Day 2 : Pontessieve to Consuma : 18 kms - 6 hours
Today was mainly spent climbing, as you can see from the map. We had some beautiful views of farmland and forests but it was a solid climb.
We began the day with breakfast at a busy, local cafe
Leaving Pontessieve through the clock tower arch
Across the bridge
Up a hidden path
With views back to Pontessieve
Views also of the Sieve Valley with the centrepiece being the tenth century Castello di Nipozzano, which is now a prosperous winery of the historic Frescobaldi company.
The only town on the route was Diacceto. This is the local butchery but we went next door to the Co-op to buy our lunch.
Vacated farmhouse
Small shrine in the forest
Flowering prickly pear
English gin distillery and accommodation
A well-earned lunch break
Then the real climbing began on gravel and sandy forestry tracks
Chestnuts on the path
Checking directions with guidebook and mobile phone
From the forest we eventually moved on to the highway
Our destination
Walking in to the small town
Our accommodation tonight is courtesy of Irina Carletti, who is the proprietor of the Panificio e Pizzeria. €30 pp with breakfast. Irina drove us to another property she owns 5 minutes away and will collect us for dinner and breakfast.
A happy night with Irina and her family at their restaurant for dinner.
A good training day today with all the ascents...but tomorrow it is all downhill.
M&M
1 comment:
Wow that’s a big day of uphill. Hope the down not too gruelling. Xx
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