Stage 14: Ponte d’Arbia to Siena — June 4, 2022

 26 km — 34^oC and hazy — We met 17 more pilgrims on their way to Rome.

(By Jim)

We hit the road at 5:30 today with a decided bounce in our step.  Today we would arrive in Siena, the place that would be home for three nights as we planned to rest and tour the city. 

The sunrise was spectacular.  A skiff of cloud, then haze, kept the sun in check and the temperatures tolerable.  The trail was easy:  mostly dirt road, flat and with little elevation.  Our pace was strong as we cruised through villages and by farms, where only the dogs were awake.  Before we knew it we had reached Siena.  The path abruptly changed from dirt to tar roads as we transitioned from rural to industrial Siena.  We caught a city bus to bypass this asphalt wasteland and got off outside the old city wall and entered through Porta Romano at about 11:00.  With only our curiosity to guide us, Laurel and I meandered through the streets stopping at churches along the way to Piazza del Campo, where we had a cold drink in the shade and watched the spectacle of humanity walk by.  Our Airbnb was ready for us at 12:30, so we walked 100 meters to our cozy air conditioned sanctuary.

We have now completed two weeks of walking and are finished approximately 1/4 of our planned trek.  Here is what I have learned so far:

1. Pocket Earth (our map app with trail route), ironically, works a lot better when I take it out of my pocket and refer to it.  
2. In Italy, spandex seems compulsory for all cyclists, even those riding e-bikes.
3. WhatsApp and Google Translate make it easy to communicate with hostels and albergos, but cannot prepare them for the surprise and let down of trying to communicate with me in person.
4. We are fortunate and we are grateful.