Today was one of the warmest days of the year with temperatures pushing past 30° and with high humidity making it feel hot and sticky. It was the kind of day that makes you think about sitting by the pool with an iced drink watching the local flora and fauna and generally trying to keep cool and collected and do as little as possible. Instead local tradition defines a completely different way to spend the day. Its time to think about the oncoming winter and get that wood supply sorted out and stacked up ready for when the weather is not so “user friendly”. A combination of high gas prices, a certain Vladimir Putin who seems to have his hand on the gas tap of Europe and concerns about reducing the carbon footprint of heating the house during the winter has meant a resurgence of the older system of keeping warm – burning logs. The new breed of highly efficient reverse flame wood burning stoves has also meant that one again the smell of wood smoke will be in the air as things get cooler here.
The main problem is getting the wood to the house as the steep, narrow streets and alleyways in Barga Vecchia make transporting the logs a time consuming business. For many people the three wheeled Ape is still the best way of getting the wood to the door. Stacking the wood and keeping it dry can also be a problem for those without large cantinas or courtyards.
It has to be said that there is something quite nice about stacking wood on a hot June afternoon though … can’t quite put my finger on why but it just feels “right” somehow ….