Remember this?

End of October  2010,  there was a fire raging around the cortijo of Miguel at the top end of Montenegro.   Helicopter, fire brigade and the Medio Ambiente  were all involved  putting it out.

Friday morning when I went out with Monty and Pip, there were 2 plumes of smoke coming from about the same area,  slightly lower and further to the left of the cortijo this time though.  I always take my camera when I go out,  and  did wonder what on earth was alight at 8 am.

And this is what I found,  3 or 4 terraces smouldering, an olive tree still standing but alight, the main acequia tubo which provides water to everyone's land completely melted and ruptured in at least one place,  and worse still the drinking water pipe burst in at least 4 places with water spurting out everywhere.  I rang John and told him,  we only have a small tank and didn't know how long since this had happened, though when he looked we still had half a tank of water.   The dogs were very agitated, probably the smell of the smouldering land as they don't like fire.  Came home, rang the neighbours who knew about it as it had started the previous afternoon.  We can't see that area as we are a few hundred metres downhill and round the bend.  Those who did know had put out the fire, most of it anyway.

An olive tree still standing and still burning.

Remains of acequia tubo and a burst water pipe

So we have been without water since then.  Luckily there was plenty in the tank for cooking and drinking, we also have the pool water for other uses (flushing the loo mainly)  but as we didn't know when or who would repair the water pipe we have held off having a shower - until now.  Just been out to get some firewood and heard water gushing back into our tank!  As soon as it's full I'm going to have long hot shower and most importantly a hair wash.  I did have a good wash yesterday morning so I don't feel too dirty but 3 days without a shampoo is not nice.

I don't know what will happen about the acequia tubo, it comes in 3 metre lengths and slots together, most of it is underground so it'll mean digging it out first.  Sods law says that it'll be 2 sections or more  here -  and we haven't been to look at the rest of the burnt area.  Although the tubo is buried there, the heat may well have caused some damage.   Luckily no-one needs to water vegetables much at the moment.  Lots of broad beans and onions growing around people's land,  but the melting frosts will hopefully keep the ground damp enough for now.  Luckily our water tanks are full enough for the peas and beans  that we have growing.