2nd July 2017

2nd July 2017

Pietrasanta to Valpromaro to Luca - 35kms

Yesterday we broke our record on this trip for the longest walk! We set out with the intention of only walking to Valpromaro some 17kms away. However we got there in good time and we were feeling good and so decided to carry on.

The paths in the morning proved tougher than we first thought. Uphill most of the time and then through a very narrow, completely overgrown track going up and down the mountain sides. So overgrown in fact that for a while we were almost lost. Paula, who was coming about 30 minutes later did eventually get lost and had to ask for a lift once she managed to get back to the mountain road. Anyway, another experience to notch up!

After some lunch in a small bar in Valpromaro we decided to carry on to Lucca, another 18kms away. This path was much easier with only some steep climbs and soon we had a good rhythm going. The going was mainly on minor roads but unfortunately the sun came out from behind the clouds and the rest of the way was uncomfortably hot. The last five kms getting into Lucca were sheer hell! We walked under the blazing sun along a very good straight path alongside the river, with very little shade. We had decided to stay in an hotel with air-conditioning as we had not had much rest the night before. Before getting there we stopped in the magnificent church of St Michael and had our pilgrim passports stamped. By the time we got to our hotel we were completely and utterly exhausted.

Tomorrow we rest in this beautiful city of Lucca.