Stage 17: Viterbo to Vetrella

22.2 kilometers
Elevation gain/loss: 522m/553m
Steps: 28,330
Total distance traveled: 323.4km
Distance to Rome: 86.6km

Today was a day of deviations and detours, some imposed due to road closures, some self imposed to make our walk a little easier. 

We got off to a late start because Brenda's back, which almost had us cancelling this trip altogether, decided to act up this morning. It was touch and go whether we'd take the train to Vetrella or walk. Shortly after 8:00 am, Brenda made the decision to walk so we set out with the intention of taking it easy and arriving whenever we arrived. 

The first deviation due to road work had us hiking through a very technically challenging, steep and narrow path. We couldn't wait to get it over with, not because it was difficult but because it was so indescribably eerie. The path took us through chestnut and oak woods but we didn't dawdle to take photos. It was too spooky. When the path met the road, we took the decision to walk along the road rather than continue along the Francigena to our first rest stop.

After stopping for coffee and pastries, we decided to make things easier for Brenda's back by staying on the road to our 2nd rest stop. As a result, we have no photos from the first 16 kms of our 22K walk. 

For the last 6 kms, we followed the Francigena as prescribed and it was a delightful end to this stage of the camino. We passed a house with vines ladened with grapes. It was hard to resist picking them.

About 3 kms from Vetrella, we came across an oasis for pilgrims. We stopped in to have a look and had we not been so keen to finish this stage, we would have gladly lingered to enjoy a cold beer while taking in the peace and tranquility.

We saw a few hazelnut groves as we neared Vetrella. Had we stayed on the Francigena between the 2 rest stops, we probably would have seen a lot more.

Our accommodations in Vetrella was equipped with a kitchen and there was a supermarket close by. After weeks of eating out, we were so happy to have a home cooked meal that didn't involve pizza or pasta!Read more