Wednesday

Internet reception is very sketchy here...
After a good nights sleep, I got up early and met with the owners to try to figure out what to do about the car. As it turns out...the garage in Bologna did not want to open up the motor to see if there was damage with out my agreeing to pay them 300 euro. It took all day to understand this. They still don't know what the problem is with the car...so, another whole day lost.

Yesterday, I had nothing to do but wander around the ranch again. I went in another direction and came to a small woods. There wasn't much of a trail, but I made my way through. There were many things for me to photograph, although the sky was cloudy all day. I saw a big brown rabbit and bright orange and lilac colored mushrooms. I even saw green mushrooms which I have never seen before.
I also discovered the pig sty. The pigs seemed very friendly, but I wasn't about to touch them. I tossed acorns into their pen. They would trudge, fighting suction over to the not and loudly chomp on it. There sty was a frothy gray  clay like mess.

I walked down to the stables and took some photos. The blonde curly headed girl was cleaning out stalls. She had the beautiful  Black roped to the wall as she cleaned his stall. I asked her if I could brush him. She brought a brush and a scraper for the dried dirt. There were dogs all around . The stallion was in the pasture and he would run into view ( about 20 feet away) now and then, wild eyed and covered with dirt. He would flick his head and whinny then take off running with his mane flying. Every once in awhile the 3 loose horses, including the pony would gallop up to the stable, making the dogs jump to attention. I had to shoo them away from my cameras twice. They are all action those 3 and travel as a chestnut colored unit.
I continued to brush Black and then a blond horse too. They both let me touch them all over and give them kisses on their face. It was a very calming and peaceful experience for me. I hadn't brushed a horse in years.

I just spent a quiet night here. I had some work to do. I tried to sort the car a little more. It looks like I may have to stay till Monday or Tuesday. My hands are tied. I have to be dependent on " the kindness of strangers" and have no car which equals freedom for me. I also and missing my dogs and would like to stick to the plan of going home on Friday...but it looks like that won't be possible. Friday just happens to be a holiday in Italy. Halloween in US...not sure what it is here.
So I will rent a car today and move on to Barga. I am very worried about the car.

This is an odd circumstance for me. Being on my own, I am a bit painted into a corner. I have to wait for this garage, where I have never been, who I have never spoken to, to fix my car...I am completely at their mercy. I don't do well with an uncertain near future. I like to know what life is going to look like for the next week or 2. I could look at this as a good experience to get me out of my usual comfort zone, expand my horizons. Perhaps there is a reason for this...maybe something wonderful will happen because I am here those extra days. Maybe I will see something or meet someone or get an opportunity that I wouldn't have had I not been thrown off my course.

This gives me 3 extra days and allows me to spend a day or two in Florence. I had palled on going to Florence over these past few days. I will lay it all out today.
It is so nice of the people here to bring me to the airport to pick up the rental car.

A lesson learned...when going on a trip like this, I should rent a car, that way, I am covered if there is a problem.