Day 4: Farfa - Vescovio

Walked 25 km in pleasant spring weather.

He enjoyed visiting 'il santuario di Santa Maria' (5th century), which is located near the excavations of an ancient Roman city. A beautiful place to visit!

Day 3 Abbey of Farfa

I Left early in the morning with the train at the Lago Transimeno, to continue my route where I left it 3 days ago.
My feet seems to be reasonable and the first days to come are not too long 15 till 20km a day.
I arrived in the abbey of Farfa the afternoon. The abbey used to be an important centre of religious and civil governance in the region. It has the largest collection of medieval copied books and documents after Rome. A sculpture depicts the 1500 year history of the Abbey.
Because of the renovation works I could not sleep in the abbey but stayed in the nearby monastery.

More info can be found on the website of the Farfa abbey.

Senatorium Tuoro sul Transimeno

Second day first obstacles

Castel Chiodato

After escaping the morning rush in Montorotondo and crossing the autostrade del Sole, I pass by a lovely wood reservation with a lot of flours and a swine not to far from me shuffling around. The way is now even more hilly than yesterday with a lot of ups and down's so I decide not to pass by MonteFlavio but take the direction to Montelibretto, which is a shorter way to Farfa. Today it rains a lot in the afternoon, and when I arrive in Montelibretto I have 29km on the counter, enough for today. But my feet suffer from blasters, when I go to the pharmacy the man want to see my pelgrim feet and instructs me not to continue for some days. That's why I decide to take the next day the train to Tuoro, to rest for 2 or 3 days. But no panic moral is still OK.

Leaving Rome

12 April, early in the morning my sister, brother in law and I take the train from Terontola to Roma Termi to start the trip. At 9:15 we are in front of the impressive Pantheon ready to go. It is a sunny day, and it is a lovely walk through the parks in Rome. After crossing the Tiber we have some asphalt lanes but the traffic is reaonable. Once the ring road is crossed, the teriffic lazio landscape opens, with snowcapped mountains in the background. The first days ends in Montorotondo after 33km, and already some hills covered.

Crossing the Tiber in Rome

Day 0 Brussels South

Day 0 Brussels - South

Safely arrived in Charleroi. My son Mathijs , my wife Chris and three little wolves: Ferre, Lore and Lieselot didn't mind to wake up at 5:30 to bring me to the airport and wave goodbye. Yesterday evening the other children passed by to say goodbye as there is much that is left behind. First gate has been passed : a backpack of 17 kg  was no reason for Ryanair to skip to procedure B , it must have been the early hour. But in Tuoro I'll still have to see what is really needed to carry with me. The problem always comes when you stuff your sack strictly according to the packing list and the time of recharge arrives: the panic attacks that you forgot the ultimate items that will faciliate the trek. The last days were not hectic but the tension grew day by day to get everything done at home and for the trip. Now we can slow down again, both my wife at home and I on the trip. My sister Magdaleen and her husband Andoni will be waiting for me at Perugia Tomorrow morning we will drive to Rome for Day 1, some clouds and rain in the forecast wont stop us.

The 3 wolves

Countdown

Two months ago a made a To-Do list, things that should be done before a left on the trip. At that time there was still no pressure to have things done, but today I would have been lost without my golden-list and a good portion of items I do not have to worry anymore.
A few days after the list was set, problems with my shoulder almost forced me to cancel the project, but fortunately nature was with me and the lime on my shoulder broke avoiding a medical intervention. 30 days before the departure date I got the green light for the trip, and from that moment I really came into a countdown mode with little time extra. As the pressure rises before day 0 I’m looking forward for the lift-off moment, the day I can start walking and that’s it!

GPS
Fix gaps between waypoints, distance between 2 points never more than 3km
Way-points for peaks and the surrounding locations
Route per day stage
Upload Maps, waypoints, routes, tracks reference to GPS
Print daily stage for e-Reader
Maps: Topo (25000) and Roadmaps
Inventory with link to the waypoint numbering
Scan missing maps
Mark waypoints on scanned versions
Upload maps to e-Reader
Medical
Go to doctor for immunizations
Check and complete first aid kit
Equipment
List of what to pack
List of what I put aside to send to any postal address
List and buy what is still missing
Overnight in tent test

Backpack adjusted at store

Backpack load
For home
Overview of route, schedule and contact addresses for home
Pictures of the home front to copy on e-Reader
Explanation relating to items that could be needed to send to me
Administration and documents
Copies of important documents, scan and send to e-mail address that will be accessible
Post interrupt newspaper subscription
Post interrupt auto insurance
letter of attorney for tax declaration
Boarding document for flight to Italy
Communications
Agreements with sponsoring association
Announcement to Family, Friends and Interested and sponsor of Blog Action
Evening for meetings with friends who want to join for some days on the trip
Arrangements for transmitting warnings to bad weather on the way

Appointments with someone who can post messages on blog
Contact information addresses for overnight stays