Day 196: Down Into The Heat

Castelvecchio Calvisio to Nucleo Area Artiginale (Raiano)

Distance: 35km

No church bells, no barking dogs, no rain. After an uneventful night, I leave for lower lands. Mostly along back roads and farm roads I make my way towards Popoli then Raiano. There really is not much to write about today. After spending the last couple of days generally above 1000m, today I spend most of my day between 250 and 350m. The sun is shining relentlessly, going is though as I pass plenty of vineyards and olive trees.

I booked an Airbnb for tonight. Nothing fancy. Just practical. With internet, a small kitchenette. Nothing more.

After a bit more than 35km I arrive there at 15:00. Settle in, dry my wet tent and start my planning for the next few days.

As of now, I intend on roughly following Sentiero Italia/E1 until the vicinity of Napoli but then, instead of going inland again, follow the coast. Yes, it's going to be plenty of road walk. But honestly, I have seen enough of the hilly Italian inland. I miss the sea breeze, the beaches, the swimming in the sea. It's still a couple of days until I will reach the sea. Until then, I continue the up and down inland.

Tomorrow I want it to be a bit of a different day. I will start at 06:00, walk to Sulmoma, where I am planning on boarding a train to Pescara. A short getaway from the trail. Just for a few hours. Just to stand with my toes in the sand, before returning back to the trail later tomorrow. Beating the heat and hopefully the thunderstorms which are still making my trail life a lot more complicated.