A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE. Day V walking from Castiglione towards Radocafani- shortened to 8 miles , so I am told.

14 Jun
Fountain express – a Tuscan special meal – yesterday’s bread and bean soup – a speciality.

This morning we left our homely B&B to have breakfast ( included) at a small Trattoria in this piazza.

A traditional breakfast was enjoyed there,though the choice of teas was a guessing game!
June joined us from her hotel as it was planned to cut down the length of today’s walk by taking to 09.18 bus to Abbadia San Salvatore. I got the front seat and we drovec down sinuous county roads and serpentine bends with the driver nonchalantly using one hand most of the time . It was only when we disembarked at Abbadia that I realised we were the only passengers.

After a coffee stop on this busy town it was,decision time.

Fountains rule opposite our cafe. There was no option but to use Mapy.com to enable a short cut off the Francigena route. I must admit to being somewhat dubious because main routes are made to enable a safe passage, however, the walk began simply enough.

A wall,of wild flowers.
A stream which we crossed safely over a concrete bridge .
The path was beginning to disintegrate.
We then came upon a stream running across our way. Not too deep thankfully.
But uninvitingly slimy – we all got cross with our socks dry.
From this point on and for a long,uphill,stretch the vegetation became as challenging as the Rocky underfoot conditions. We managed to help,each other across a metre drop onto a small dry stream bed.
Yes the views were still enticing.

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=oG6fayQBm9w&si=Aix-DW-nwyT2xoKT

After what seemed an endless climb we emerged on a typical white path – TG.
Yellow flora my favourite colour.
A caterpillar crossed my path – these have a very unpleasant sting.
These were popular with bees
I used my bog standard App. Earlier which reassured us were close to our accommodation.
La Selvella Agriturismo. A wonderful setting.
What a relief after a really hard walk to relax here for a couple of hours

Dinner was served under an ancient tree – it was a very good meal served with panache and a smile . I can’t speak highly enough of enough of the help given to me by the receptionist in acquiring two,taxis to take the group down from the heights of Radificoni the next day as there were no buses on Sundays.

You can see why.

Leave a comment