Montale to Fiorenzuola 16/8/17

16/8/17 Wednesday
Day 18

Montale- Fiorenzuola 30 km

Hot

Up 0500. At 0630 it's already 22 degrees but this feels cool and it's cloudy.

Breakfast at Pontenure then take the side road to Paderna Castle which is privately owned.
Fish in the moat and grapevines adorn the perimeter. Corn is harvested so there's a view into the distance: towers, stone buildings, flat land. Onions in the fields. Tomatoes are being picked; there are enough scattered about for a pilgrim. Onions and tomatoes by the truckloads!

Residences seem more cared-for.

The irrelevance of time and distance.

Twittering, barking, and the sound of farm motors in the distance.

Alone. Irrelevant.

Take the long route and walk alone all day (surprised to learn the Brazilians take the main-road route and arrive at 1030).
Just before midday I plan to stop under a tree on a side road when a snake lunges at my shoe. I watch aghast as he slithers off again into a canal. With foot intact I find an overgrown yard behind an empty farmhouse which I gingerly inspect for reptiles before my picnic.
I stop hourly to minister to my new companion Blister.
Excessive heat after midday as all the clouds have burnt off. I take a main road which I correctly suspect is the wrong way and lose an hour.
I head along a path adjacent to the main gravel lane to an 'oasis': a lodge which is no-aperto but the handsome bare-chested Italian kindly concedes to sell me a couple of bottles of beer for 10 Euro.

When I arrive at the Duomo, I walk all about disorientated, then return there and fortunately come across the keeper for the Parrocchia di San Fiorenzo who permits me entry.
The door bell rings and a bedraggled Sisi arrives next.
Duomo views from my window.
Church bells chime a melody.
Reheated frozen risotto and two glasses of excellent Sav Blanc in a bar with Sisi .
Meet and talk with the Brazilians.
32 degrees at 1900.


6 Breakfast
14 Drinks
10 San Fiorenzo Ostello
6 Supplies
8.5 Dinner





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