Exploring in the Umbrian Hills
watercolour by Janet Strayer |
Today was a good day for a hike. After many thunderstorms
and much overcast weather, today's sunshine encouraged my decision to explore
the hills around our Umbrian homestead. I was on my own, and my destination was a hike to the
chestnut grove across the ravine into the deeper part of the forest. A good and then bad idea.
Not hard to find the right path if you know the way. But then, nothing is hard -- if you know the way.
I had good
directions from a visiting neighbour who'd already explored the area.
Being a student of ecological history, he told me that these chestnut groves in
Italy were at least several centuries old,, having been planted by ancient
communities to forestall famines in other foods. The chestnuts are still harvested today.
The Chestnut Grove
Do you know how lovely it is to come upon a chestnut grove in the midst of a forest, especially when you don't exactly know where you are? It's a special spot. The tree branches are magnificently broad and heavy with leaves, while the brown ground is clear and soft. Enchanting.After three happy hours exploring, I thought I should head
back home.
After five hours, however, hiking around and around, in and out of
the beautiful chestnut grove, I was officially lost
I have a talent for getting lost. Like Hansel and Gretel, I
should have brought something (more durable than breadcrumbs) to lead me back
home.
Ironically, all the trail signposts
that pointed in different locations were printed with the same location
name!
My cell phone didn't operate in the woods.. Besides, who would I call given
a recent thunderstorm had knocked out landline phone service in my home
territory (in which there's also no cell reception).
Officially Lost
You can see the view taken from where I got lost in this photo. I
can almost see my house in the leftward distance. But how to get there from here?????
So, I searched around the woods yet again for another
trail. And then another. I was turning in circles that lead nowhere. It was getting dark. Finally, I just continued on one path that lead to an asphalt road. Aha! Better than a lone night in the forest
when friendly trees can turn monstrous, not to mention the wandering wild boars.
I stood by the road, which at least hinted at "civilization" and
stuck my thumb out at the first passing car. No luck. How few cars travelled
this rural route? But returning to the forest to look again seemed even worse. So...
Like a fortune's fool, I waited and held my hands up
prayerfully to a beat-up car coming from the opposite direction. Yes, it stopped! I sputtered in Italian
to explain my situation. The kind driver, named Basilio, drove me home. I
learned he was from a neighbouring village, Melezzole. I told him I went to Cesare's
hardware store in that village. He told me he worked for Cesare. And so it
went. And so it goes... in Italy.
And Found
It would have taken another 45 minutes for me to have
reached my village on foot along that road. But I didn't know that, and my feet
were already blistered.
I reached home, gulped a liter of water, and ate the cold
chicken and pesto salad I'd prepared the day before. Thank you, Basilio. Thank
you, Italy. Thank you, good fortune.
More Creative Life
You can read and see more about Italy plus other travels and creative adventures by this itinerant artist at Creative Life News here.
@ janetstrayer.com
Che avventura. Sono felice che tu es sicuro. Dormi!
ReplyDeleteSolo un po stanca. Grazie!
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