25th June 2017

25th June 2017

Fidenza to Fornovo di Taro - 33kms

Wow! We managed to do a long walk today! We set off at 5:30am again this morning with the intention of reaching Medesano some 20 kms away. The morning was cool with a light breeze blowing. We soon realised that the sky was quite overcast and the sun was struggling to shine through the cloud cover. 

After leaving the outskirts of Fidenza we walked along a fairly busy road and then went uphill for several kms along very quiet country roads. Compared to previous days this was bliss. The cool breeze was a godsend and soon we were speeding (well, sort of!) on our way. We reached Medezano having made very good time. We decided to have lunch and try to continue to Fornovo. This we did, but as luck would have it, the cloud cover broke up and the sun beat down relentlessly on us all the 10.5 kms to Fornovo. The first few kilometres we walked alongside roads on cycle lanes but then alongside the River Taro. We thought this would be very cooling. Sadly the river is practically dry and it felt more like walking alongside a desert! The lack of water is having a deleterious effect on the crops, many of which are starting to fail. This area is set up for large scale growing of tomatoes so let's hope they get some rain soon. As we walked along the edge of the river bed we saw that the path had been blocked off. We are used to this happening so we ignored the barrier and carried on. BIG MISTAKE! Just as we were nearing the bridge, the path became totally impassable and we had to turn round and find an alternate route.

Eventually we reached the bridge that spans the river Taro and which is the main entrance to Fornovo. Before we crossed we had a few drinks at the first bar we saw. I have never been a fan of coca-cola but in this heat a half pint of coke with lashings of ice is a life-saver!

Tomorrow we carry on to Cassio, about 21kms further along. On Tuesday we hope to reach Bercetto and on Wednesday (my 72nd birthday!) we hope to climb the Cissa Pass, which at an elevation of 1000m is going to be quite a challenge, particularly in this heat!