I shared that one of the pilgrim couples was staying at the same accommodation as me and we were all taken to a nearby restaurant last night. And we shared fellowship, breaking bread and drinking wine together - which felt rather apt on Maundy Thursday. Andy will be very quick to tell you I'm not a fan of red wine, but my dinner companions had ordered a bottle and couldn't manage it all so I felt obliged to share their generous hospitality. With their permission, this is Horst and Elsa, who were intrigued to find themselves referenced in my blog already.
We shared an enjoyable evening together and I was fascinated to find that my explanations of my role and Baptist traditions were seen to be very progressive! A big contrast I expect to the Catholic practice I believe they're more familiar with. And it was great to hear about their lives too. They finish their walk today as they have work to get back to, but actually are in the same restaurant as me again tonight (just a minute from where we're staying), but as they're partway through I haven't joined them tonight.
As it was, this morning we more or less set off together but they took a slightly different route to me so we've only just bumped into each other after they over took me on a hill path just outside Poreta.
For me, this day has been a day of remembering.
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| My lovely Mum and me on our last Mother's day together |
Remembering Mum - how I would love to tell her about what I'm up to - and knowing just how proud she would be of me and all I've achieved. And how thankful to God she would be for where He's brought me to. And I know she'd have prayed me through every step of the journey.
But, it also being Good Friday, I also spent thinking about Jesus and all He went through. I had passed a few burnt patches of ground on my route so far, so when I saw one this morning I felt drawn to use the ashes to mark my hand with a cross so that as I walked today I carried the mark of the cross to help me remember the walk Christ took towards the cross.
This really helped keep bringing me back to the events of Good Friday and inspired to look for crosses throughout my journey.
I found these twigs lying on the path just like this:
And spotted these others later on during a wander round Spoleto:
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| There were a number of these around - assuming they were part of some kind of 12 stations of the cross. |
Also interesting is that, whilst birdsong continues to be the soundtrack to my walk (at least whilst I'm out on the trail - less so in the towns when the hubbub of traffic drowns out everything else - I heard a number of cockerels today.
Which brought to mind Peter in the courtyard and his denial of Jesus. It felt very timely and made me ponder on how he might have felt then watching Jesus' journey to the cross.
As I walked and thought and pondered I passed through a few delightful villages and saw more beautiful vistas. And best of all - I walked mostly in sunshine with a gentle breeze and the rain only arrived once I'd got to my hotel!
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| Grateful to have arrived at my hotel. |
One thing I read in preparation gave this advice: "look up" so I'm trying to - that is when I'm not climbing very steep tracks or gravelly descents when I find myself concentrating very hard on the path just on front of me! Speaking of descents, thanks for praying. The knees were no trouble today and my ankle is only a tiny bit grumbly this evening!
And that also after I went for an explore this afternoon around the town meaning my current step count for today stands at 28500!
I visited the Duomo Spoleto where I was able to see a letter handwritten by Francis, and then went on to see the Ponte Delle Torri - a beautiful bridge that, if I didn't have a taxi booked to save me a very steep climb tomorrow (and 2 hours of journeying), I'd be crossing at the start of the official route in the morning. As it is, I just looked at it because it was closing 10 minutes after I got there and I had no desire to get stuck on the wrong side!!
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| A letter written by Francis' own hand! |
Despite the significance of this day, personally and faith-wise this day has been good. It also marks the end of the first leg of the journey with 84.65 km/52.6miles under my belt - so I have a real sense of achievement tonight!
I'm actually walking three itineraries that the company I've booked with have put together into one for me. The next section runs from Spoleto through to Rieti, with the final part being Rieti to Rome.
So - on to section 2 tomorrow walking to Ceselli from Monteluco just outside of Spoleto, but for now - rest!
