Dolomites August 2006

Billy and I drove to the Italian Dolomites with Nelly. We stayed in a little village called Stenico, off the tourist path, which was the home town of one of his kitchen customers, Rosa. Challenging walking, either straight up or down. Our first day out in the Val d'Ambiez we chose a circular route which ended in a decent of over 3000 ft vertical climb in less that 3 miles!

The dolomite peaks were spectacular the Brenta group around Stenico and the last day we walked up Val Genova above the touristy Madonna del Campoglio into the granite peaks of the Adamello group. I've loaded more photos on flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72739567@N00/?savedsettings=220185817#photo220185817

OK...thats me on the left, with N, S and B. I'll just start. I'd like to track progress on two fronts running and pottery. My sister wanted me to write something meaningful for my 50th birthday, but I never got started.. so perhaps I should try a third thread...thoughts.

Ran for only 40 minutes today at about 9:30 pace as I needed to get back to accompany B to the bootsale. As the nettles are getting deeper in the field, Nelly and I ran up the road then down Long Walk to the train wood and back... ouch ouch ouch in the field... nettles on return!

I couldn't figure out why the pattern size on my naked raku is getting smaller and smaller, despite trying different specific gravities, so I made up new resist slip and glaze today. I can then test both the new with the old of each and determine what is bad. I suspect it is the glaze - perhaps the alkali frit has deteriorated, precipitated out or something..... I taped about 6 porcelain bowls and vases, the rest I'll incise with a stick. I finished up the burnishing on three T-material and porcelain, porcelain dipped vases. The terra sigalatta had turned green, I hope the algae will burn off in the bisque firing.

So working to improve running and pottery - I guess that's a start.