Distance Walked: 26 km
Time Frame Walked : 6:15 am – 2:15 pm (with 3 rest stops and a tiny bit of rerouting)! Temperature: 31 C (it is now 5:30 pm and is 32 C).
Accommodations:
Centro Cresti – Via Cassia 8, Ponte d’Arbia, Buonconvento 53100 Siena (SI) lCombination of bunk beds and single beds. Cost: Donation. Tel. 0577370096 – 3277197439 – 3486021256
Summary; Our guidebook has referred to this section as “one of the most charming stretches of the Tuscan route”…and we could quickly see why. Green fields turning golden-tan, glorious cypresses, few settlements and quiet serenity. If we had not left Sienna at 6:15 a.m., on a Sunday, with no water and only a small package of cookies as our “emergency snack”, our hike would have been perfect! After 8 km we found a water fountain, and another 2 km after that a small, OPEN cafe. Yes, we are experienced hikers. Yes, we know better. No, we won’t make that mistake again!
When I asked Carla (our Italian dorm-mate from last night and tonight), if our hostel had WiFi, she immediately offered me to use her data, saying that she has plenty. She also generously helped us to book our next three night stays. “I am happy to share/help” is becoming a constant refrain. I plan never to take this for granted.
Following our evening routine, we have showered, washed our clothes, hung them on the line, and are now at a nearby bar enjoying a Moretti and the bar’s internet.
Here are some photos from today:
Next Stop: Torrenieri, 17.5 km.
Retirement Reflections 
That last picture looks like a painting.
Thank you for sharing your walk!
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Thanks so much for stopping by. So much of the scenery did look like a painting! 🙂
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8 hours of walking in 31C!!! I’d need a hospital 🙂
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Since our ‘water fiasco’ happened before 9 am, it honestly wasn’t that bad. Slow and steady is our pace!
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Hi Donna! It’s pretty from your photos but it sounds HOT for walking all that way–especially with no water!!!! Glad you found some early on. Is it normally this warm this time of year? We are thinking Spain & Italy next May/June. Hmmmm…might have to reschedule. Keep walking! ~Kathy
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Thanks, Kathy – It wasn’t this hot the first week, but it hasn’t been cold and we’ve had no rain (yet). Others who walked this route this past May said that there was loads of rain. Thank you for following!
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Oh no! Sorry you had to go so far without water. Did you accidentally forget it or did you think the first water fountain would be closer? Being a lover of the heat, the temperature sounds nice for walking. But really, who cares look at that view! I can only imagine how gorgeous it is. Tuscany is definitely on my bucket list. Stay safe!
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Thanks, Jill – Since Siena is a very touristy area, we had ( mistakenly) assumed that a cafe would be open. We won’t be making that mistake again! Thank you so much for following and for your kind comments!
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I am having so much fun watching you !
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How wonderful to be able to follow your journey
As we look forward to your homecoming and reviewing all the details
Over the past few weeks
Travel safe
With all our love
Mom and David
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Thanks so much for following. Richard and I can’t wait to see you and share the details with you. I’m off to send you an email right now!
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Thanks, Susan – I am so glad that you are following along. I can feel you right beside me!
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Hi Donna another gorgeous edition of Italy and despite forgetting water (I know you don’t need to be reminded of hydration) what a beautiful part of the country. I wake each morning looking forward to your next chapter. Enjoy my friend xx
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Hi, Sue – Thank you for this very lovely comment. I am so glad that you are enjoying these posts!
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If I was there I could have driven down for a ‘water’ visit! I’m so happy to hear the rains have gone and the lovely hot summer Italian weather has arrived. Love the phots – so picture perfect! 5 more days till touchdown!
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That would have been lovely! I have my fingers crossed for a meet-up!
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I love the round hay bale and the conifer pines – so Tuscan. Sounding quite warm. Hope Richard’s cold is gone. Louise
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Unfortunately, Richard’s cold has hung on…and has been shared with me. We now have a mini-pharmacy in our packs!
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Beautiful!
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Thanks, Deb – I look forward to reading about your walk with Joanne!
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I think I would have been a bit panicky hiking without water. Glad to hear you eventually found some but I’m guessing it was a little ‘tense’ for a while.
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Hi, Joanne – It really began with us believing “there must be a cafe/shop/fountain/hotel/open church around the corner”. Then, it was simply too far to turn around and walk back. There were numerous houses around, but they all seemed to sleep in on that Sunday morning!
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Hi Donna, I’ve just discovered your blog and I am loving it! We will be walking from Siena to Rome in September so following with interest. Enjoy the rest of your journey x
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Hi, Deborah. Thank you for stopping by. If you have any questions that I can help with, please do not hesitate to ask. Also, the Randoneurds just finished walking from Lucca to Rome, and published a daily post about their journey. You can find a link to their blog on my sidebar.
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Oh, Donna, your photographs are just breath-taking. And I imagine seeing this gorgeous for myself would be even more so.
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Thanks, Leslie – My iPhone photos definitely do not do this scenery justice, In your mind, magnify the brilliance of each photo and that should help! 🙂
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The 31 degree celsius would be extra challenging. Pilgrim dinner with an eclectic group of pilgrims equals fun conversation:)
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Thanks, Erica – We have especially enjoyed our communal pilgrim dinners And, they have usually taken place in a mixture of languages!
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It all looks fabulous Donna, I bet you’re having a great time with so many memories to take with you
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Thanks, Sam – The daily blogging has been much easier than I had anticipated, It has also been a great way to help preserve our memories!
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Hi Donna – just loving the notes and photos … looks so much fun – yeah a bit tiring … but not much and so much to see and learn … great – cheers Hilary
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Thanks, Hilary – I greatly appreciate you following and commenting!
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Oh no! 8 km before you found water, and even a bit further before you found food. I am a great believer in food and water. Good idea to leave early and finish before the height of the afternoon heat, though.
Jude
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Ironically, I ALWAYS pack extra water and food. On this particular morning, one of the hikers mentioned that the water from the bathroom sinks (usually potable) tasted “a bit off”. We figured that since we were in a large, touristy area no problem to grab water on our way out of town. On the rest of out trip — we never made that mistake again!
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