Ponte d'Arbia to San Quirico d'Orcia 6/9/17

6/9/17 Wednesday
Day 34

Ponte d'Arbia-San Quirico d'Orcia 26 km

Warm after a cool, quiet, comfortable night

Up 0520.
Walking on farm tracks along the valley ridge: hilltop houses, wineries, cyprus trees, hay bales. No shade along the rolling, parched hills; vines are the only greenery.
A smoldering sky, little breeze. Undulating, monotonous but leisurely walking.
Last leg into San Quirico: take a lengthy loop (rather than the main road as suggested by Cicerone) which ascended relentlessly in the heat. I have met a group of white-haired Danish ladies today; they regrettably make the same choice.

Today I concentrate on the act of walking.

Villagers gather in the square at night; there's a group of lady-artists sketching and an old man with a crook walking all around.
Dinner at a restaurant (decline Monica's invite): veges in olive oil and delicious vino bianco. I ask for the 'Count' instead of the account; the waiter obligingly brings me the piece of paper, however, I would have settled for the Count.

Darkness at 2015.
Sleeping in a dorm with The Danish Snorers and the one male Italian pilgrim Giuseppe I met earlier. Monica et al are over the road.

Giuseppe is treated to Danish 'hospitality': full-frontal nudity without warning.

Giuseppe doesn't snore.


21 Supplies
6 Breakfast: 1 pastry, 1 brioche crema, coffee, fresh OJ
10 Accommodation Palazza Pelegrini San Quirico
26 Dinner
20 Haircut without tip as I have been charged a 'tourist' price













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