Way of St Francis

Thank you for your generosity in donating to the Foodbank. Rieti 400m altitude. Descent 750m Ascent 400m. Sunny 29c. Distance 19km. Due to the high temperatures forecast, I decided to leave soon after 6am. I set about hiking from the medieval town of Poggio Bustone to the forests below in Happy Valley. As soon as I arrived at Cantalice for breakfast, I decided to climb the stairway to the piazza sitting on the hilltop. My thighs were on fire by the time I reached the top. However I returned to the foot of the hill to eat in a cafe! Along the way, I stopped off at the Santuario La Foresta. I was in the church when a couple of volunteers offered to show me around the santuario. I was shown the cave where St Francis slept when he stayed there for respite. The surrounding forests are especially peaceful with plenty of birdsong. Those memories soon faded as I hiked to my destination for the day though the urban parts of Rieti. I am off now for a gelato. Five days of hiking to arriving in Rome.