Alison and Alison and the art of re-tyrement

Cycling adventures in retirement

Day 1. Brindisi to Lecce. A day of dead ends.

Distance 31.66 miles

Temperature 34 degrees

Today we started along the Via Francigena. The original pilgrims made their way from across Europe to Rome and then onto the ports of Brindisi or Santa Maria di Leuca. They then took a boat to travel onto Jerusalem.

On arriving in Brindisi there were two columns by the coast. The tradition being to touch the columns on arrival. Only one column today and it is surrounded by a fence so no touching.

We were quietly confident. Today’s route was 28 miles and flat. We left at 10.00am and informed our host we would be arriving at about 1pm. 31 miles later we turned up in Lecce at 5pm.

Our pilgrim credenziales.We have to get them stamped twice a day. Inexplicably we leave the pilgrim office in Brindisi with six stamps.
We leave Brindisi and find the route. It is looking good.

Our routing assistants were primed, but very early on they started to disagree. Teenager Kevin Kamoot would direct one way and Nonna Wendy Wahoo the opposite direction.

The road stopped suddenly.

A Via Francigena sign heading straight into a field.
Are we really supposed to go this way? Is this a well travelled path?

And that is just a small selection of the roads ending. We have cycled round and round industrial plants. The security team watching the CCTV would have had an unexpectedly interesting day.

It was hot. Very hot. We passed fields of melons. Or were they squash? Memories of Charlotte and Hugo eating my organic, home grown squash and getting toxic squash poisoning were enough to restrain our desire for melon.
Finally we arrive hot and exhausted at the Duomo. Cathedral closed. Pilgrim office closed. Despite being advertised as being open until 9pm. We will revisit tomorrow.
Lesson of the day. Always finish off the bar of chocolate. Sorry. Alison says this is a revolting photo.

All in the day of a pilgrim ……..

alisonmiddleditch

3 responses to “Day 1. Brindisi to Lecce. A day of dead ends.”

  1. Liz ‘n Linca avatar
    Liz ‘n Linca

    Think positive … the worst is over … day 2 can only be better 🤞😎

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    1. GW54BOY avatar
      GW54BOY

      I like your optimism Liz 🙏 I guess you haven’t followed their previous adventures 🤣

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  2. chrisincarshalton avatar
    chrisincarshalton

    Dear bothI feel that the clue to your troubles could be

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