A travel report
Donkey Trekking in Abruzzo
«Andiamo, Rosina!» The donkey with the white face that carries my luggage nibbles on a tuft of grass. I pull on the lead rope.
"Don't try lots of different things. It's better to do just one thing and do it consistently": Saskia's voice can still be heard in my ears. She is the owner of the two donkeys that my 16-year-old son and I are traveling with. Slightly despairing, I look ahead to see Ryan and his donkey Valerio trotting away in perfect harmony. Like Lucky Luke - into the wilderness of the Abruzzi.
The two figures get smaller and smaller. It looks so easy. I take a deep breath and pull harder on the lead rope. "It won't hurt her," I hear Saskia again in my head, "donkeys are much rougher with each other." Saskia also explained that we should only let the animals eat during breaks, otherwise we would never make any progress. I pull on, and suddenly Rosina gives in. She trots along beside me as if there had never been a power struggle. Just as I'm about to triumph, Rosina throws her head to the side again. I too now see the juicy dandelion and pull in the other direction at lightning speed. "No, no, Rosina!" She lets herself be pulled away. 1:0 for me. Phew! The first stage from Goriano Valli to Fontecchio is around 14 kilometers long. Our route description contains mysterious information. "Walking time without donkey 3 hours, with donkey 5 to 6 hours," for example. Hopefully this refers to the leisurely pace of the donkeys and not to the animals' constant nibbling on grass?
After winning several power struggles, Rosina follows me obediently as if nothing had happened. But Saskia's warning that the hierarchy can be re-established after every break and every day is still in my ears. For the moment, I sigh and enjoy the magnificent view that awaits us: forest-covered mountains and grey rocks against a blue sky. Every now and then we hear a stag bellowing. Suddenly the donkeys stop. Saskia has warned us to wait in such cases, as the long-eared animals with their sensitive hearing can detect other animals long before we do. Are there wild boars nearby?
