Day 4: Gubbio to Pietralunga

The Way today (27.32 km) was, again, lovely and a genuine pleasure to walk. It began along the valley floor for the first seven or so kilometers and then, there were many ups and downs. Some of the ups were particularly steep and rocky and I am grateful that I didn't have to come down them. The highlight of today was getting confirmation that I have a bed in the pilgrim accommodation in the Santuary at La Verna! I only passed 41 south bound pilgrims and felt a little lonely as there sometimes were huge gaps between them. I've been on tick alert as I have been warned a number of times about them and it is impossible to avoid the vegetation - other than the one on my sock, on the VF, I've so far managed to avoid picking up one. Finally, I had two dog encounters today: one darling little dog escorted me along the road for a while (I wonder how often he escorts pilgrims along the Way?) and then, not long before Pietralunga, three dogs ran out from there house and hassled me - all while the owner uselessly yelled at them. Thankfully, I was annoyed rather than scared.
P.S. Pietralunga is a wonderful old stone town with marvelous stone buildings, perched on top of a valley, with narrow laneways and street art all over the place.Read more