Training Log Archive: Charlie

Seemed like kind of a busy day. Worked on the spreader some, identified its problem, a broken belt tensioning spring. Now I need to get one, so perhaps a few more days to deal with that. Moved the woodchips pile, although Zack did most of the work. Can't spread it now, and didn't want it to take root where it was on the side of the driveway.

Jess, Jonathan and Cooper arrived, and we set Jonathan up for his hunting adventure tomorrow. We went out with our neighbor Joey who hunts on our property, and saw where he has tree stands, got Jonathan the instructions he needs. Mostly, don't end up like these guys.

And between a lot of wood chips shoveling and walking out to the far end of the property to look at tree stands, I was pretty tired by the end of the day.

C • tree stand 1

Usual stuff, better than might have been expected.

Zack was waiting for me when I got out of the gym. He had rented the chipper, cut down a bunch of 40 yr old former Christmas trees. Not what I was hoping to be working on my first day back.

In Brescia, staying at the very nice Vittoria Hotel in the City Center. Rhonda and I walked up the hill to the Castle, where it seems folks all walk their dogs in the mornings. Brescia is quite nice, quite livable. Our friends Tullio and Giulia met us around 10 and we went to the Santa Giulia historical museum. Quite unlike any museum I have seen. Much of it is an archaeological site well below the modern street level, and it is enormous, extremely well preserved. Lots of old houses, mosaics, frescoes, bronzework, etc. also lots of artifacts from the Longobard era starting in the 6th century. Fascinating place, but tiring. We repaired to a very nice lunch at a Lebanese place, where I had lamb with pine nuts, basmati rice, vegetables. Then back to see the old Roman Capitolium and theatre, the old forum now a city Piazza, and the archaeological sites under. Then a few stops on the excellent underground metro to their apartment, where we saw their daughter Cristina and her beautiful baby girl Ginevra. Tomorrow we leave for home.

Took the boat to San Servolo this morning with Rhonda, George and Leslie. Nice day to be on a boat. Venice is a awash in Santas today. Boats full of them rowing in the grand canal and in the lagoon, hundreds of them with numbers on apparently running a 5K or something like that, others just hanging around. Quite interesting.

Out and around with Rhonda while G&L were on the boat to Burano. We worked our way through San Polo and Santa Croce to the railroad station, then through Cannaregio to the area around the hospital, San Francesco della Vigne and the Celestial boat stop on the north side. Then we went along the iron pathway suspended from the n side of Arsenale, ending up at the Bacino stop, where further walking seemed unlikely. We took the boat one stop to San Pietro. Lovely day to be on a boat, even for such a short trip. Walked around San Pietro, into Castello, and eventually back along the Riva, cutting up toward Santo Stefano and the bridge. A little shopping on the way home.

Out again with Rhonda for a light lunch of cicchetti at her favorite wine bar, Già Schiavi, then back over to the vicinity of the hospital to see if we could get a reservation at Alla Staffa (they don’t have them), and here and there, coming home through Rialto. Still running a light cold.

Headed out the four of us for dinner. Took the boat to Giardini, a bit too far, but the boat we wanted was coming later. Got to Alla Staffa around opening time and were seated immediately. What a wonderful restaurant. Wonderful lamb chops served with parsleyed potatoes, while Rhonda had a whole grilled orata. Very fine. By the time we left there was quite a line of people waiting to get in. Then the boat home from San Zaccaria.