Another Giro

February 3, 2007 A few days back we walked "il giro grande." Giro can mean a number of things including: circle, turn, walk, drive, and spin. When I had my hair cut the stylist told me I had a giro in my hair (cowlick). In this case, we walked the big loop. It took us about 3 1/2 hours including a small snack break. It was a beautiful day, although it was quite chilly when we started out. This giro goes up a steep hill. The "up" side was full of curves and bends and each time I would look up I would think that around this next bend it will level off. It was just over an hour of steep climbing that it finally leveled off. (OK, I know, this isn't like climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro like my friend Diane Williams just did, but....I am a 56 year old, out of shape grandma!)

If you look closely you will see a thin, curvey line.




The line is made up of maybe 30-40 caterpillers that are holding on to each other!





We left Belforte going in the opposite direction of our house, turned right, went up a hill and then see our house by looking to the left??? I don't get it. This is when Larry told me that he had dreampt that I had been eaten by a bear because when I was coming out of the woods I turned the wrong way and met a bear!

Up, and up, and up!





And up, and up, and up!









I love these imprints the leaves make on the road.





Trying to see what Larry saw.





Daddy's binoculars got a good workout on this day.





Finally, a break!

And the long awaited downhill! Can you see that it is a little muddy?







Actually, a lot muddy!







I think we should go that way.







Those hanging things are filled with pollen.

This morning as I was working on the blog, Larry asked me if I wanted to go on another giro--the "grande, grande giro." He tells me that he said it was longer, but not as steep and that it was on a paved road. I heard that it was longer, on a paved road and was pretty level. Well, for 4 hours I kept waiting for the level part!!! It took us 5 hours to get back home with only a snack break and a potty break! We walked to Piandimeleto then up and around a loop that brings you back to Belforte the back way--the mountainous way! Larry says that now I am ready for Frontino!