We awoke with the pan to head off to see two of the more famous hilltop town in the far east of the region; Pienza and Montepuliciano. It was the same route as on Sunday to Montalcino, so we could put away the maps and just enjoy the journey over the rolling fields and through the wonderful towns on the way. Once again the weather was really good, almost clear blue skies but with those fluffy clouds only seen in children’s tales. The drive down the side of the hill from Montalcino was amazing, a 10 minute thrill of bend after hairpin bend with no crash barriers, and stunning views over the way we were yet to go. A few times the road signs to Pienza did disappear, but with a little luck we managed to find our way. The road passes through the new part of town first, all modern two or three story blocks that are nice enough. We found a place to park in a side street and walked the 5 minutes in the older part of town. Once again it is a mediaeval hilltop town; all narrow streets and ancient houses and churches, with battlements offering stunning views over the Tuscan fields way down below. Already the streets were filling up, but armed with our cameras we found the quieter side streets, and a small street cafe where we stopped to have a cappuccino and some tasty slice of sweet vanilla filled cake. In the shops we bought wonderful herbed cheese, some sweet dessert wine, some almond biscuits to dunk in the sweet dessert wine (much better than it sounds) and a copy of the most recent London Times; all full of financial meltdowns which may or may not have been avoided. We then headed to Montepuliciano before everything closed for lunch and siesta at half one. It was only about ten miles, but took much longer as the road at first dived and then rose to another hilltop town come fortress. There is the most stunning basilica at the foot of the hill on which the town sits, and we stopped there to take a few pictures; before deciding to walk up the 1:3 hill to the town above. The views were stunning, and we at least thought we were going to earn the tasty lunch we promised ourselves. Montepuliciano is even hillier than the other towns; and its streets are a warren of narrow streets and narrower stairways leading to a grand piazza at the summit. There were tourists from all parts of the world, including the young family we had talked to whilst waiting for our hire car on Saturday; they said ‘hello’ and said they were enjoying their time in Tuscany. We had spotted a cafe with views out over the land, but as the heat of the early afternoon rose, we stopped halfway up the town in a street cafe for antipasto and mozzarella salad and a glass or two of water. Sadly, two tables away the once typical English tourist was making a scene; ‘don’t you speak English? I asked for a glass of water, not a bottle.’ And she went on in a similar vein. Our food, although simple, was wonderful, and the service wonderfully slow which gave us time to people-watch those making their way up the hill to the grand piazza. We walked slowly back to the car, down the steep cobbled street that we had come up. We passed others making the trip back up, and like us were pretending to admire the view when they were in fact having a breather. The final destination was Chianciano Terme. Another ancient hilltop town; but this one with a large modern twin built around a thermal spring. The drive was spectacular as it ever is in Tuscany; and although we decided not to stop, we thought of going out onto the plain on which the main road from Rome to Florence runs, as well as the main railway, to a large lake, Lake Trasimeno. There were two ways down apparently; one along the main road where the heavy traffic goes, and I swear there were signs pointing through the town. Not having learned from our detour the other day, we headed off into the town centre and through the gats of the old town. Very soon the streets narrowed to little more than alleyways, and the signs now telling us no vehicular traffic allowed at any time was of no help. We headed on until we came to a turn so tight that the old man sitting outside his house had to get up and move his chair and get in his doorway. And we had to shuffle back and forwards in the car to actually get round the sharp bend. The road was then along the old town walls, but at least going down. More people had to get out of the way, but we did at least get through the other set of town gates and onto something like a normal road. That this new road had no signs, we thought best to follow the wider road down and see where that lead. It lead down and round many farms and vineyards, until it just petered out as a dusty track. We turned round and headed back to the town, where, after turning the wrong way down a one way street, we did find a main road and in turn the way down. Once there, there was little to do as the lake was not signposted, and so we sat beside the main railway line waiting for the latest in trai

Lamenting Lewis and Clark

This isnt 1803, yet its events past before me today. I had spent most of the week in high anticipation of these early hours of this morning. I knew the tide would be right for a nice kayak trip out to the Cockspur Light. Yes, another one. The weather forcast was right for a nice weekend, sunny and warm. So my hopes of getting the sunrise pictures of the Cockspur Lighthouse, something I had yearned to do was growing close. Reaching the Fort Pulaski bridge at 5:30 was part of the "plan." I would have ample ammount of time to get a nice paddle in, set up my equiptment and be ready at first light. As I drove up to the bridge I saw the flashing Cockspur light and at that point I remembered that it had light now. How I could of spaced that out I dont know. Perhaps the years of excess. :) But it was if I had got a shot of adreniline. I was all of a sudden pumped. I told myself to hurry, lets get to the light and take some pictures of the light close up before light, some good pics of the new light. I was rushing, stoked. I got all the gear ready, my boots on and I even had a large thermal cup of coffee with me for the wait befor sunrise, that is if it made it out without spilling.
The paddle was sweet. Even in the pitch black dark, although I did think about that guy that had died when the whale tossed his boat up north recently. But that passed quickly, what the heck you gonna do? Worry and freak over the unknown? Not! As I got closer to the light I realized that I actually had plenty of time before any kind of usuable light. So I eased off on the muscle power and slow paddled on in to the light. The light was really nice. A lot different than I was use to. :)
I eased the kayak up onto the oyster shells. No beach here. Hell, Im suprised that this boat even still floats. It has more cuts on the hull than the .....you know....the liver pill thing. Lots! Oyster shell has no mercy on anything, especially flesh and in this case plastic. To my total amazement I made it all the way out with all my coffee, unspilled. Wow. I ditched the coat I had on and chilled with the coffee for a moment. Good stuff, and got ready to tackle the challenge of darkness vs camera. This was going to be cool! @*&11%2 What the ____! Where is my tripod? No, tell me I didnt do that?!? Crap! How could I have done that???!!!! _ _ _ _ ! I had the tripod in the truck, in my mad rush at the last minute to get the new light pics, I had just totally space the tripod. _ _ _ _! I had "planned" this all out. I had even packed the equiptment in my new Pelican case to avoid any mishaps. What the _ _ _ _ was I going to do now? You cant shoot "bulb" exposures without a tripod?!? That just cant work.
I wondered around in panic for a bit, trying to think of a way that I could do this thing. This was going to be hell. I set on the steps of the lighthouse and drank some coffee , thought of the paddle back. That was not an option. For some weird ass reason, all of a sudden I thought of Lewis and Clark, the explorers. I dont know why they just popped into my head. I wondered if those guys had issues like this in their "planning"? They were going into the jaws of the unknown, possibly death. Do you know the "planning" they must have done? Wow! And if you've read of or know of Lewis and Clark, you know of the adversity and misery they conquered. I just all of a sudden really admired them like I never had before. I cant even get a little photo project right.

I finally quit crying in my coffee and started my attempt at my project. For what seemed like hours I clicked and deleated, clicked and deleated, deleated, deleated, deleated. I was really frustrated. This wasnt good. With not a single thing to set my camera on, I resorted finally to just laying flat down in the muc, mud, the slime and the shells just to get to where I was at eye level to the camera.
I learned a new respect for the cameras timers today. I sure did. Got lots of practice at focus lock. :) I forced myself not to let the mornings events to ruin what could be some great shoots. Forced the "relax" mode to kick in, and just worked with it. I saluted Lewis and Clark and just got down and muddy with it.
This set of picture, when I get finished wearing out the deleat key on my comptuter, and get them posted are the results of some well laid plans. Ha, ha, ha. :) It beckons back to the Sapelo Island Lighthouse kayak trip and the question: what is a picture worth.

These events are a part of the twenty third day of March, in the year of our Lord, 2007, in the life and times of a photographer<(?).