Day 8
The days navigation rally started from the Molino Rosso at 8:15 and had two hours to get to the first check point allowing about 40 minutes to go round the Castel del Rio, which had a World War Two museum inside which had pictures of how the Castle looked during the war, and lots of weapons and uniform from all the different countries involved in the conflict around the castle, it also had a Texas T6 in the castle grounds.
We then made our way to Palazzuolo sul Senio and on the way crossed over one of the most amazing bridges I have ever seen, let alone driven over (Yes I was driving for once). It went up at about 40 degrees and down by the same angle as well. We stopped just after it to look at the bridge and take some photographs. We also walked down a path, which led to the doorway at the side of the bridge, and climbed inside the bridge to the apex where there was a large room that over looked the river, it was quite impressive!
Another mini coming down the bridge:
We then drove to the next checkpoint for lunch and then onto the next checkpoint, which had a special stage. This special stage consisted of a slalom course which you had to get round in 8 seconds. After that we headed back to the Hotel.
Once back at the hotel a group of us went to play football organised by Andrew (the Ozzie) in the hotels indoor tennis court but some locals over ruled our booking, hmm. So we ended up on a rather water logged outdoor pitch, which meant than every single played ended up sliding over and getting covered in mud! It was great fun and I (James) managed to score the only two goals, one in the oppositions net and the other in my own teams net (doh!)
We then went back to the hotel for dinner, which had a Halloween theme, which was excellent, and for dessert we had roast chestnuts. There was also a fire works display by two of the jobbers who were celebrating their 1st wedding anniversary and had brought the fire works in England. Charles helped light then and if anyone who knows Charles’s history with fire works knows that it was probably a bad idea, in the end however he managed to help with out and injury apart from a spent rocket nearly hitting his head (it dropped about a foot in front of him. It was a very good end to a good day.
