Didn’t go anywhere yesterday because of the rain. Sun came too late and so I’m here on day 13.
4:10pm, I’m having a nice afternoon coffee and cake in Rif. Pelizzo, 1325m. Phone has no signal. Finally reached to the peak Matajur, 1641m after hours of hike to the heaven. I picked red animal route 751 from Montemaggiore Matajur and then route 749 to the top.
The view was mostly green, little rocky and clear. No surprise the way up to the peak was no one. The bus driver drove me from Cividale to almost midway up here as there was no other passengers.
The little church was empty, I wrote my name, arrival date and my nationality Hong Kong on the autograph note placed on the wood inside.
I stayed at the peak for an hour looking the stunning view around under the wind. I felt cold with only a running shirt, but the beauty made me feel warm from inside. At the north to the west, long ridge from Kobarid to STOL along Bivak Planja. Beautiful Alps further, the sharp Black Mountain and Triglav. The rounded ridge of Triglav covered with snow and clouds touching its peak. At the south, there is a panorama view of my map under the horizon, as if standing on the highest point of the Northern Hemisphere.
I went down here with the only lad I saw at the peak while chatting, he was glad that he met a HongKonger here. While I’m eating chocolate cake here, my hands now are still stiff after exposure to the wind.
I spent time writing, thinking about nothing. This journey has put a perfect full stop of my fortnight stay in Cividale.
I spent hours walking all the concrete from Matajur to Montemaggiore Matajur, then to Stermizza, Ieronizza, Savogna, Tarpezzo and finally got picked by Carlo at Clenia. I should’ve walked downhill through route 749, but I didn’t somehow.
The highway had no sidewalk, just a few vehicles passed by, so I sometimes walked in the middle of the road.
Sun shone upon the hill from behind me, grassy wilds all over and only me owned the road. People drove against me sometimes smiled at me and shocked, I was joyful because when you’ve already done a wonderful last journey on foot and you feel great no matter if others think you’re crazy or stupid or whatever or not. I planned to walk home directly but Carlo dialed me so I told him my position or else I would’ve spent 2 hours more walking along the highway with my carved rod.
We chatted, cheered with a sip of rum, and then he left after giving me a hug. I packed my backpack and spent efforts wrapping the 10/10 grade special edition of Fulvio’s red wine with clothes and bubbles, cooked the last tuna spaghetti, showered, read, wrote, and looked at the many stars on the terrace for the last time. Now is 23:00.
It’s a right time leaving as I’m feeling safe around here, another safe zone of mine. It means your second home, your hometown, the place that you are familiar with. I’m leaving with no sadness, no so-called nostalgia, because I know I’ll come back again.
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