Walking Across Italy

Ok, at my age, I expect to have a few brain farts now and then. But, this one was a major blowout.

I was so proud of myself for packing early (you saw the picture), reducing down to just the essentials, checking and rechecking my gear, and then leisurely leaving for the Cincinnati airport with plenty of time to spare. No last minute hustle or worrying that I forgot anything. It wasn’t until several hours later, when I was boarding the Newark flight to Paris, that I realized I that I had forgotten to pack my HIKING POLES!!!!

What an idiot! I left behind one of the most essential pieces of gear for a hike. There’s the boots. The map. And the poles. And I forgot to pack the poles! (It’s like forgetting your skis when going on a ski trip.)

Luckily, I had experienced this before, on my first hike in Italy. That time, I shipped my poles to the hotel in Rome and they refused the delivery because there was a 20 Euro charge. As a result, I arrived in Rome and had no poles. So, I had to purchase some in Rome. A First World problem.

As a result, I got on the plane and set my buddy Stephen a text that we needed to find a sports store when I arrived in Paris. Yesterday, Stephen and I took ventured across town to the 5th Arrondissemonte and found a store which specialized in hiking boots and poles. (Incroyable!)

I purchased a new pair of sticks, just like my old ones, but surprisingly at a 35% savings versus the US price. The color is a bit off (teal), but I can live with that.

So now, my gear is ready to go, even if my mind isn’t.