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19 August 2019

Memories on the bike

Bike
19 August 2019
Antonella Astori
Bike

Memories on the bike

Having only half a day at our disposal, we decide to go from Tolmezzo to Ovaro by bike. We set off in the direction of Caneva (the start of the 8a bike path) and in crossing the bridge I remember when, as children, we came to see the But river in flood (a phenomenon known as "montane dai Sants"). One year, the coffee-coloured water filled the entire riverbed, rushing below us and swirling so much that we felt dizzy when we stared at it too long. The noise of the water was so deafeningly loud that we had to scream to hear each other, and we would wait excitedly for the clap of the largest pebbles smashing against each other.

Crossing the Caneva countryside, other memories come to mind: In 1976, a few days after the earthquake, our Italian high school teacher came to look for us, in the yards or in the camp, to invite us to go back to school -- not in a classroom but outdoors, and not to study, but to be together. We did that right in the meadows of Caneva.
With the scent of resin in the pine forest, my memories fade away. We set off for Invillino. As teenagers, we used to come here often by bike; our destinations were the Cascata Plera, Col di Zuca and the Tagliamento riverbed under the church of Madonna del Ponte.
Suddenly I'm in neutral territory: the pine forest of Villa Santina has no memories in store for me. As I ride through it, I realize how vast it is, so much so that I do not even notice that we're already cycling up the Degano Valley.
After Chiassis, as I cross the bridges of the former railway (Tolmezzo-Comeglians, active until 1931), I notice the state road below and see myself as a young girl in my father's car, looking at the old disused bridge that I'm crossing right now.

A little later, the sight of the tunnel brings me back to the present: will it be long? Will it be illuminated? I am delighted by the cool air as we enter, and also by the automatic lighting!
As we exit, I appreciate the "warmth" of the forest that accompanies us until our destination, as the trees open up every now and then to reveal the Pesarine Dolomites. That's one last memory before we reach our destination: I had climbing lessons up there.

And finally we reach the outskirts of Ovaro: we get our fill of the view, the fountain, the bench and the silence, a precious memory for when we'll be back in the city.
 
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Antonella Astori

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I have lived in Padua since 2001 but I grew up in Tolmezzo and Collina di Forni. I have always climbed mountains, in my boots, on skis, on snowshoes or on a mountain bike. I graduated in Geology and I have been a nature/environmental guide at the Botanical Garden in Padua since 2012.

 

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