It was 40kms from Chignolo Po to Pavia. As I left this morning, I was planning on doing 22km to Belgioioso, but I ended walking to Pavia. A very long day, but a day where I met several other walkers, mostly from Holland.
I was staying in Pavia and therefore needed to take the train back to Chignolo Po. I was at the station early, bought a sandwich for breakfast – as there wasn’t any breakfast where I was staying. It was good that I was early, as the train left 6 minutes earlier that I had noted, bit was 10 minutes delayed as I arrived at Chignolo Po, as it is a single track and we had to wait for the train coming in the opposite direction.
I walked towards the castle and then followed the track next to an irrigation channel. I’d already said “bonjourno” to an Italian couple before stopping to chat with a Dutch guy who’s daughter had studied in Denmark. He was on his way to Rome, a multi year project. We could hardly hear each other as there was a racing/go-cart track close by, and it was very loud.
By the time I’d reached Mirdalo Terme after 5km, I’d already said hello to another Italian couple and an English lady swearing down her telephone. On the farm tracks after Mirdalo Terme, I met three couples from Holland, all of whom had started from home. The first couple walked a few weeks per year, and will likely get to Rome on their next trip. The second couple had also walked in stages but plan to get to Rome this time around. The third couple started walking this year and plan to end in Rome. Home to Rome must be big in Holland.
At the end of the farm tracks I took a break at a bar in Santa Cristina. Three Belgians arrived shortly afterwards. They had, just as I, taken the train from Pavia and got off in Belgioioso. So it had taken then 3 hours to get here, a marker for me going to Belgioioso. They aren’t strictly following the via Francigena, but are making their way to Rome. They stay in bigger cities and commute to the start end points. Tomorrow they travel to Parma, and take the Apennines with base there.
I was soon in the countryside again, flat as has been the case for some time, but the field size is smaller than earlier. I walked around a quarry, with many lorries picking up stone. It was then back on roads, mostly with cycle paths to walk on
I reached Belgioioso, passing through a neighbourhood with house, one of which certainly stood out. I found a restaurant that was willing to serve me, and ordered a pasta lunch. I took a decision to continue towards Pavia. My legs were feeling good, and with lunch in my stomach I was optimistic I could make it.
I still had 18kms, and it turned out that pretty much the remainder of the stage was on roads, more often than not with a wide bike track, and for many kilometer’s, with new laid tarmac. But the countryside didn’t change, flat and fields!
At 5pm in Montebelone, I still had 8kms to go, and was feeling it a bit. I checked to see if public transport into Pavia was significantly quicker. It was quicker, but then again I would have needed to catch a bus back tomorrow, so I decided to continue, with somewhat heavy legs.
The last 3-4 kms passed through the suburbs and later the centre og Pavia, coming from the east. was back at the place I was staying just before 7pm, after starting to walk at around 9am. I’d walked 40,4kms and had tired legs, so hopefully tomorrow can be a more restful day. I was too tired to find a place to eat, so bought a couple of very disappointing pasties and rested my legs.