Mortara to Garlasco 12/8/17

12/8/17 Saturday
Day 16

Mortara- Garlasco 22 km

Hot and sunny

Up 0500. Depart 0600 after a light breakfast provided by Maria.
Sun rises between trees.
All is still and tranquillo.
The light, peace and energy of these mornings are such a contrast to those on the Camino which were mostly interrupted by pilgrims, many of whom were hurrying. A distinct freshness and vitality is felt on these mornings and is enhanced by powerful music. It is easy to get up because the desire to walk is strong.

Little-Toe needs much attention and analgesia.
Flat walking alongside canals, rice and corn fields.
Pass a disturbing duck farm.
Way-marking very poor, have missed turn-offs but with directions from people, increased vigilance and watching the sun we have kept in the correct direction. Italians have been very helpful.
As we enter Tromello, Carlo who is the assistant to pilgrims greets us on his painted bike. We chat in Italian and drink beer at a bar; he then escorts us back on to the VF. We take Option A to Santuario Basilica where a priest called Cesare and his helper welcome us at the restaurant. No cooked food is served here though it's midday! A very large salad of copious lettuce and tomatoes and lemon sodas are provided at no charge. We chat and exchange email addresses and promise to send photos of NZ. We visit the basilica on our way through. I exchange a backward glance, smile and wave with an old man sitting at a pew; he has a pensive expression on his face.

We continue on sandy, dusty side roads in the heat.
Snake swimming in a canal.
We find peaches on our way: sweet, hot, dripping succulence.
Snowy mountains are now behind us in the distance. We pass donkeys and goats on our way to Cascina Toledina where we are welcomed by a teacher from the Community for Drug Rehab. Pilgrims stay at no charge. We forage for biscuits and coffee in the communal kitchen and forgo the dinner with the student and teacher community.

Every day I wear the same clothes and hardly look in the mirror.

The moon is a luminescent pearl in the sky.


4 Beer, chips
5 Lunch
0 Ostello Exodus









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