Thursday 30th June, day 61. Today's target Radicofani, about 32kms, climbing all the time. A route on back roads and tracks with no facilities so we have to carry sufficient liquid and food for the day. To add to the excitement we did not have any accommodation booked and were relying on finding the pilgrim's hostel and there being room. Christine...
June 2011
Wednesday, 29 June, 2011 - 22:00
Wednesday 29th June, day 60. Our apologies to those who tuned in to Radio Newcastle expecting to hear us live. We were sitting in a field of olive trees waiting for the call, more of that later.
Today's destination was San Quirico d'Orcia [pictured], about 27kms, once again over the rolling Tuscan hills. There were five people in the hostel...
Tuesday, 28 June, 2011 - 21:00
Reminder: Douglas and Christine will be interviewed live on BBC Radio Newcastle at approx. 11.50am on Wednesday 29th June
Tuesday 28th June, day 59. Last night we stayed in a Pilgrims' hostel run by nuns. We had dinner with other pilgrims - there were three others with whom we were also sharing a small dormitory. One was a Frenchman...
Monday, 27 June, 2011 - 00:00
Monday 27th June, day 58. Last night we stayed at a religious hostel for pilgrims, our evening meal was cooked by a Brazilian man, Louis-George, studying for his particular order. He made a pasta starter, chicken and salad second course and fruit followed by coffee. The meal was washed down with local chianti and water. Christine spent most of the meal...
Sunday, 26 June, 2011 - 20:30
Sunday 26th June, day 57. The flies are back, everywhere we go and in force. This morning we had early breakfast in the main square of San Gimignano, empty of tourists, the best way to see the town and appreciate the character of the narrow streets. A huge contrast with yesterday afternoon when there were two "commune" weddings in the central piazza. ...
Saturday, 25 June, 2011 - 23:30
Saturday 25th June, day 56. Last night our hotel was a long walk to the top of the town and beyond. It was owned and managed by a Danish women with her Italian boyfriend. Amazing how life turns out, would she have guessed as a young girl what her future could be? We often limit ourselves as well as being limited by others. Christine's support has enable me...
Friday, 24 June, 2011 - 22:00
Friday 24th June, day 55. Last night in our hostel was a couple from the Netherlands who are also walking the Via Francigena to Rome, they have been walking parts of the route for the last nine years and this year they will complete it. What dedication! Christine has been reminding me with her very helpful hints how I have been extremely lucky to have survived the week...
Thursday, 23 June, 2011 - 23:00
Thursday 23rd June, day 54. Christine arrived into Lucca station about 8.15pm complete with my new rucksack. We went to the famous Piazza dell'Anfiteatro for a late meal as the sun set [pictured]. It is a piazza enclosed by three storey buildings and is unusual in that it is pizza-shaped i.e. round and all the surrounding buildings are constructed in concentric...
Wednesday, 22 June, 2011 - 19:00
Wednesday 22nd June, day 53. Today's target was Lucca, a vast distance of about 6kms. The Italian walker we had met at the top of St Bernard's pass said Lucca was better than Siena. I wonder where he is now, pulling his trolley to Canterbury.
Last night the room temperature was ok when I closed the windows at midnight. Breakfast this morning was...
Tuesday, 21 June, 2011 - 22:00
Tuesday 21st June, day 52. Christine had to point out to me I had walked 1000 miles by the end of yesterday. Today I had two targets, Pietrasanta [pictured] and then Ponte San Pietro, about 42kms. Breakfast provided late so no early start, although some people were having their breakfast before the official opening time. They had a do it yourself...
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