surrounded by green everywhere is for me an unrivaled feeling and I think for Kira too, as I noticed her a bit sad in the car while we drove away from the mountain towards the city; or perhaps it was because she did not see finally the boar we both heard that was growling or roaring from a bush to starboard as we walked to the car, about 20 meters away. I made sure that the boar listened to us well because to cross the path with a male specimen, moreover in the middle of the night, can be a very dangerous thing.

The mountain did not say goodbye to us without first giving us a beautiful contrast of shades on its silhouettes trimming against the sky and bathed by an amber dusk.

The second day we went with very basic equipment and arrived with the Sun at its peak to the village of Orito in Alicante, willing to do one of their various routes.

We decided again to improvise and climb the course across the steep hillside instead of following the marked trail path to reach the San Pascual's cave.

After an hour of ascension we began to see the summit where the San Pascual's statue, the San Pascual's cave and a sculpture recalling the Santiago's Road, which has one of its connections here, as you will see later in the following pictures.

Once on top Kira and I seized to drink some water and enjoy the wide views garnished with the breath of fresh air, which we appreciated.

(I do not know if you have already noticed at this point the article of the great inclination that Kira feels, intuitively, of posing as a model in the photos.)

We set out to make a part of the course of another route annexed to it, more with the intention of exploring a little than finishing it; with that spirit we headed towards the PR-CV 179.

There we find this marble tile engraved in tribute to a certain Antonio Antón, where were also resting their ashes. I was looking for information about him but the only thing I found is that he seems to be an appreciated neighbor of the town and when the walkers pass by this place they stop to remember and leave him flowers.

In the San Pascual's cave do not let dogs enter so Kira and I decided to end the visit and go down by the route that people used to climb.

We are always the opposite of the world; and we love it.

All quotations are my own, as well as all the photos; the latter were taken with the camera of my Samsung Galaxy S6.