Well me and my big mouth! I had said “the snow isn’t as bad as in previous years” and I open my door this morning to a white out. We now have at least two inches of snow and it is still falling and the forecast is for more of the white stuff for the next three days. So it could be a lot of snowfall.
I can’t be sad though, it is so beautiful and once again I am transported into my childhood. The wicked Snow Queen reigns again as the magic spell engulfs Sensone.
At the moment it is great, I am sat by a big log fire writing this article but all too soon I will have to don the snow shoes and take the hike to Renaio. After fresh snow it is a hard walk, forging a new pathway to the top. This year the snow seems a lot wetter and stickier than before so it clings to the sides of your boots making walking that little harder.
Jack our old Cocker Spaniel loves the snow, but his long fur collects the snow and at the end of his walk he is laiden with large snow balls attached to his back end. Its not easy getting them off, they are frozen solid lumps of ice and only the warmth of the house and time reduces their size.
Richard is busy organizing for Charlie to come over, we are all excited as we should have a great time skiing. It will be our first trip this year to Abetone and we know there is going to be lots of great snow. If we have it here then they will certainly have more. Richard is going to take the snowboard to the top and he is looking forward to boarding back to the house.
And for today we are cosy nestled in the heart of Sensone.
Day 2
The snow has stopped and now we are being battered by cold northerly winds which cause an altogether different problem. The forest strada is now impassable as the snow drifts form new peaks and troughs transforming the landscape into more of a moonscape.
The bitter winds freeze the slush on the roads from the previous day making both walking and driving a dangerous task. But we have to do it, having the horses below I have to go down every day, so today Richard was staying at home working on the satellite business and I had to go it solo.
The walk to Renaio was pleasant, we had already made a pathway through the snow the day before so it made it a little easier apart from windy corner where the snow drifts were at least a foot and a half high, and the times the wind would pick up and bite into the bare exposed skin.
From my road to the park at Renaio the road was practically impassable, the ice and snowdrifts making it a chore even on foot, but we made it. The road right the way down past Bebbio (which is always the most dangerous in icy conditions, even the Postman went into the wall the other day!), and it only got better after Pegnana basso. From here on down it was plain sailing and there was still a little snow hanging around but not a lot.
The drive back up seemed simple in comparison but just below Pegnana I met the Commune workers, the road salter, in their Ape, which what looked like some ancient machinery chained to the back. The sign which should have read “Attentione…….” unreadable with the passing of time.
As it slowed to a halt, I waited and watched on as the driver tried to get the machine started, it had a small arm at the back which dispensed the salt and I so wish I had had my camera. It used a pull cord to start which must have been frozen or something as the driver struggled to get the machine to tick over.
Once that task was complete he had to turn his attention to the arm, which wasn’t moving from side to side. I laughed as the driver, kicked the arm, time and time again. Another man got out of the Ape just as the arm jerked into movement, slowly at first but then with ease it moved from side to side.
I followed them all the way to Renaio thankful that the roads are so well looked after in these wintery conditions. I feel safe in the knowledge that so long as I can walk from the house to Renaio I will always be able to get to Barga. Although I do believe there is even more snow forecast.
Article by Sensone