- Day 31 - day 10 for 2023
- Friday, 22 September
- Tremello to Pavia
- 751 km to Day 29 (239 km for 2023)
- 27 km for today all by train
- 778 km on my Via Francigena (266 km for 2023)
l want to be on the road early today as its a longish distance and the days are getting warm again.
My hostess has left a nice variety in the hostel kitchen. The whole of the top floor is devoted to the hostel with four beds. And I have been the, b only resident this past evening.
I over imbibe and am out the door just after sunrise.
I have gone about 30 minutes when I notice a railway level crossing. I reach for my camera: it's not in my shoulder bag nor in my pockets. I double check and start heading back to the village.
Conundrum:
I can't knock on the front door as its about 20 metres from the locked gate.
cannot ring.
I walk about the town and notice both the local train station and the local police offce.
I enter the police station and between them, they recognize the property and within 30 minutes my phone and I are united
The second part of the conundrum is can I reach Pavia, the next town and where I have booked a bed for the night.
I choose what I am sure Archbishop Sigeric would have chosen, the current version of a fast horse. One thing I have noticed about European railway systems: there is almost no noise of buffering when a train goes over points, turnouts, call then what you will.
I am at the accommodation, about 2km to the east of the rail station in Pavia by 13h and spend the afternoon looking around the central city.. A lot is relatively new. The old is the University and the churches. What seems quite new is a statue of Pavia: you can do your own research.
For the Saturday I have decided to bus about 10 km to Belgioioso and walk my more direct version of 20 km to Orio Litta.
At Belgioioso I gave trouble locating the bank and its ATM (or BancoMat). So, I go into the cade across the busy road. Coming out after coffee and a Pastry, I can see the signs clearly - when walking past on a 600 mm wide footpath, the detail get lost in the need to look at my feet and not take in the bigger picture.
The distance is about 20 km and I am surprised how many refreshment stops there are.
While making progress, the heat is, for me, very tiring.
The official path and I coincide at a bridge slightly more than 2 km to my destination. The whole time the destination is clearly visible, but my energy is fast fading.
I make the hostel and made very welcome. I get a wash of the days clothes, go to a vigil eucharist and a pasta with tomato sauce and basil.
Before sleep overtakes me, I look at the accommodation and fire off some emails.
And so to bed.
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