Into the flood - before, during and after.

Monday May 8th 2023

North bound….

…though the weather hasn’t really shown enough spring/(almost-) summer temperatures or behaviors (lots of rain/wind). Only the wealth of wild flowers on the side of the road and up the hills tell us that spring has in-fact sprung.

Riding in the rain for long hours and days resulted in a fungus infection in my left ear. Both James and I had to take a break from the road and schedule doctor visits for different reasons. The owner of the dogs and the house we took care of down in Squinzano extended an invitation for a visit (we must have done something right!) at her second home and work place up north in Fano. So, here we are, resting, taking care of our health and our bicycles. 

Still feeling the funk -now with an extension: a fungus near my brain- is giving me more to wonder about myself and the situation. 

Undeniable is the fact that pedaling my Gurly around is still bliss….almost always, even in the rain. 

Quite a few Gurly parts are worn out….go figure!

A lot is not right in the merry month of Margit……There is a strange undercurrent: where to go from hear….from ear to ear..

A few days later:

Then again, a lot IS right in the m.m.of M.

Not knowing where to go is all right, right? Not necessarily anything new either…

Why fret? Let’s look a the situation at hand: 

A warm, dry place to hang during the rain. 

A super fun and friendly host….no worries about “overstaying our welcome”

Medicine for our physical difficulties - great doctors close by.

Bicycle parts arrived on time - Gurly hasn’t felt that smooth and “healthy” in years.

Food in Italy? We have the best and a host who loves to “fatten us up” -showing off with her cooking talents and having us moan and groan at every bite.

A birthday to share with some good female energy.

And now we are staying put for another few days - at least! The floods (not just the rain anymore) - only a few measly km up north -have covered all and everything under a layer of mud..not even bicycles get through. So far 13 people have lost their lives in this catastrophe in Italy. The whole world is watching…

I had a birthday….the biggest present, presented itself as a savior of our situation that could have been dire! (I did get a super duper massage in a spa and a pedicure too!)

We are in excellent company with Manuela and her dog Charlie! A true energetic, wonderful person with a heart of gold and a poodle dog full of mischief and totally misbehaved.

A nice, clean apartment with plenty of room to spread out…..

Though I feel more stuck than I have felt in the pandemic……I do see the situation as a bright light shining down on us…and the sun has been seemingly absent forever, we couldn’t have wound up in a better situation under the circumstances. Thank you Manuela and Charlie. Luck is a woman and her dog.

Monday 22.5.2023. Yes, we left…the Monday after the biggest flood of the century. A reliable source situated in Ravenna gave thumbs up and we pedaled on…through river streets and muddy nature paths…we pushed our bicycles a couple of km here and there, but really….not bad for us at all. 

Bad is what these poor locals had and have to endure. We cycled through the remnants - I did not take pictures of the ruined belongings stacked up on the side of the roads. The sun shone innocently while these humans in rubber boots and muddy closing rummage through their stuff - carrying appliances and furniture from their houses/garages.

The mosquitos are telling the story…buzzing it into our ears as we try to settle in our camp near Ravenna, feasting on our blood….they are having their “hay day”  after the flood -plenty of perfect breading places for them -everything nicely moist and warm to thrive.

Marge kept her head through it all (for a while), but lost her base, her feet popped out from the foundation - she got very unstable. I wasn’t about ready to give up on her and super glued her feet back in her shoes and base. So she stayed for a while….a few days…maybe a week- perked up and looking ahead and into the sun until the sun got hot enough to melt the glue on her neck and feet. I could tell she was starting to tire, lean forward …the softening glue gave room and I thought she would just lay down and “call it a day”

But no, she jumped, better: exploded off the handlebars - head, feet, base and body all parts hastened in different directions. She is done for! But I decided to keep her head….it’s not a bad idea to have a spare!