Tuesday II

So that crossing of the Strait of Messina was just one of those times that your mind and body experience a confluence of time, space and atmosphere that makes it totally unique.  Those grade-school geography books, or this space-age photography just can't capture the feeling of being right there on that sliver of ocean between two historically rich landfalls.

One of the more remarkable aspects of that little ferry ride across the strait was the efficiencies of the ferry crew.  I think I commented on the blog at the time that the crew ushered the cars and trucks onto and then off of the ship with extreme skill.  Big trucks on the lower deck.  Cars and smaller vans on the upper deck (but not top-side).  I loved the absence of government inspectors (like an OSHA guy) that would have required a bunch of safety equipment and liability disclaimers (if it was a US operation).

Here's a good summary on the mythology of Strait of Messina. http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Earth_from_Space_The_Strait_of_Messina

(It is also worth noting that 2 and I were staying in Torino, Italy at this time in 2009.  We had spent four nights in Verona earlier in the trip.  Torino was our staging point for the French Alps.  We drove to Briancon, France from where I did two long rides into the mountains, including the big climb up the Galibier.  More on that later this week.)

So anyway, it was a great day...in a far away place.  But there's been lots of good days on home soil since then.  Scottsdale three times., Florida, NYC, TOMRV, SF, Tahoe...and lots of  Harvest Path and MCSC. Life is good.

Thanks for reading.

BCOT