Hi every one thanks for all the messages. It was great to hear what is happening. We have been doing some great rides up into some mountain valeys and around the hills of Alba. The ups and downs are quite tough.Cheryls find the hills harder than me. ALBa is the truffle town so there ahas been a festival this week end. Truffle infused food everywhere. They are tubers that grow on the root of Hazzlenut, oak, willow and some other deciduious trees. Dogs sniff them out and they sell for about $1000 AUS per kg or more.a little shaved on to pasta, eggs or bread with butter and cheese is the way to go. I have picked up some great receipe Ideas. Very simple pastasauces etc. not toomuch truffle though. i had truffle at Simmones in Bright last summer. A taste to remember. Some farmers in Tasie are growing them. There is heaps of good wine around here too. Piedmonte. Northern Italy. The country side is covered in vines and paddocks with wheat of getting ready for wheat. Thereis stil corn being harvested also. and insome areas rice has been grown. Yes thereis heaps of farming but it is also very very industrial. We are in a fog/smog most of the timewith the sun really struggling to get through. It make it difficult to seee into the distance with any clarity. It is difficult to send photos to youbut there will be some available when we get back. look forward to seeing you all soon Love Tim