Saturday 4th June - People do the Nicest Things

Birthday greetings to my daughter Anna... seems just like yesterday!!

I was out of the parish accommodation shortly after 730 am, straight across the road to the bakers, for food for later, then next door for coffee and chocolate croissant!!
So, then I was ready to face the world!! Unfortunately by then it had started raining quite heavily, and looked like remaining for quite some time...

So I donned all the waterproof gear - Poncho and gaiters, and headed out into the rain... At least it was warm rain (always look on the bright side!) I was quickly making my way along paths overgrown at the side of fields, so even with my gaiters on, my feet were soon sopping wet... And I squelched along under the constant downpour... As I passed through the next village Miraldo termine there seemed to be a lot of parents and children arriving around the village, maybe a first communion or something... The pity was lots were carrying dresses in the torrential rain... such is life, they seemed used to it...

I kept going across further fields and muddy tracks into Comporaldo, where I stood at a bar drinking coffee, eating a brioche.... And dripping on the floor!!

Continuing up alongside a tributary of the River Po, I eventually crossed it on a busy road bridge, dropping onto the other bank, the rain stopped for a short time allowing me to have something to eat..., sat on a pile of steel tubing!! 

Continuing back along the river, I could see in the distance Oria Lita, where I was originally going to stop...

But I was continuing to a famous Hamlet - Corte St Andrea... The rain returned with a vengeance, and thoroughly soaked I staggered into the hamlet just after 1 pm - a short day!! 

As I was passing the only restaurant I saw two men getting out of a Jaguar car, with the Union Jack on it... Prompting me to say something in English... The men responded, we chatted, and finding out what I was doing... Insisted I had a drink with them... Reluctantly I agreed, although I was soaked to the skin... I was seated at a table with them - Fabrizio and Christiano:

Then they decided they must give me lunch as well... There followed a merry lunch, with lots of drinks, and entertainment from them - both of whom had driven out from Milan that day as it was rainy!!

 

I eventually thanked and left them there, and found my way to the superb new parish hostel next to the church, with all new facilities - great! 

The rain had stopped, the sun came out, I washed everything and was able to dry everything also...
Even managing to look down at the river boat landing, for tomorrow's trip... I hope it's not this boat... I'll tell more tomorrow.

I returned to the restaurant for a light dinner... And early night !!

All in all not as much of a damp squib as I expected... People always surprise me! - could we all do the same?