To Castellucio

  

We wake early the next morning and make it to Roberto's by 6. There is a chill in the air - something we haven't felt since London but we know it won't last long. We groom and tack the donkeys and are on the road by 7:15.  Roberto waves goodbye to us with full confidence that we will find our way. 

Elliot requests a jacket and declares that this is fun. Good start!

We go through the same town as yesterday but then veer off. People are drawn to their windows when they hear the clip clop of hooves on pavement. 

We make it to an Oak forest when the sun finally peers over the mountain. The air is still fresh and cool.

It is a steep incline and slow-going. The donkeys seem to pause every 10 steps. At first it is confusing but then we understand it is their way of regulating their breath as they scramble up loose and slippery rock. 

We take many breaks. Between Nadia and Lucas's 30 minute rotations and stops for water and snacks, it feels like we are moving in slow motion. 

But we felt such a sense if freedom. It is just our donkeys and us. We can set the pace and we can finally bond with our animal companions.  This is what I've been anticipating all these months. 

By the time we leave the shade of the forest, we are high enough to catch wonderful mountain breezes.  The heat is manageable. 

The views are beautiful and the landscape changes with each turn of the corner. The donkeys can't resist the sweet green grass beneath their noses. They steal bites at every turn. 

To pass the time, Nadia and Lucas sing Arbor songs - sometimes in canon. If this two month has created anything, it is space. Space for stories and songs to emerge - songs and stories that are normally buried by the hustle and bustle of our daily schedule. 

Sometimes the kids use a pillow under the saddle to cushion their bottoms. 

Sometimes they sit side saddle. 

Elliot has an eagle eye for spotting sheep way off in the distance. 

The cloud below looks innocent enough. 

But when it darkens we begin to wonder. 

Now the cloud is grumbling and there is a cool wind picking up. We are not sure which way the storm is moving. I eye every clump of trees as a possible refuge.    

We have been walking for a little over 7 hours now. We know we are close but when we reach an intersection where we are to turn left towards Casteluccio, we are headed directly into the storm. 

We duck deep into a small forest with thick overgrowth. As soon as we tie the donkeys to some trees, it begins to pour. 

Brad pulls our windbreakers from the saddle bag. 

We huddle together under a tree and it starts to hail. The storm is moving right above us. The temperature feels like it has dropped by 20 degrees. 

A half hour later, we climb out of the forest stiff legged, cold, and drenched. Elliot seems to be the driest. 

But land ahoy!  We spy Castellucio perched on a steep hill. We strip wet layers off of us as we make our way down the hill. The donkeys are in a hurry to make it to their pasture. They know the route well. 

We make it to our agriturismo and release the donkeys into their corral. It's been a long 8 hours. Tomorrow we will all have a rest day. We have a deep sense of satisfaction. We are sore and tired but it is a good sore and tired. A good one.