San Miniato to Gambassi Terme – September 27th – 16.3 miles – 7 hours (no restaurant breaks just snacks out of our pack) and as a added bonus we climbed 2216 feet.Yes to the coldest morning yet – two long sleeved shirts and my coat. It took a couple of hours to de-layer down to a short sleeved shirt. By the end of the walk I was toasty in my pants.

Here’s looking back at San Miniato:Have you noticed in the photos that the sun is too often in my way? If we pilgrims could plan the Via we’d walk due South. However, the Via has us, again and again, going east and north. Everyday one of us bitches about it for a second or two and then we move on. It must be cathartic because there’s no reasonable explanation for the behavior.To spice things up a bit we walk on roads with little to no shoulders.

On this day the community offered super cool blister and cut first aid boxes.Hello hills!They look like rolling milk chocolate – plowed and ready to plant. And then… green.

Hello Tuscany!

The day was perfectly challenging.

We stayed at the fantastic Villa Della Certosa in a two bedroom suite. Chappy took the pull out sofa in the living room. Our host Theresa was the best – so helpful and kind! Felt like home.

Chappy finished off the day by getting pooped on by a bird – from his cheek to his shirt. Belly laughs had by all!Roxanne’s post and photos:

Walked from San Miniato to Gambassi Terme.

morning hit of rocket fuel

shades of green in Tuscany

shades of gold in Tuscany

shade in Tuscany