Fiorenzuola d’Arda 19 miles

Usual brekkie. Departure slightly delayed by a phone call but still on my way by 8.30am or so.

Was a little concerned by today’s walk because at 19 miles it was one of the longer ones and how would I be affected by the loss of hair. I am not exactly hirsute these days but I was fairly shorn yesterday. Would my strength be diminished? I’m glad to say I didn’t notice any difference.

Somewhat to my surprise I have been listening to snippets of The Archers recently. They must have changed how they create podcasts at some point in 2014 because up to now if you choose a podcast you got the appropriate program. No more and no less. But for older selections they possibly based them on the scheduled timing with a margin. As The Archers appears to have been broadcast just before Desert Island Discs I now get the last minute of that program, just when the storyline is building a cliffhanger for the end. I suspect The Archers was daily whereas DID is weekly so I get a clip once every 7 or so episodes of the Archers and because I am working my way back so are the clips. I learned that someone really wanted their baby now, then she really didn’t want a baby, then she couldn’t possibly be pregnant, then she didn’t know what was wrong with her. Seeing as that is 4 weeks of stories they do seem to drag these things out a bit.

Had a mile section on a busy road today but I had a white painted line giving me about 2 or 3 feet of “protection”. All the vehicles did keep to their side of the line but I was constantly staring at each vehicle in case the driver decided to check their phone, or look at their sat-nav or just lose concentration for a few seconds. It wouldn’t have taken much.

Now in a tomato-growing area. They don’t use canes to grow them upright. Just on the ground. And then use a sort of combine harvester to collect them. Quite interesting.

Bit of a disappointment when I got to today’s hostel. Firstly the guy said that there were no hostels open in the next intended stop. Which explains why no-one answered my e-mail requests. And when I got to my room there was a single bed and some bunks with 2 guys already grabbing the bed and lower bunk. I truly hate the upper bunk especially when the steps up are thin metal bars that are going to really hurt my tender feet. And it is like an oven. And at least one of them is sure to decide to get up stupidly early. There is always someone.Read more