Having set off early I made good progress out of Piediluco, and ascended up to Labro.
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| And so the ascent begins! |
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| A rather barky dog I passed but thankfully small and contained! |
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| Labro This is where I thought I'd find that first arrow but sadly I never saw it, but not long after Labro I found an arrow and I was delighted!! |
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| Piediluco Lake from afar |
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| The first arrow I found laid by my Italian Pilgrim brothers! |
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| Because a journey involves leaving, travelling and returning, as much as I travel on to Rome, in the end the arrow points me back to YBC - from where I started. |
More arrows were to be found, interspersed by beautiful views over the valleys below.
But it has to be said this was my favourite arrow of all:
Once almost at the highest point I took a detour to visit a tree that legend has it protected Francis during a storm. I'd found out that there is a special stamp for pilgrims to add to their credencial chained under a table there, but unfortunately I found the table and the chain but no stamp which I found rather disappointing. There has been something rather encouraging, similar to the arrows today, about having a record of the places I've been to whilst on this journey. Each stamp holding a memory of a place - an experience - a marker of the distances travelled.
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| It's a rather unusual tree in its appearance, but also only about 250 years old so unlikely to have been the tree that sheltered Francis! |
On the way to the tree I found a cross and felt it important to stop and think again about the distance I've covered:
The many kilometers/miles I've walked with every step bringing me closer to Rome. And also thinking that this time next week that's where I'll be which almost seems too soon!
But I couldn't have got to my accommodation soon enough today. For most of the afternoon, having walked in lovely sunshine I was racing a storm I could see coming in over the mountain ahead. With aching feet and tired legs I approached Poggio Bustone which is a town on a hill so that meant lots of steps down to find my accommodation. And then, when googlemaps this time was spectacularly unhelpful, it all got a bit much and I ended up upset, leaning on a house wall and messaging Andy because I didn't know what else to do - I just was 'done'! Tissue in hand I walked back the way I'd come and a very helpful man came out of a restaurant
I finally made use of my most important Italian phrase: 'mi Sono perso' - I'm lost! But he explained that I'd actually found the place! He called the lady to check me in and I was so thankful to arrive and get inside as the heavens opened and a thunderstorm began in earnest!
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| One very weary and relieved pilgrim! |
Once a bit recovered I braved the storm to return to the restaurant round the corner for a meal. And met two lovely ladies - Angela (a vicar) and Ali (a church worker). Seems I meet Ali's wherever I go!! They're heading north tomorrow so I wished them Buon Cammino, but expect we may well meet at breakfast!
What a day - of highs and lows, emotionally as well as physically. Really hoping tomorrow is an easier journey and also that the weather will be ok too. If it rains like it did this evening I think I'd get rather wet!
