Today was a day of navigating using our OsmAnd app to find off road tracks where possible to our next destination. Mostly it worked very well, although we did have to apply some creativity at times.
Our first quiet road led into a dirt track through the forest and up into flowery fields. We descended through the streets and found parking specially for tiny cars along the railway line in Montevarchi.
Another off-road section took us beside a river before we briefly joined a quiet road again. When we left it, we saw brightly painted bee hives and a sign for direct sales of honey. We passed vineyards, vegetable gardens and fields. A cycleway brought us to a petrol station for a quick sandwich lunch.
After lunch, we had to skirt around a big white sheep dog guarding two sheep wearing bells, while his cute puppy friend wanted to come along for the walk. He took quite a bit of dissuading.
Our intended path was unclear, so we took a better marked option and saw our first deer - we've been seeing signs for them everywhere.
Heading uphill, we went through lovely forests. Again, our intended path wasn't always clear but we're reassured when we see the red and white markings of the official walking paths.
We passed an old abbey and continued uphill through the forest. Eventually we started downhill and came out onto a road. At this stage it started to rain, and even briefly hail. Although it cleared, there was a bit of thunder in the distance which encouraged us to hotfoot it to our destination, Radda in Chianti.
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| This guard dog was one of several to bark us on our way today |
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| One of several off-road paths on our route |
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| We were treated to views of vineyards, forests and mountains throughout the day |
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| We often point out items of interest on the way. Here it's direct sale of honey. |
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| A bit of road-walking. Not too much of that today. |
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| We found the Chianti vineyards very photogenic |
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| The entrance to Cavriglia, where we had a sandwich lunch stop |
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| Goats |
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| We have learnt to be quite stern to dissuade some of the locals who want to join our walk |
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| A tricky bit of navigation |
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| A not-too-arduous water crossing |
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| Our first deer sighting of this trip |
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| Quite happy to enjoy the distant views that come as a reward for serious climbing |
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| Still more climbing - even more scenic views |
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| A bit of forest-walking |
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| A bit more climbing - nearly 900 metres of altitude gain today |
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| Pointing back (a long way) to the valley where our climb commenced a couple of hours earlier |
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Past the Abbey of San Lorenzo at Coltibuono. Still going up.
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| The path looked like an old Roman road in places |
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| This section of the path was well marked with the traditional white and red paint |
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| On to the road for the last few kilometres. It was quite wet for a while, with even a few small hailstones. |
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| Lovely vineyard scenery as we approached Radda in Chianti |
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| Into the village of Radda in Chianti at the end of the day's walk |
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| Dinner |
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| Today's bits and pieces |
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| Flowers, with bonus bug |
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| Birds and a lizard |
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| Day 28 - Map |
Day: 28
Distance: 29.8 km
Walking time: 6 hrs 13 mins
Elevation gain: 890 metres
Cumulative distance: 541.97 km
Today’s birds: Eurasian Magpie, Little Egret, Western Cattle Egret, Eurasian Moorhen
ReplyDeleteThanks Murray!
ReplyDeleteIts always fun to spot your first deer!
ReplyDeleteThose deer warning signs had been challenging us for a while!
DeleteA little trivia gem from QI tonight. The Italian for magpie is gazza. (European) magpies are noted for chattering. A small amount of chattering comes from a small magpie … which might be written in small paper or gazz-ette.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great trivia gem! Thanks for sharing 😊
ReplyDeleteLoved the goats
ReplyDeleteDid you note their long beards? Pretty good 😊
ReplyDelete