Buonconvento — Oct 12

This morning we left Siena just as all the schoolchildren of every age were busily headed off to school. A fairly dense fog kept us from seeing the countryside in the morning. We were fairly quickly out of the city and in the countryside, but still walking, primarily on asphalt .

The sun didn’t come out until 11. We found ourselves  in rolling hills of what I suspect is harvested grain. The Earth color has changed from red to an earthy tannish, grayish brown. After, the morning’s three hours of asphalt walking, we shifted to primarily nicely graded roads, rolling through the hills along the ridgeline with beautiful views in every direction. You’ll want to do this.

So far today, we’ve only met one, pilgrim, an Italian, living in Great Britain, a charming fellow. So the Luca to Siena pilgrim rush is over. I was told by Claudia, from Germany, that particular stretch is so popular because it can be done in one week, and there is good train, and plane access to both ends. I would add that it was particularly beautiful. I had spent two or three hours walking with and chatting with her on the way into sienna. She has gone back home already.  And that is the way of pilgrimage. People pass in and out of your life. You meet them and have a good time learning about each other. You take a rest day or they do, and you’re out of sequence with one another. You meet up again down the road and it’s so pleasant to find each other again. Or they go home, because they’ve done all of the stages they intend to do, and goodbyes are bittersweet.

The path flattens out on its way into Ponte d’Arbia. There are train tracks to the left, but much of the time they are nicely hidden by bushes. Plowed fields and green fields head off to the right, with a bit of forest beyond that, really very nice!

Psalm 19:2–5: The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament proclaims the works of his hands. Day unto day pours forth speech; night unto night whispers knowledge. There is no speech, no words; their voice is not heard. A report goes forth through all the earth, their messages, to the ends of the world.

The last push into Buonconvento is hard. It’s so good to arrive and shower, and head out for a cold beer!