“It’s just amazing I had no plan, I self-published the book in November on my birthday,in Norwegian and English. I worked with the Norwegian church in Albir, the whole project started through the church’s hiking group. I started out just helping and walking at the back, in case of anyone struggling or needing more breaks and found some great routes as a result.
“I am from eastern Oregon and I love mountains. Hiking is the best way to get to know people, you share your life in a different way. The pandemic came and the volunteers with local knowledge could not get back to Spain, so, we found the routes on our own.”
What does the book read like?
“The Spanish, Norwegians and English all have different routes, the book is a combination of this information, including legends about the pathways.
The first ten hikes are local to Albir, I have colour coordinated them. There are QR codes for wiki-lock in there too. So, you can always find where you are.”
What’s your favourite hike with your family?
“In Pego there are the hot springs, it is more of a wander than a hike and in the spirit of Huckleberry Finn the paths are big and it is all flat, with absolutely no elevation and you can swim in the springs. The whole walk is beautiful and calm and you wouldn’t notice that the motor way is next to you. There are even endangered species there and fun fact- It almost became Euro Disney. Every hike has history and fun facts, with local legends. I think a free hike is the best thing you can give children. It’s more joyful.”
What has been the best part about having published the book so far?
“Getting pictures from people out on their hikes, as a language teacher, part of me just really wants people to learn by doing. So, when people send me photos, it’s brilliant. They can send them to Costa Blanca 52 on Facebook or Instagram.”
Where can people buy the book?
There is a big list of local shops on my Facebook, about 15 or 16 local places have got it in stock Polly’s Bookshop and Lee at the Plant Shack have supported. There’s been great local collaboration and I’m also sending it to Norwegians in the mail. The book will soon be in Dutch, it’s important that people who are in the Costa Blanca have access to these trails but you can also order online on the website and I ship all over Europe.”