Via Francigena, Lucca to Rome 2025

Leaving this morning, almost forgot to take the picture. Hello y’all, a short post for a short day.  It was a nice coolish morning to start, and we took our time, knowing it was only an 8.5 mile day.  A lot of up and down on the trail, but still a pretty good up hill finish again.  The book that we are following on the Francigena has been spotty at being accurate about stops along the way with food and water.  At our 4 mile point, there was to be something, but we found nothing, until out of no where at end of town was a hotel, that had a bar and outside eating.  Since we had nothing to eat yet for the day, we were ecstatic about seeing this place.  A very kind gentleman waiter came to greet us even before we got to the hotel, and ask what he could get us.  Offered us seating in the garden and served us there with the best breakfast that we’ve had so far.  The second half of the walk was getting to be in the heat of the day, so we ended up taking ...

Hello again,  another good nights sleep had us feeling good…..until we started our hike at 6:30, it was already hot.  I hate to sound like a complainer, but the heat and sun have been brutal.  We stopped for a pastry and drink at our 1.5 mile mark, knowing it was the only stop for food or drink all day.  We would have to finish the rest(13.5 mile) with what we carried.  We bought and carried 4.5 extra liters of water, above what we normally would.  By 9:00 a.m the sun was searing, and only going to get worse.  The trail today offered very little shade, we were out in farmland and vineyards.  After many breaks to cool down and drink under a lonely tree somewhere, we finally caught a break with 3 miles to go.  A storm was brewing somewhere close, and started to block out the sun, and cool things down, but by then, we were exhausted by the constant sun and heat.  It was a blessing though, because the last 3 miles were all up hill…..again! T...

Leaving out of Altopascio this morning. Hello y’all, after good nights sleep, we woke up feeling well both physically and mentally.  We felt like we could do the 18 mile hike in the heat today.  As we left the Hotel at 6:20, it was already warm out, we decided to get some miles in before it got much hotter.  We also knew that this hike today would afford us plenty of little towns to stop and get a drink and something to eat, and for the most part that means a coke and a pastry.   We stopped in 5 little towns today along the way, it keeps you up mentally , and gives you a rest physically.  We finally encountered other hikers along the Via Francigena, after our third stop, we came along a young couple taking a break along the sidewalk, Rudy walked by, but I had to engage.  Sveva and Nikolo, from Milan, had just started their hike today.  They are only doing 5 days because of their schedule.  We would run into them several more times on the trail, th...