Day 3 – Thursday 17 July

Otricoli to Civitella del Lago

Campsite

Camping Il Falcone (http://www.campingilfalcone.com/)

Notes

In hind sight it was a good job I had an easy day on Wednesday. Today may have been less than 40 miles but it was nearly all uphill, climbing over 5,000 feet. It was hot, but not much relieved by gaining altitude. I found a Lidl supermarket where I stocked up on essentials. I was feeling as though I had cold coming on so bought oranges and bananas as well as other rations. As I was loading the bicycle in the morning my small milometer fell apart but I was able to stick together with insulating tape. When my satnav isn’t on it’s the main guide to speed and distance so it was important not to abandon it. Most of the day I left the satnav switched off although the solar panel was soaking up the sun. Working from the map on which I’d pencilled in the route I navigated up a ridge with wide views on either side and then steeply down to Narni in a deep valley. Then it was uphill for about five miles before coming to an undulating plateau for another seven miles or so. After that there were ten miles of unrelenting climbing before a final descent to the camp site. That was probably the worst day until I got north of Florence when it was twice as bad.

The campsite’s name “Il Falcone” was apt, perched on the side of the hills overlooking the Lago di Corbara, from which flows the Tiber. I pitched on a terrace at the top of the site (the proprietor suggested I didn't go further down) leaving my bicycle in a small car park next to the office where he served pizzas to order. I met an ex-catholic priest now married with a family. He was interested in taking time for reflection without rushing, enabling strength of mind, body and spirit, and tolerance towards others.