Gubbio to Biscina May 29

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Miles Walked                                           17.1                                                 241.9

Feet Climbed                                          2090                                                  28,720

Song of the Day:  Boots by Nancy Sinatra

These boots are made for walkin'

And that's just what they'll do

One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you

Are you ready boots?

Start walkin'!

As we have been walking along the St Francis trail, I have been thinking about how to pay homage to America's own Italian Francis- the one and only Frank Sinatra.  So many great songs.  But, I actually decided to use a song from Frank's daughter Nancy, which is applicable to our hiking trip!

Today was a very pleasant, yet challenging walk.  After a terrific breakfast at our hotel (by far the best breakfast yet, but that's a pretty low bar...), we left the hotel around 8:30.  We stopped at the St Francis convent church on the way out of town.  Another very large church.  Man, those Catholics could build huge structures.  As I have said before, they really seem to have an edifice complex....

Gubbio is a great place to visit.  If you of you are coming to Italy, I highly recommend it.  One of our places on our trips to Italy.

As we were leaving town, we ran into a German couple we last talked to about a week ago.  This is a couple that hikes 3-4 months every year.  They seem to be having a good walk so far.  Funny, on this trip we have only encountered hikers from Germany and Austria and a few Americans.  No other Europeans.  

It was sunny again today, with temps in the low 60's when we left, low 70's when we arrived at Biscina, our destination.  I say Biscina, like it is some "place."  Actually, the only thing at this place is the Agriturismo Biscina where we are staying.  Over the years, we have stayed at several Agriturismo's and always enjoyed them.  Basically, they tend to be farms that have been converted to apartments.  Our place today is a lovely 2 bedroom apartment, part of a complex of about 6 apartments or so.  Once again though, we are the only people staying here.  Last year when we were in Tuscany at this same time, everything was packed.  And Florence was packed two weeks ago.  Umbria, not at all.  Here are a couple of photos from the agriturismo.  We are about 2000 feet high, surrounded by forest and vineyards.  A very beautiful place:

When it rains it pours...  Mores gnomes.  Here's Linda doing her best Grumpy impersonation.  It's a real stretch for her, so she gets extra credit for the effort that went into this one.....notice the almost regal structure these people put into housing the gnomes!  Can you see the fireplace where Snow White is?  This is right along the road we were walking on!

Here are some photos from the walk today.  We crossed several streams (and didn't fall in once!).

Tomorrow is the big walk into Assissi.  The book is saying 19 miles, almost 4000 feet of climb.  Not sure I trust this book, as they have been off many times (plus and minus).  I'm hoping they have overstated it for tomorrow....in any case, the weather forecast is for sunny and warmer.  We will try to get an early start to beat some of the heat and get there early enough to tour around.  We visited Assisi one other time in the late 90's with my Brother Bruce and his family and enjoyed it a lot.