Castelluccio dei Sauri to Orta Nova – 20th June
Distance: 26.6 km – Elevation +170 m -290 m
Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 26 degrees
Breakfast at 7.15 am – I checked out to find the cost of my two-course meal with wine and coffee came to 35 euro!
I started walking around 8.00 am after a typical Italian breakfast. After the booking mistake of yesterday, I still had 6 kilometres to walk to reach Castelluccio dei Sauri. There was a stiff breeze that first hit me from the side and then from the rear before I came to the only climb for the day into Castellucchio. I stopped for a cool drink and chatted to the locals before finding an atm for cash. Trying to get inside a bank here is like trying to get into Fort Knox!
The VF tracks wanted to take me on what seemed unnecessary diversions in which I could see no purpose other than adding distance and time. So I kept to the direct road route, a very quiet road. It was flat walking all the way. This must be the breadbasket of Italy with vast fields of wheat and harvesting in process. A stubble field of wheat at been set on fire causing anxious moments to locals when the wind changed direction!
Tonight I am staying on another farm where an evening meal is provided, and it was one of the best meals I have enjoyed in Italy, a tasty antipasti and pasta course, followed by a delicious free-range chicken from the farm and white wine from their own vineyards.
