Highs and Lows

It is inevitable that on a 400km walk you will have highs and lows, and Gambassi Terme was definitely the low point. I had booked accommodation at "Cassia Vecchia" which was supposed to be 350m from the centre, but I did not know exactly where it was. On my final climb into Gambassi Terme (the last thing you want after 27km under the hot sun is a "final climb"} I noticed an information place that was open, despite it being 3-50 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon. The man was very helpful, giving me a map and showing me exactly where Cassia Vecchia was located........ virtually the last house in the town and 1.5km away up a hill with a further 70 m of elevation! "Don't worry, he said, you will easily do it in 25 minutes!". I said to him that "25 minutes is a lifetime after you have already walked 27 km!"

Even with a map the place as not easy to find. And with no food available, after I had checked in I had to walk 1.5 km back down to the town for dinner....... and then another 1.5 km back to the lodgings..... which were even more difficult to find in the dark! This was definitely the low point!

I had dinner in a Pizza Restaurant, and on the plus side I got chatting to Peter and Barbara who were walking the Via Francigena, and a German couple who were touring round in a camper van. I met Peter and Barbara again in San Gimignano later.