It was a big day yesterday with the walk to Arrone – 35kms and steep tracks

Today’s walk to Piediluco which is situated on the shore of a lake was a welcome ‘cruise’.  

It is beautiful country, travelling first through a valley of hilltop villages, before following a waterway to the lake and then the hotel.

For my efforts yesterday, I received a new Fitbit badge – I don’t find the branding cool but it’s another milestone. Note to Fitbit – try to be a bit more International. Zac perhaps a role for you.

Oh, and while we are on the subject of congratulations, Jack lost his first tooth today and has prepared his bag for the tooth fairy. 

The dinner I have at Residence Fiocchi last night was quite good. Gnocchi with lamb and whole brown trout. The serving of my white wine was a little unusual though but the taste is all that matters and it passed there.

Walk to Piediluco

It was the coldest it’s been this morning and I started with more clothes than previously, long top, sleeveless vest and walking t-shirt and while it started off very cold ~ only 6 degrees,  it quickly turned into another glorious Italian day, I would de-layer as I went.

There were only 2 climbs of significance (great – I was tired today and stiff as)

The valley is very even by Italian standards picturesque. The steep mountains around it mean some villages don’t get winter sun until late morning which included my village. I was still cold walking –  leaving Arrone, I could see the spot in the sun, my target, I was walking to.

As I said, lots of hilltop towns.

 

 

 

I was on my way to ‘Cascata delle Marmore’ waterfalls created by the Romans in 271 BC. The Romans diverted a river to drain the swamps of Rieti many km’s away (I walk to Reiti in 2 days) but they created secondary problems they debated in the senate until resolved 2200 years later.

 

 

Love the texture of Italian flora

 

More lately the water that feeds the falls has been used for hydro-electricity and the water is turned on and off as required. So today there’s not much water flow but time waits for no-one. The falls will be running tomorrow.

The highlight though is a great outdoor museum showing large pieces of the industrial equipment previously used for power generation.

 

 

After the falls, it was about 10km walk along a water way. I put the headphones on, I was knackered from yesterday, did I say that?

The lake was gorgeous, it’s just a shame that places like this shut down beginning October so all the shops, cafes, bars are closed or they are only open 12 to 3 and 7 to 10.

 

 

 

 

 

And tomorrows Walk

22km’s but tough. It involves 1000m of climb to Poggio Bustone, including visiting a 1000 year old beech tree visited by St Francis around 1200 AD.

 

And Don’t Forget the Good Cause

In honour of the great work Black Dog institute are doing in helping many families, corporate organisations and communities create awareness and support to deal with the pressures of life, I am raising money for this important cause.

No amount is too small. Donate here.

https://teamblackdog.everydayhero.com/au/walking-the-st-francis-way

If interested, you can read a daily debrief of my walk and see some pics on my blog: www.youcanlive2.com 

You can also subscribe for updates at the bottom.

 

Ciao till tomorrow.