Chippings do "Corri Catania"

CATANIA, Sicilia -- On the eve of their bike trip, four Chippings joined thousands of Catanians this morning for a 10 kilometer run and walk through city streets.

On a bright, sunny day, Phil (Filippo), Bruce, Jimma and Spazio walked out of their B&B in the centrally located Piazza Stesicoro to become part of the crowd that surged through the closed streets for the annual "Corri Catania." Participants wore white and green T-shirts proclaiming Catania's commitment to environmental action. Official entries, wearing numbers on their backs, included infants in strollers, school children, the disabled, women's groups, the elderly, even the occasional T-shirt wearing dog.

Catania has some environmental challenges. The coast immediately south of the city is fouled with petrochemical plants. The medieval centre is crumbling, plaster walls peeled and broken and scrawled with grafitti. A guidebook describes the Corso Italia, a main thoroughfare, and the area around the train station as "insalubrious."

No worries for the Chips, however, who ambled along with the crowd.

The Chippings' cycle ride around Sicily begins in earnest tomorrow when the Chips pick up their rental bikes in Siracusa. After overnight flights from Seattle, Jimma, Bruce and Filippo checked into Gianni & Lucia's B&B yesterday afternoon. Spazio arrived by train from Taormina. Jimma, dapper in his black wool trousers and sweater, discovered upon arrival that Alitalia had not loaded his luggage. The airline promises he'll have it this evening.

Meanwhile, Dino, looking remarkably refreshed after stops in Philadelphia and Rome, showed up about 2 this afternoon. Gianni DeRocco and Davide Wilder are expected later today.

Location:Catania, Sicilia