Casalbore to Bovino – 18th June
Distance: 45.1 km – Elevation +840 m -890 m
Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 27 degrees
The stay at the farm had been a real pleasure. The supper was a delicious ravioli followed by an enormous beef steak. With a 10-mile walk planned for the day I was in no hurry to leave so enjoyed a leisurely breakfast. It was a beautiful morning as I left at 8.00 am. I am now following the line of the ancient Roman road – Via Traiana although I have yet to see any original road. The main part of the walk was the steep descents into two river valleys and the river crossings. The problem was not the water levels but the high river banks requiring a good deal of scrambling to get down into and out of the river.
The route followed dirt roads and quiet country lanes and the panorama very much similar to yesterdays walk with golden fields of wheat and other arable crops and a few olive groves.
I had booked ahead my bed for the night, a B&B in Montaguto and it was around 4 pm that I was approaching my destination when I received a message from my B & B – ” Room not ready – Booking cancelled “! I was furious but little could be done other than to find an alternative. I asked in the service station in the village and was told the nearest available accommodation was 16 miles away in Bovino. I was told I could catch a bus at 5.30 pm that stopped in the village. Whilst walking to the bus stop the stray dogs in the village took a dislike to me and I was surrounded by 4 rather aggressive dogs who just would not stop their aggression and were yapping at my heels. A local villager seeing my predicament arrived with a broom and managed to move the dogs away.
When the bus arrived I said to the driver “Bovino?” and he nodded but would not accept any payment from me. The bus followed the main road for 16 kilometres and stopped at the junction to Bovino and the driver indicated that I should leave the bus. I still had an 8 kilometre uphill walk to reach Bovino! Exhausted I arrived in Bovino at 8.30 pm.
