15-16th June 2017

15 -16th June 2017

San Germano Vercellese to Vercelli /Vercelli to Robbio - 38kms

You remember my pet hates on this walk? First there was the never-ending completely straight Roman roads. Then those very high mountains in Switzerland. Now I have two more; rice fields and zanzare (mosquitoes!)

For the last two days we have been zigzagging across immense rice fields for 38 kms(!) infested with mosquitoes. I have so much mosquito repellant on me that I could be called "deet" man! Ana Maria has been getting the worst of it as the mosquitoes have been kinder to me than ever before! I did manage to have an interesting chat with one of the farmers looking after the rice fields. I have to say walking these last two days has been pretty boring, just Mike after mile of rice paddies! 

On reaching Vercelli yesterday we found that our hostel for the night, the Hospitale Sancti Eusebi, was closed and did not reopen for a couple of hours, just enough time for us to do a bit of sightseeing and have some lunch. When it did re-open we found new friends there; a German lady Birgitta, two Australians father and daughter Edward and Lisa, and two very nice Catalans (I made the mistake of calling them Spanish!) Juan and Ramon. Juan prepared dinner (Spanish tortilla) amid much heckling and wine drinking and a splendid dinner was had by all. These evening gatherings are in part what make these caminos so special. 

Today Juan, Ramon and the two of us walked for most of the way together for the first 12 kilometres or so. Along the way we met an Italian girl Carla who came out of her farmhouse to have a chat. That was probably the most excitement we had all day!

Tonight we are sleeping in a farmhouse B&B, which boasts the luxury of air-conditioning. Wow, what a welcome relief after the 33C degrees we encountered today, with practically no shade anywhere. Tomorrow we are going to try to make up for lost time by attempting a 30kms walk to the town of Tromello, assuming we can stand the heat which is again going to be round the mid-thirties. Wish us luck! For now we are going back into our air-conditioned room!