Today, like in Albania, which Tonio visited (see The Wanderer) we passed through an array of animals.
Our first encounter was with two goats (or at least we thought they were goats) but, as most goats do, they ignored us and seemed a lot more focused on their lunch, A.K.A grass. We attempted to converse with them, but it was just like a one sided conversation.
We passed through a cemetery and straight into our second encounter, this time with two horses. Contrary to the previous meeting, we made small talk as I lined up a photo with Tonio and the church in the background. Much more polite company if you ask me. In fact, calling somebody a goat in Maltese is an insult (bodbod) however, in English, G.O.A.T. stands for Greatest Of All Time, so take your pick.
Today seemed like a summary of our last ten adventures all packed into one. We weaved through a number of narrow passages, animals, fields, and also a fair share of moonwalking [Tonio: walking through mud]. At one point, a puddle so large that it could also be called a lake, was just hanging out and waiting for us to find a way to cross it. I could almost hear it laughing us as we squelched through the muddy water (or watery mud, both would work). Tonio tried for a dignified march towards the end, but failed miserably as we slipped and slid towards solid ground.
Another group of animals we met, during a narrow passage, was a herd of sheep, and Tonio made a speech of the day’s beauty and how the sheep should fully appreciate it (passage taken from mass) and we strolled on.
This coming conversation was in fact from the last adventure, and I had forgotten to mention it, but it was on the same road towards the end of both adventures: Tonio brought up a valid point that cars shouldn’t have been mass produced; what could have replaced them could have been small scooters that took up a lot less space and wasted less gas or electricity. These days, the majority of cars being driven has one or two people inside, but each car contains enough space for at least 5 people. Scooters should be mass produced instead of cars, which would still be produced, but only in cases for groups of people that all need to be transported from one place to another. I had never thought of it, but it is actually quite a waste of gas.
Eventually, we revisited the goats, walked back into the car and drove home. Did you enjoy this animal filled adventure? If you have, then make sure to join us on the next one. Also, make sure to check out Tonio's blog called The Wanderer. But for now, ciao!
Gianlucadegringu
[by Tonio]:
We covered a good bunch of numbers today, effectively 'winding up' Sint-Agatha Rode.
After the usual headache for parking, we set off on the same yet unfinished road to the starting point at number 226. Thankfully, straight into a country path which was inaccessible for cars.
We met a couple of nice chaps who were having their lunch.
One of them became curious after I engaged in conversation. He listened to me, but had nothing to say. The strong and silent type.
As usual, we saw a good variety of animals: horses, dogs, sheep, even what looked very much like a group of swans in a field in the distance. The sheep were too busy having their lunch to take any notice of us.
We discussed astronomical matters for a while. The Doppler effect, shifting of absorption lines on light spectra of stars moving away from us, such technical stuff. A bit closer to home and less complicated... the sun being just a bit visible behind thin clouds and my lucky episode a few years ago when due to just the right amount of thin cloud cover I was able to watch and take pictures of a near-total eclipse of the sun without any light filter whatsoever.
This time, we had a non-eclipse. You could call it a full sun.
We walked through different types of path. I'll begin by mentioning the worst bits. The paved roads, with cars whooshing by, their drivers intent on saving two seconds on their time of arrival as if their very lives depended on it. Tons of metal endangering life and limb of pedestrians. I remarked that I would be writing to complain to 'the manager' of the Zuid Dijleland network about this.
Overall, however, our walk was through much more pleasant passageways.
Wide open plains:
Gianluca's favourite, narrow paths:
But also some less pleasant, muddy and almost impossible bits. This was part of our route, too, and another reason why I should write to 'the manager' to complain. We actually managed to walk through the bog without getting our socks wet. It's a great advert for our shoes:
From time to time, autumn would reveal itself to us in all its glorious splendour:
As usual, we had a really enjoyable walk together. Thank you, Gianluca, for the barrage of observations and questions.
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| Tonio, taking one of the pictures featured above |
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