The Water Issue is Resolved. We Think. We Hope

But first, the snow! 

Yesterday there was thunder in the mountains and for a long time we couldn't see Mulhacén at all. When the clouds lifted, there was a light blanket of snow on the west flank of the mountain.  We were so surprised and quickly shared the exciting news. Last winter was very dry here so even a suggestion of snow this early is encouraging.

See the snow on the West side?

And then there was the furniture assembly.  

Sam worked non-stop last weekend and by Sunday night nearly everything was put together and our house started to look more like a home.  Since then we have added a rug and a tablecloth and even a new light fixture, but here are a few of the finished items.

And now the rest-of-the water story...

We were informed that the angry old man, who I will call "JP," was coming up to meet with our neighbors on Wednesday morning.  We decided that it would be good to attend.  As I anticipated the meeting I thought, "What if he brings a gun?"  And then I remembered that I am in Spain, not the U.S., so it was unlikely that things would turn un-necessarily violent.

The meeting was at 10:00 am, and we arrived at 9:45 (I hate to be late.)  Our gracious neighbor came along to translate and he arrived at 10:00.  We all sat around and chatted until about 10:45, which is still considered 10:00 by local standards, so JP was not yet "late."  Nevertheless, the hosting neighbor made some calls and finally learned that JP was actually waiting at another neighbor's about 1km further up the track from where we were.  

We all piled into our neighbor's car and drove up the track, then down the bumpy drive to the next neighbor's.  There was JP standing with his mule and carrying a large hoe.  No gun; and although I suspect some damage could be done with a hoe, it didn't look like that was the intent.

JP started to talk rapidly while gracious neighbor did his best to fill us in.  The initial accusations were repeated and soon we learned that we would all be following JP to the barranco to look at the source of the issue.

 JP letting us know how things were going to go

Telling us that we were about to go on a field trip

So off we went.  No one was prepared for a walk; some were in flip flops and I was the only one carrying water.  It was a warm day and I worried about JP trucking up the hill in canvas pants and long-sleeved shirt.  But he had more stamina than the rest of us put together.

First we went to the barranco and the men all followed him up through the weeds and brambles.  

They were gone for quite awhile and then returned, still following JP.

Returning from the barranco.

At this point we were nearing a resolution.  Apparently the barranco runs all the time, but sometimes it runs faster, and that is when the gate from the acequia is open.  At those times, according to JP, we are entitled to 5 days of water, every 15 days.  But the rest of the time he does not want to see our pipe in the barranco pool. (Which explains why it had "come out" several weeks ago.)  If the acequia water is not available, then he is the one who gets whatever water remains in the barranco.  When there is plenty of water in the barranco due to rain, snow melt or whatever, then he will put our pipe in half way and we can have some water.  But otherwise we can put our pipe in for 5 days, every 15 days, when the acequia gate is open.  And this is all backed up, roughly, with legal documentation.

Everyone seemed to be getting along and JP was calmer.  But now he decided that we all needed to go see the acequia which is higher up the mountain.  He instructed our neighbor to get her car and we would all drive up the mountain together.  I decided that one car was not going to hold 6 sweaty adults, so I walked home to get our car.  While the others walked back down to where the mule and our neighbor's car were waiting, JP and I walked along the track for a bit.  I offered him some of my water to drink, but he didn't care for any.  He asked where the previous owners had moved to and I told him to a place with mas agua - he actually kind of laughed at that.

Before long we were all quite a bit further up the mountain and we parked, then walked until we came to where the barranco water crosses the road.  We stopped there and waited to see what would happen next.

 Contemplating water

It was decided that the men would follow JP up another hill, through taller weeds and brambles, to look for the acequia.

Gracious neighbor is wondering what he got himself in to.

Eventually they returned.  Everyone, including JP, was scraped and bleeding, in spite of JP's efforts to hack away at the brambles with his hoe.  They did not find the acequia, but everyone was in agreement that we would do whatever seemed reasonable to JP.  

And JP seemed to acknowledge that no one wanted to make things hard for him.  Gracious neighbor explained that we are new here and really just want to get along with everyone. I kept offering him water to drink and tried to show that I am kind and friendly.  In the end we all shook hands and thanked JP over and over for....well, I'm not sure, but we thanked him lots.

And that's where things stand.  We have a full alberca and so an adequate supply of irrigation water to get us through several months.  Our neighbors use mostly water from the spring, and are agreeable with the 5 days every 15 idea.

Our full alberca

A happy ending, for now.