It’s just keeps getting tougher. Well, my early morning shortcut didn’t help matters much, but the intention was good. Our mornings have been fairly relaxed. Alarm goes off at 6:30am and by the time we pack up and head out, it’s closer to 8am. Oh well, we are on vacation, right? I would say George thinks he is back in Boot Camp. In fact he said today that Basic Training was easier than this Camino! Wow, I think I missed my calling.

We stopped at the local deli, made up a couple of sandwiches, fruit and cookies for the road. The word on the trail was there was no water, no bars, no resupply’s. We were literally on our own, self-supported with no help in sight.

I had mapped us a route using Mapy. It’s the European equivalent to our Google Maps. I plugged in our final destination, shared with the app that we were walking, and it came up with the most direct link. Most direct was the issue.

All was good as we walked out of town. We hooked up with the Danish Mom and Son from yesterday. When the Via Francigena said to go left, we bided them farewell as Mapy told us to merge right. We were headed down a rather steep paved road and were passed by 30-40 motorcycles. They were the Vespa types, nothing too crazy, and some of chaps were dressed in costumes, like aliens, Superman and just super fun attire.

As we made it to the bottom of the grade, we turned left onto a gravel road. Within five minutes, I knew this was a bad idea. We walked into private property and this sweet Italian Woman came out trying to explain to me in her native tongue, that we needed to head south, up the hill. Then we would be back on the trail. George had this priceless look on his face that told me he was having no part of that. And we headed straight up, by way of a grassy slippery slope and a vineyard. Needless to say, my shortcut didn’t pan out.

After an hour of George pouting and me eating crow, we finally connected back on the route and met the many pilgrims who had left an hour afterwards. Well at the very least, we were back and accounted for, and no more not-so shortcuts! We had many hills to climb, hence the reason they call this place the Tuscan Hillside! But at the least, it was on gravel roads with obvious paths, rather than mountain goat trails.

By the time lunch came, we were at the one and the only Cathedral of the day, Santi Pietro. It must’ve had 75-100 steps to get to it, and very reluctantly, we climbed. Oh, but was it worth the sweat and tears. The Germans who we have been walking with, are a Christian group of Lutherans and Methodist. They plan a pilgrimage every two years, spreading their love and faith. There is a total of 22 of them, and as I walked in they started singing. This church came alive with harmonious melody. It was such a blessing to be in this chapel with my fellow pilgrims lifting their voices to heaven above. Oh how the Lord was glorified and I was amazed by their beautiful voices. The rest of the day was lackluster after that.

We carried on towards the rolling hills of Tuscany. Everywhere you looked was green. Green fields, green trees, green moss on rooftops, green, green, green. We continued climbing up and down ridge lines which supplied 360 degree views as far as the eye could see.

It was blazing hot so George and I pulled out our umbrellas to shade us from the blaring sun. George was running out of water and knew for sure, he was going to have heat stroke. As we came to a road crossing, lo and behold, there was a water spigot. It’s a good thing because my big burly husband was just about to loose his shit. I think I can honestly write that.

We filled up, poured cold water over our hot sweaty selves and were able to punch out the last six miles. It was touch go for a bit, but as the town appeared, I made the command decision to get my butt in gear. I left George and the remaining pilgrims in the dust, and headed into town for the mandatory checkin before closing. The last four miles were straight up, and I was like a horse going back to the barn. Even our new friends from South Carolina called me a horse. Hmm, I think that’s a nice way of saying, I was on a mission.

I made it in time to get the code for our Apartment, stopped at the grocery store for libations and dinner supplies, and by the time I was done shopping, George had arrived. I was quite shocked as I thought he might’ve found himself a taxi! But he did it again and made it through another day. I’m thinking this Via Francigena is a bit more than he envisioned, and I’m gonna have to agree. It certainly is a great training regiment for the CDT!