Day 8 - Buonconvento to San Quirico - 21 .5 km apparently

 Day 8 - Buonconvento to San Quirico - 21 .5 km apparently

Wow, that was a long day!

What started out as a long hike up hill was made harder by the ‘white’ road being covered in tiny stones that either rolled as you trod on them or dug up onto the tender parts of your foot. Also this white road was slanting either to the right or left so you ended up walking with one foot lower than the other. It was exhausting and ankles, knees and hips cried out in protest.

We walked about 14 km on this before we came to a bench, and that bench was closely followed by a cafe that did cake and coffee!!!

After that the road went steeply uphill and we could see our destination for ages before we seemed to get nearer to it.

Our luggage transfer so far has been great, with our bags being ready for us when we arrived. For the last 2 days we have had to wait until after 4.30, hopefully this is just because of the holiday weekend! Sitting round in sweaty clothes waiting for a shower isn’t fun!

Anyway, tonight our accommodation is outside San Quirico so while we were waiting for clean clothes to arrive we hiked into town to collect our pilgrim stamp, to visit its 3 churches and to have a small cocktail while people watching!

So we are doing the alternate route then! 

We went to a bar last night and sat outside and had a gin tonic. It was very quiet. Then the locals arrived and we found ourselves sitting among the trend setters of Buonconvento.

Leaving Buonconvento

We walked past lots of derelict factories on the outskirts of the town.

The haunted house. We shouldn’t have walked by this house, but we missed our turning. The geocache nearby said that their house was built in 1910 by a man trying to impress a woman. She turned him down and he had to give the house to his uncle because of the debts he had run up. He died of a broken heart shortly after. Now the house and it’s beautiful gardens stand empty

Back on the right track

Yep! Up hill on tiny stones!

It was a shame it was only 10 o’clock

Cypresses

These sheep were across the valley but we could hear the
bells that they wear ringing as they grazed across their field

This dog was following Gary, it wanted him to play ball!

We saw a lot of vineyards.

Still climbing, what a view

You can see pretty flowers, we can see a bench

Fancy Easter eggs

We came from over there.

San Quirico comes into view in the distance

If you look carefully you can see the route zigzagging down the hill behind Gary.
We went down into the valley and then back up again.

It doesn’t look that steep but it was and we climbed for 3 km

Nearly there. These other pilgrims were sitting on a bench - they left as we arrived!

The NINE course Easter dinner menu.
You don't choose what you want for each course you have it all!!

Our home for tonight.

The town gate

A catapolt, obvs!

There's a geocache behind that lion!