Breakfast with 5 priests at our table and 6 at another was something I could never have imagined – how could this be? Firstly it is a pilgrimage although you would never know it from my blog, so churches are very supportive of the pilgrims; it is often where you meet other walkers and gather basic information about beds and food etc; and you are assured of a reasonable price. So there you are – I have now confessed.
Philip has caught his train and looking forward to another type of journey, and this time to Holland in very quick time. The information from our journey will be passed on to him as he will be back here soon to continue from where he left us.
It’s been another dolphin morning, except it will now be a continual gradual to very steep incline. The path has some potentially very dangerous tracks and they will be treated with great respect – some parts have already required us to ‘sit and slide’, while other parts are safer without poles as we hang on to trees and rocks. Breaking news – Corrie has just been talking to a man outside who walked our path and his guide book advised against it – maybe we need this book?
But it was so beautiful with those moss-covered rocks, so many and varied, lovely views and small streams either side of a major tumbling frothy river. At one time it seemed a good idea to take the road because our village was in eye sight, but not being certain we continued on. Corrie was a little behind at one stage and could not see it. A wild deer with black stripes leapt up beside me, took one look at me, swivelled and bounced back down the hill (I’m trying not to take it personally).
The mountains have nearly closed in on us, the snow tops at the rear are getting closer, and the weather is said to be unpredictable. So far our entree into the Pass has been pleasant with the odd cloud and raindrop, while food, potable fountains and coffee places have arrived at the right intervals. One lovely woman would not accept payment for the coffee and croissants, because we were walking the Via Francigena, whilst also allowing us to dry our still wet clothes on some vacant chairs.
From our windowless dungeon last night to our view from two large window doors tonight, it seems a bit of a landscape cultural shock. Tomorrow it might be a step through the window door into the actual landscape – we’re excited.
