I expected to be much more rested walking after a rest day, but almost the opposite. After consulting my experts, problem is that during a rest day you become dehydrated, don’t eat enough, and reduced cardiovascular efficiency. Solution: stay hydrated, eat as if walking, and plan a shorter sightseeing walking day.
Having stayed down at the lake, my day started by climbing back up to the Via Francigena Trail with its intermittent beautiful views of the lake. At one such vista point, I spotted a prickly pear cactus (aka Barbary Fig) with very ripe fruit that brought back the memory of eating 5 or 6 of these at a rest stop.
The trail soon narrowed and became very bouldery, enough to throw me off balance and cause my first fall, but with a soft landing rolling on top of my backpack: no bruises, no blood, and no scrapes. It did make me slow down and be much more cautious.
Then came the unexpected at the next break: mosquitoes, biting right through my thick socks. Thanks to loose clothing that covered arms and legs, two bites in feet was the total damage. Continuing through shaded forest along a babbling brook also offered glimpses of small waterfalls. The trail opened up and vineyards guided me through the middle. By 1:00, I could see my day’s goal: Montefiascone on top of a hill, of course. It would be another two hours before getting to my hotel room. I spent much time inside a very interesting church (actually one built over another), Basilica of Saint Flavian. My climb continued right up to the hotel doorsteps with more the next day.
Montefiascone has a rich history dating back to the Etruscans and later to serving as a Papal summer residence.
Julie (and husband) from Australia met me again at Montefiascone along with Bana and Juanita from Philippines that evening. As I entered the restaurant where they were eating, I spotted what Bana had in front of him: a Blueberry thin Filet Mignon. I ordered it and it was the best dinner in Italy so far.
