Today was a bit longer, at 16 miles walked and 2,000′ of climbing. Our total for this journey is 47 miles.

The countryside in Tuscany is beautiful. Here is the view from our terrace yesterday as darkness was settling in:

And in our hike today:

Each day is different, and we’re enjoying each day for what it offers.

Burning Matches:  This is an expression in cycling which means you only have so much fuel (matches) to burn. And when it’s gone, it’s gone. Today’s walk was all about saving matches until the end. Even if you felt really good in the beginning and wanted to go fast up a hill, slow down … you’ll need those matches, later. Why? Today’s path finished with a big climb in the heat of the day. If you didn’t save some matches for that last climb, you could be in a world of hurt, in the mid-day heat.  We saw a number of pilgrims fading badly on this stretch.

Directions: This is actually a revisit to a topic from earlier hikes; you really do have to walk your own Camino. Following someone else is a recipe for getting lost, and an excuse to put the blame on someone else.   This morning, we were following 3 pilgrims out of San Miniato. Within a few 100 yards of leaving the town center, we noticed the absence of trail signs. They didn’t.  We spent a bit of time figuring out what went wrong and how to get back on course.  Lesson re- learned. Actually, within another mile our compatriots missed the trail … again. We were paying attention and made the turn. Now, to be clear, we make our share of trail mistakes.  By being your own guide, you stop blaming the “other guy” for getting you lost.  You (we) are that “other guy”.

Enjoy your own Camino today. Ciao