Today was 12 miles, with 400′ of climbing, a  relatively straightforward day!  Totals are now 188 miles walked and 22 900′ climbed.

We’re now in the agricultural heartland of Italy, with fields of corn, rice, beans and sunflower everywhere!

And

We did find a good sign indicating distance to some important towns

Only 880 kilometres to Rome?  Maybe we can make it this trip …

Paths:  Why make straight when, with a little imagination, you can add a kilometer or two?  We were walking today on a relatively easy journey, with a highway and train track to cross. The path builders found an overpass that provided an easy way across the highway. One job, done!  Now to get across the train track!

On finishing the walk across the overpass, straight in front (absolutely straight in front), you could see the elevated train tracks and a path underneath. Did I mention that it was straight in front?  The trail builders had other thoughts!  Our walking path is shown here

We crossed the highway on the left. Then zigged, then zagged, then a zigzag or two more, and then we crossed the train tracks to the right. Yes … did I mention that the path under the train track was straight in front of the overpass? Oh well!

Lemons to lemonade:  Recall yesterday’s final march uphill. Bill was struggling a bit as a result of a poor night’s sleep the night before. Net, he just wanted to be there and rest!

On arriving at the end of the hike, there is always the need to do our personal laundry, shower, communicate (blog, etc), and eat!  Bill lacked any ambition to hike down the hill (then back up) to find a meal.

Now, our hotel has its own restaurant. And it was pricy!  Really? In the middle of nowhere, Italy, you think you can ask these high prices? Well, we decided to go with the flow; make lemonade, just to avoid the walk/ climb …

Boy, was that the right choice! The meal started with shrimp in a mint infused,  foamed, mozarella broth.

Holy tastees, Batman! We requested extra bread to sop up every last drop of the broth!

Then, the primi platta

It’s a lobster-stuffed ravioli, in an intense seafood broth!  “More bread,  per favore!”

So, since we’re going for broke … how about dessert?

This is a semifreddo (gelato), laced with raspberries and draped with a hand-made chocolate lattice! Oh, yeah!

So, maybe there’s a reason for the high prices here in nowhere, Italy! (Actually, the prices were about the same as going to a pizza parlor in the States, but we’ve been price-spoiled here!).

Tomorrow is a long one, so time to begin the preparations.

Ciao!